{"id":405,"date":"2014-05-05T15:56:29","date_gmt":"2014-05-05T20:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/?p=405"},"modified":"2014-05-05T15:58:31","modified_gmt":"2014-05-05T20:58:31","slug":"4-tricks-to-enhance-your-brainstorming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/4-tricks-to-enhance-your-brainstorming\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tricks To Enhance Your Brainstorming"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"rest_imagebase\"<\/a>(Image credit: imagebase.net<\/a>)<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n

A writer logs a huge portion of his or her life at desk, computer, and notebook.\u00a0 Everyone dreams about stories, but only by spending months grinding through sentence after sentence, thinking and rethinking, obsessing, anguishing, tearing down and throwing up, does a story or a book actually come into existence.<\/p>\n

We’re all too aware of those who dream, but never put in the effort.\u00a0 We’re all too aware of the games procrastination plays with us.\u00a0 When we have to spend time away, doing all the other things that maintain a healthy existence, it’s hard not to feel guilty about “squandered” writing time.<\/p>\n

Fret not!\u00a0 It’s when you’ve left your desk that some of your best ideas strike.<\/p>\n

Think about it.\u00a0 Most of us have a certain time of day, place, or activity when ideas come to us that help us move the plot forward or see things in a new light.\u00a0 There are two times that are golden for me: right before bed, and riding the bus to work early in the morning.\u00a0 At both times, I’m sleepy and I’ve let my guard down.\u00a0 My brain wanders down paths and makes connections it can’t make while I’m wide awake.<\/p>\n

For others, it might be a walk outside, a shower, meditation, or washing dishes.\u00a0 The ideas happen there, then you spend the rest of the day eager to get back to writing so you can act on them.<\/p>\n

This process seems outside one’s control, but there are things you can do to encourage and enhance your daydreaming, giving yourself the best chance to create fun new ideas.<\/p>\n

1. Make time to wander.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How many people shove their noses into laptops or smartphones the second they don’t have anything to do?\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have things to play and read- especially on long trips- but a lot of people no longer permit themselves to just sit and think.\u00a0 Try it, even for a short time- staring out the window on the bus, waiting for a meal at a restaurant, taking a walk through the park- heck, even the Peter Gibbons’ stare-at-my-desk a la Office Space.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"officespace_thebobs\"<\/a>“But it looks like I’m working.”<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n

You don’t get great story ideas playing Sudoku or Angry Birds- unless you’re drafting an epic mash-up in which the avian kingdom declares war upon the numbers 1 through 9 (inclusive).<\/p>\n

2. Relax.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This absolutely does not work if you’re stressed, or putting pressure on yourself to come up with something five minutes ago.\u00a0 This is very much a “let go, and it’ll happen” exercise.\u00a0 It’s like finding a romantic partner, at least in my experience.\u00a0 Desperation is the enemy.\u00a0 It’s usually only after one says “Screw it, whatever happens happens” that someone special comes along.<\/p>\n

3. Prime your thinking.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re trying to brainstorm for a particular story, you won’t start\u00a0 with a blank slate.\u00a0 Set your mind on a path.\u00a0 For instance, before falling asleep, I mentally replay the scene(s) I’ve just drafted.\u00a0 Improvements on lines and actions often come to me then, as well as thoughts for where to go next.<\/p>\n

I’ll also ruminate on unanswered questions about plot, background, and characterization.\u00a0 “How did [character] meet his best friend?” for instance.\u00a0 Not necessarily stuff that has to go into the story, but stuff that helps me better understand the characters and setting.<\/p>\n

Let your mind wander off-topic if it wants.\u00a0 If you fall asleep before anything comes to you, it’s OK-\u00a0 as long as you don’t sleep past your bus stop.<\/p>\n

4. Capture those brilliant thoughts!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Holy crap, the most perfect line of dialogue ever- and no pen, computer, or smartphone for miles!<\/p>\n

Has this ever happened to you?\u00a0 I’ve been known to repeat lines over and over in my head from the time of inception to the time I reached something to write it down with- 30 minutes or more.\u00a0 Not fun.<\/p>\n

Keep something close by to capture your thoughts.\u00a0 I have a notebook on my nightstand for my just-before-sleep thoughts.\u00a0 Other people use note-taking apps like Evernote, Simplenote, OneNote… there’s a ton of them these days.\u00a0 They even make notepads you can use in the shower<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Even if it’s “dumb” or not an idea you can’t use right now, write it down anyway.\u00a0 Someday, when the well has run dry, you can refer back to your idea repository and see if anything helps you.<\/p>\n

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Where do your best ideas strike?\u00a0 How do you foster them?\u00a0 Drop me a line and let me know!<\/strong><\/p>\n


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