Writers -- or would be writers -- are you as productive as you'd like to be? Can you put your finger on what's holding you back? Have you ever asked yourself, “Am I really writing as much as I’d like to be and am I writing on the topic that I’m passionate about?”
Do you find yourself struggling to come up with new ideas? Granted, there are times when it’s hard to come up with new ideas. There are ways to prevent this from happening have you ever considered journaling? I’m not talking, “Dear Diary…” type writing, but journaling as in, carrying a journal or an electronic recorder with you to record thoughts and ideas as they come to you.
You can’t wait for inspiration to strike, the likelihood of that happening is about as likely as getting struck by lightning. Here are some ways to help you open your mind to more writing ideas, possibilities and even publishing opportunities. You’ll find that the more you open yourself to ideas, the more ideas will come to you – corny but true.
Leave the house: The cliché of the writing toiling away in solitude is not going to garner any ideas. Leave the house. Go to pet-meet ups, take your dog to the dog park, talk to others who share your interests. Don’t ever leave your house without taking something to record your thoughts – a notebook, a tape recorder, index cards, etc. Ideas will strike at the most inopportune times and the chances of your being able to remember it once you’re safely ensconced at your desk are fleeting. Record it as soon as it comes to you.
Reuse ideas/articles: If you’re writing a piece and it’s too long so you find yourself cutting hundreds of words or phrases – save them. Put them on a separate document and label it “ideas” or “orphans” and go back to what you’ve cut when you need new ideas. For example, if you’re writing a Top Ten List and find it’s turned into a Top Fifteen list – keep those additional five for future use.
Find a new slant: If you’ve written a piece on dog training for a dog magazine, why not change the slant and re-write the article on dog training for a parenting magazine. Additionally, every time you write an article step back and see what other markets you could use that article for. Target your article even further – as an example – How To Train Your Poodle or How To Train Your Irish Wolfhound. Talk to experts in the field of those particular breeds and viola you have found several different takes on the original idea.
Do you have a platform: If you have a particular focus – specialty – you will not only be the go-to person in that area but the more you publish in a specific area, the more momentum you will build. Keep in mind as well, the more you write in a particular area, the more information and background you will gather; you’ll have more assets from which to choose.
Writing feeds writing just as idea-building feeds idea-building. Just as it takes 21 days to build a habit, give yourself 21 days to try embrace the idea gathering habit – you’ll be rewarded with more writing productivity.
