Brainpower

Poll

	|   |

Author:
Brian Westover

Writers, students and anyone else will occasionally need an idea or two. While you may have times when ideas come with little or no effort, there will be times when the fountain of creativity seems to have dried up. Have no fear, however. Even if you’re not feeling particularly creative, you can still think and reason. By thinking clearly and using the following techniques, you’ll find an endless supply of ideas.

Free-writing – Just write. Don’t worry about format, topic, or anything else. Just write, about anything at all. It might be a description of your kitchen ceiling, or a diatribe about the lack of parking spaces at your local veterinarian’s office. The important thing is that you get writing, and keep writing. Let one thought lead to another, or just write on one thing, in ever increasing detail. Maybe you’ll write for a set amount of time, or maybe your aim is to fill a page or multiple pages. Pick out individual topics, ideas, names or anything else. Whatever you do, you’ll soon have many ideas to work with.

Breakdown – Take your initial topic, and write it at the top of the page. Divide the topic into subtopics, questions, themes, and such, listing them below. Continue to break down and list those subtopics as before.

Listing/Bulleting – List everything about the topic, then list any related phrases, keywords, questions, sources, etc. If you can think of it, add it to the list. Then take each item from the list, and do it again.

Cubing – Cubing refers to taking your topic and examining it from six different sides, like the six sides of a cube. Consider the topic in the following six ways:

1. Describe it
2. Compare it
3. Associate it
4. Analyze it
5. Apply it
6. Argue for and against it

Now, examine your answers. Are there any connections between them? Do any themes emerge?

Similes – Complete the following sentence: [Blank] is/was/are/were like [Blank]. By comparing your topic to another, seemingly unrelated word, you’ll begin to see new ideas about your topic, better understand different aspects of it, and new ideas will emerge.

Clustering/Mapping/Webbing – This technique allows you to expand on a topic in a freeform, organic manner. Write a keyword or words about your topic in the center of a blank page and draw a circle or box around it. Branch off in as many ideas as possible, connecting them visually to the topic. Then branch off from there. Go as far as you can or want to, continually branching off.

Parts – Look at the relationships between the whole, the parts and parts of parts. Make the following lists on opposite margins of a sheet of paper:

Whole...........................Parts

Part..............................Parts of Parts

Part..............................Parts of Parts

Part..............................Parts of Parts

Apply these labels to topics and subtopics, words, etc. Then draw conclusions about relationships, patterns, connections, etc.

Journalistic Questions (The Big 6) – Ask yourself the 6 important questions of journalism:

1. Who
2. What
3. When
4. Where
5. Why
6. How

Outside the Box – Try approaching your topic from a totally different angle. Ask questions from a seemingly unrelated viewpoint. You might think in terms of occupations, academic subjects, demographic groups, cultural groups, etc. Examine it fully from each new perspective, jotting down every thought, question, commentary, interpretation, etc.

Charts/Shapes – Instead of words and phrases, think visually. Put things in terms of charts, shapes, tables and diagrams. If you can find photographs related to the topic, use them as well. List anything you see, any thoughts that come to mind and any conclusions drawn from the images.

Slanting/Re-slant – Examine an idea or topic in terms of purpose and audience. If stuck, think about a different purpose or a different audience. For example, if you’re writing about married couples with the purpose of entertaining couples with at least five years of marriage, try looking at the topic from the newlyweds.

Referencing – If you have a basic idea or topic, look it up. Go to the dictionary, the thesaurus, the encyclopedia, an almanac, quote collection, any other reference. List any information. If you don’t have a topic, open to a random page, pick any topic, then go from there.

Combination of Techniques – Start with any technique then apply another technique to the results. For example, after listing and bulleting on your original topic, try referencing each listed item.

Once you have used these techniques, you should have a list of the ideas produced. These ideas must then be organized in some way. You may start by listing them neatly, then categorizing them. Group them according to subtopics, put them into an outline, or try to sequence them in some way. The idea is simply to impose some sort of order on the disorganized results, giving you a clear collection of ideas to work with. Now equipped with these ideas and some related information, you’ll have a better idea of what to work on in your writing.

Brian Westover is a freelance writer. In addition to writing articles for publication in standard print venues (such as magazines and newspapers), he is also a skilled copywriter, offering a variety of services to anyone who needs great online content, polished business writing in a professional format and editing and coaching to improve your own writing. In addition to his professional site, Brian also runs WriterSpot, a website dedicated to finding and organizing online resources for either the beginning writer or experienced writing professional.

Improve Your Memory. Books And Info Products To Help Your Brain Memorize Nearly Everything.

Easy, Fun, Free And Cheap Ways To Improve Your Memory! EBook Jam-packed With Memory-improvement Info, Powerfoods, Games And Exercises That Are Fun And Easy To Do That Will Help You Improve Your Memory From Day 1 And Help To Delay Or Even Avoid Alzheimers.

BornThinker - Pc Games For The Brain. Improve Your Memory With Bornthinker Pc Games, Online Or Downloadable, Arcade, Puzzle, Fun, Addictive, Style In Mahjong, Card Games, Jewels And Hieroglyphics, Full Version Has Unlimited Levels, For Kids And Adults.

	Logic Links Puzzle Box Current Price: $7.87 | Buy Now and Save!
	Fantastic Book of Logic Puzzles Current Price: $3.95 | Buy Now and Save!
	Square Root Games 0024 Shut the Box in Natural Finish Solid Hardwood Current Price: $14.99 | Buy Now and Save!
	Family Games pulley Current Price: $5.95 | Buy Now and Save!
	ThinkFun Sudoku 5x5 Current Price: $5.95 | Buy Now and Save!
	Square Root Games 0026 Pillars of Plato in Natural Finish Solid Hardwood Current Price: $18.99 | Buy Now and Save!
	MindTrap - It Will Challenge the Way You Think! Current Price: $15.98 | Buy Now and Save!
	Cooperative Game of Discussion, Logic and Rescue, Princess Current Price: $11.95 | Buy Now and Save!
	Square Root Games 0009 Dirty Dozen Puzzle in Natural Finish Solid Hardwood Current Price: $23.99 | Buy Now and Save!
	Duo Card Game Current Price: $7.98 | Buy Now and Save!

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Brainpower... Problem Solving Techniques For Business And Life Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your bottom line and your life. Do you ever run out of good ideas, or go around in circles trying to come up with a solution for a persistent problem? Maybe you just need to learn some simple problem solving techniques, and then start applying them. Choose one or two of the methods below, and get in the habit of using them in your personal life and your business. Using Your Unconscious Mind Let your unconscious mind do your problem solving. Outline a problem in your mind before going to sleep, and tell your brain to go to work. Einstein had good luck with this technique, sometimes getting the "ah-ha" insight while shaving the next morning. Next, instruct your mind to keep working on the problem while you do other things. There is more than we know going on inside our heads. An answer may come to you when you least expect it. Try working on problems when you are in a drowsy state. This can result in more creative solutions. Systematic Problem Solving Techniques Challenge assumptions . For example, if you are assuming you need a better or higher-paying job, ask "do I really need a better job?" Maybe you can get a raise, or somehow make the job you have better. A business on the side might be an option. Don't let your assumptions limit the possible solutions. Break it down . Buying a house is a big move that is really a bunch of small steps. This is true of many problems. Start by addressing all of the components of a problem individually, and it may not seem so overwhelming. This makes it easier to motivate yourself. Ask others for advice . They may or may not have good ideas, but in any case this helps you be sure that you are not overlooking anything...