In my last post I wrote about three great places to find ideas when you’re looking for some great topics to write about. Here are some more you will find useful.

Don’t let a poster or billboard go unread

Whenever you see a poster or billboard when you are walking along, take a second look at it. Visuals are often great for getting the mind working. Often there can be subtle messages in visual posters and pictures that many people do not see, but the artist has put in there for a reason. Look beneath the words to see the graphic design and then let your mind wander. It is amazing how often this generates ideas for writing.

Keep a journal

Creative writers can also keep a journal of interesting conversations, snippets and ideas. If you keep a small notepad handy, you can jot down ideas wherever you are when they hit you. Then, whenever you are sitting in front of the computer having a mental block, get out your journal or notebook and flick through it to remember your great ideas.

Keep a picture folder

Cutting out interesting pictures from magazines and newspapers can also help to generate ideas. Some creative writers will keep a picture folder as well as an idea folder. Select several pictures and see if they go together to form a story.

Cartoonists use a story board to shape their stories and their cartoons. This technique can also be used by the writers to help them visualize what they are writing about. Sometimes it helps to see what the next part of the story is before you write it.

Sometimes doing an internet search for pictures or images on the topic you are writing about is a great way to get over a mental block. The images and visual references can help get your mind working again. Google has a lot of images available and is a good resource for creative writers to use.

And finally…

Whenever you get a mental block, don’t stress. Get out the ideas folder and sift through it. Idea generation is a technique that is often learned. Try brainstorming, matching pictures, book titles or posters together to form story ideas. Assemble some resources that you can go back to whenever you need fresh ideas.