Writing requires concentration, creativity, imagination, and a lot of editing. And all of that is pretty difficult when you are going through writer’s block.
One of the many challenges writers face is deciding on an exciting and creative topic. Moreover, nearly 28% of writers believe that starting a piece is the biggest challenge of writing.
However, this hurdle can be surpassed by using brainstorming to generate new and exciting ideas.
Effective Associative Brainstorming Techniques
With the use of some effective brainstorming techniques, anyone can formulate exciting writing ideas. On top of that, they are pretty simple to follow. Before you start, remember the four principles of brainstorming:
- Quantity before quality
- Refrain from criticism
- Welcome every idea
- Combine and refine ideas
Concept Mapping
Concept mapping is a visual brainstorming technique. In this strategy, every idea and concept is visualized with the help of interlinking pictures, tables, and charts.
This technique starts with the main idea and branches out with multiple identical ideas, pros and cons, synonyms, and critical concepts.
Making a physical concept map can take a lot of resources and time. Therefore, it is better to make it on an online concept map maker such as Miro, an easy-to-use platform that’s free as well.
Freewriting
It would be best to have a pen and paper for freewriting instead of a keyboard and screen. In this technique, you can write any idea that pops up in your mind, and the statements do not need to match each other.
You need to sit in a quiet place and start writing down every thought. Later you can organize what you have written. Then connect the ideas that go together but don’t discard the ones that don’t. You can utilize them in the next writing project.
Read, Read, And Read
Sometimes all you need to do is look into other people’s minds. But, of course, the best way to do that is by reading books, articles, blogs. In simple words, any relevant material you can get your hands on.
Reading different material can guide you in selecting a topic. You can also mesh various stories and make a new exciting storyline.
The Snowflake Method
To use the snowflake method, start from one line and build your topic around it. Think about an idea and write a one-line summary of it.
From that one line, write a paragraph, and then turn that paragraph into another section. Now keep building your story one paragraph at a time till you finish it.
In case you get stuck at one point, use research to move your thought process along. But, first, you need to make sure that your every addition is connected with the central idea of your snowflake.
Rolestorming
Rolestorming is an entertaining brainstorming strategy because you are thinking of ideas from another person’s perspective. You can role-play your favorite characters and imagine what they would be thinking in this situation.
This approach is a perfect way of letting go of any inhibitions and unlocking imaginative and creative thoughts.
Word Association
Word association is perfect for generating multiple ideas in a short period. Start with writing down your central theme, then quickly write the first things associated with that idea.
Then look at everything you wrote and write more related words with them. In the end, every word should branch out and have some ideas of words listed with it.
Finally, when your word association map is complete, pick out the most intriguing and exciting ideas. Then, you can further research them and find more information on them that will help you write.
Use Cubing
Cubing is a process in which every idea is viewed from six different angles to seek out its strong and weak points. Here’s how this works:
- Describe the concept or topic.
- Compare it with other accumulated ideas.
- Associate the idea with related topics.
- Analyze it and find facts.
- Apply it to a real-world situation.
- Find supporting points and then contradicting points.
Conclusion
Brainstorming can help you come up with some fantastic ideas. To unlock the full potential of brainstorming, you need to follow the principles and various techniques. When done right, brainstorming can reward you with multiple good ideas. You can even make brainstorming fun by using brainstorming tools.