Today we’re continuing on with the R=Resources and support systems theme from CREATIVE HABITS. In fact there’s so much I want to talk to you about that I’ll be continuing to posting on this topic over the next week or so.

Creative infopreneurs and writers always need ideas and sometimes it can be quite difficult to keep generating ideas. So, where do successful creative infopreneurs get their ideas from?

Well, I have to tell you - there is no one single answer. I know, it would be fantastic if there was! Instead, creative writers will gather ideas from many sources and use a variety of resources for their idea generation.

Keep an ideas folder

Many infopreneurs and writers will keep some kind of idea folder. This is where they will put any ideas that come their way. You may not have time to write about the ideas straight away, but whenever you have a mental block and can’t think of anything to write, going through your ideas folder is a great way of getting the brain energized and thinking again.

Ideas can come from magazines and newspapers. Good creative writers are usually fairly voracious readers too. If you find an article that interests you and generates ideas on other things you could write about, cut it out and stick it into your ideas folder.

Visit your local library

You may like to take notes on ideas that come to mind when reading for pleasure or from book titles. Sometimes just browsing through a library and selecting titles at random can give you ideas. Try the game of putting two book titles together and see if that generates a new idea of what to write about.

While you are visiting the public library, check out the community notice board too. These notices are put up by the public about anything that interests them. If someone out there is interested in it, you may be too, or so could your prospective audience.

Go where the people are

Journalists use a technique for idea generation called the ‘pub-barometor’. If people are talking about something in the pub, café, church or any other social group gathering, it must be important and is therefore news. When you go out in large group situations, chat to as many people as possible. You just never know when someone will give you a great idea. You may also just sit and listen to conversations held in public places as these can also generate ideas.

These are just a few ideas on where to get ideas. Make sure you read my next post when I’ll share some more ideas on where to get ideas.