Coming up with new content ideas every day is not an easy task. A professional content writer needs to have a robust content strategy.
Similarly, an aspirant or seasoned novel writer requires intriguing plot ideas. But, once in a while, facing writer’s block or feeling drained out is absolutely normal. What will you do to generate new content ideas in such a situation?
Here, brainstorming techniques step in. Engaging yourself in practical brainstorming sessions can help you generate a range of content ideas, plot twists, and storylines. Students also often struggle with writing and ask academic experts to write my paper for me to submit their assignments within the set deadlines. But you can’t find appropriate help all the time, and that’s where brainstorming can save you.
Whether you are a newbie, an experienced writer, a professional, or a creative writer, brainstorming can be highly beneficial. Want to know more? Let’s read on!
Brainstorming – What Does It Mean?
The intense process that involves generating engaging and fruitful ideas is known as brainstorming. Once you start practicing this process, you will always have loads of content ideas to back you up on days when you are running short of them.
Advantages of Brainstorming
- Keeps you tension-free. Brainstorming helps you keep unnecessary stress and anxiety at bay. You can come out of your writer’s block very easily by using effective brainstorming techniques. It brings you much-needed relief and peace of mind.
- Comes in handy when in a rush. Brainstorming helps you come up with reserve content ideas. You can use them when you are in a rush and have no time to generate fresh content.
- Gives an organized structure to your write-up. You get the chance to consider multiple ideas when you brainstorm regularly. It makes your writing more organized and structured.
Apply These 6 Brainstorming Techniques So That You Never Run Out of Writing Ideas
Freewriting
Seclude yourself in your favorite corner, keep all distractions away, and set up the perfect ambiance as per your preference. Then, start putting down on paper whatever thoughts come to your mind. Do not worry about grammar, spelling, structure, etc. Simply let your thoughts and ideas flow out.
Freewriting is one of the best brainstorming techniques that can help you generate some of the most valuable content ideas and storylines eventually.
To make the process all the more effective, set your timer for, say, 15 minutes and decide to work on a number of pages. Once you are done, go through the draft. Among fillers, you will definitely come across a few meaningful notions.
Looping
This technique helps you take your freewriting exercise to the next level. Basically, you need to move in loops. Set out on a freewriting spree and do not stop before you have multiple pieces of freewritten drafts. If you are unsure of what to write, you can also use writing prompts available online. These prompts are really effective in getting rid of your writer’s block.
Research
Do not restrict your research to just online sources. Rather, move out and explore the nearest library. Or you may even visit a writing center. Go through the thesauruses, guide books, dictionaries, and old research papers. These resources are the gold mine of priceless background details, topic ideas, etc.
5 W’s and 1 H Technique
Try the mind-blowing technique of 5 W’s (What? Who? Where? Why? When?) and 1 H (How?). Ask these questions to come up with new ideas, different angles, and perspectives.
Write down these questions on a sheet of paper or MS Word file. Then, answer the questions thoughtfully. Review your answers to know the areas you have the least knowledge about.
Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is another brainstorming technique that is used by writers worldwide. All you need is a whiteboard, sheet of paper, or an online mind mapping tool – whatever is more convenient to you.
Start by placing the main topic in the middle of the whiteboard. Then, think of at least four subtopics out of the central ideation. Further, branch out of the subtopics. Keep doing this until you cannot think of any more branches of the idea.
Mind mapping is a great way to organize your thoughts and determine connections between topics. You might also have some unique concepts stored in your subconscious hidden behind the haze of cluttered thoughts. Mind maps effectively extract them out.
SWOT Analysis
This brainstorming technique is quite popular among project planners and marketing experts. SWOT is an abbreviated form for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis provides you with a complete list of advantages and shortcomings.
When it comes to writing, start with the central idea. And then enlist its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. After conducting a SWOT analysis, you will realize that you have multiple ideas which you can dwell upon. These ideas can prove to be of great help for your upcoming projects.
In a Nutshell
Brainstorming techniques function differently for different writers. The concept of “one size fits all” does not work here. To know what works for you, start experimenting right now.
Whether you want to brainstorm on your own or do it with your team, it is your take. Once you focus on your ideas and use these brainstorming techniques, ideas will come flowing into your mind. So, grab your notebook, or create a spreadsheet, and jot down all unique and innovative ideas.
