Picture this: you crack open a new notebook or create a new document, excited to start brainstorming for your fiction novel. But, suddenly your mind is full of cobwebs, and a massive creativity roadblock. How can that be? Only a few minutes ago you were full of brainstorming ideas!
Believe it or not, writer’s block can strike during the brainstorming phase, which is frustrating. Brainstorming ideas is supposed to be the fun and easy part of writing. Ideas are all around us, so your mind should be flooded with them, right? But now it feels like you’ll never write again.
Don’t worry—your brain isn’t broken. The good news is that plenty of brainstorming ideas will start flowing again. All you need to do is keep reading because I’ve got your back. In this post, I’ll share some effective brainstorming techniques to help you overcome that creative roadblock.
What is brainstorming?
According to Merriam-Webster, brainstorming is “the mulling over of ideas by one or more individuals in an attempt to devise or find a solution to a problem.”
It’s a technique for “forcing” creative ideas in a short period.
Brainstorming is a method we use to tackle tricky problems with a burst of creativity. Step one is figuring out exactly what the problem is. Then, it’s all about letting the ideas flow, no matter how wild or crazy they may seem. Finally, we pick out the most creative solutions that can crack the problem.
Back in the 19th century, people used the term “brain-storm” to talk about a mental disturbance. Fast forward a century to the 1940s, and a new meaning emerged. A guy named Alex Osborn who worked in advertising, came up with a system to help churn out ideas, which he called “brainstorming.” Some business executives weren’t too keen on the name, thinking it sounded too medical or offensive. They threw around alternative names like “cloud bursting” and “thought shower,” but none of them stuck. I can see why!
How can brainstorming make me a better writer?
Our society has trained our thinking to fit within certain bounds. It becomes tougher to break free from those limits the older we get.
Brainstorming for writers is a game-changer. It’s like a secret weapon against self-doubt and traditional thinking. It can help reduce anxiety and help you generate new and unique ideas for your book.
Brainstorming Ideas for Your Fiction Novel
1. Write what you know.
Begin with a subject that resonates with you, something you have a deep familiarity with or passion for. Consider places you know like the back of your hand—a hometown, a cherished vacation spot—where your story could come to life with vivid detail.
Don’t underestimate the power of personal memories and experiences. They can serve as powerful ways to generate fresh ideas. Take a stroll down memory lane and see what sparks emerge. What places or people are most memorable in your life? Write them down and ask yourself why you’re drawn to those memories and how you can make them even more interesting.
If you’re looking to add a unique twist to your story, consider challenging a familiar image or cliché. Challenge yourself to turn in the opposite direction of what’s expected, adding a fresh perspective and unexpected elements. This approach may give you a solid starting point to build on top of.
2. Make a list of everything you love.
Take a moment to grab a fresh notebook, your phone, or your computer; something reliable to house all your creative musings. Now, think about your cherished books, the movies that left you spellbound, and those TV shows that kept you on the edge of your seat. Consider the characters who’ve stolen your heart, the epic pairings that sparked your imagination, the familiar images that never fail to captivate, and the genres that hold a special place in your soul. Don’t forget about the authors whose words felt like old friends and the songs that have woven their way into your personal soundtrack.
With your list in your hand, take a step back and survey the landscape. Are there intriguing patterns that emerge? Do many of your beloved tales transport you to galaxies far, far away? Is there a recurring theme of a bold teenage girl stepping into a new world, and turning it on its head? Do your favorite authors excel in crafting sweeping series or are they celebrated for their standalone masterpieces? Do you find yourself drawn to tales of heart-pounding action and daring escapades, or do you lean towards the quieter, more intimate narratives? And is there something on this list that takes you by surprise? Perhaps you hadn’t realized just how much you treasure stories set in quaint, small-town settings.
Now, take a moment to let your mind wander. Are the gears already turning, conjuring up fresh ideas? On the flip side, you might find yourself in a bit of a creative lull, struggling to envision how to breathe life into these beloved themes and concepts. The magic often happens when we give ourselves time and space to let these elements soak in and blend in unexpected ways.
3. Use writing prompts.
Writing prompts can be a powerful tool for brainstorming ideas and sparking creativity for your fiction novel. Begin by selecting a prompt that resonates with you or aligns with the genre or theme you’re interested in exploring. There are thousands of prompts online: just Google “writing prompts.” You can also put your genre in front of it, such as “romance story writing prompts.”
Allow the prompt to ignite your imagination and encourage you to consider various scenarios, characters, and plot twists. Don’t be afraid to take creative liberties and veer off in unexpected directions.
Use the prompt as a starting point, but allow your unique voice and perspective to shape the narrative. Let your mind wander, explore different aspects of the idea, and be open to the emergence of new and exciting possibilities.
Writing prompts are like keys that unlock doors to uncharted creative territories, offering a wellspring of inspiration for your novel-writing endeavors.
4. Try freewriting.
Freewriting is a method where you write your thoughts and ideas quickly and continuously, without worrying about form, style, or grammar. It may feel a little intimidating, especially in creative writing, but it’s a liberating way to brainstorm ideas. Remember, to get to your best writing, you’ve got to start by putting down your worst!
For freewriting, set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes, get away from all distractions, and write down whatever pops into your mind. Don’t stress about making mistakes, what the next sentence should be, or even what your reader will think. Just keep going. It’s supposed to be messy and chaotic. Allow yourself to write not-so-great stuff; you might be surprised at how much good writing comes to you when you ease up on the pressure.
5. Create a mind map.
Mind mapping is an invaluable visual thinking tool for a writer who is brainstorming ideas for their book. It helps you keep your ideas organized throughout the book-writing process so you don’t have to rely solely on memory for plotline retention. For instance, if you have a fascinating idea for a book, but haven’t developed it beyond a synopsis, mind mapping can help outline your story so you can write a manuscript that resonates with your targeted audience.
The process of creating a mind map is straightforward. Begin by centering your map around your main theme or core idea. As you introduce characters and subplots into the narrative, you’ll see your map expand, which will keep you on track and your thoughts organized. When you wrap up your mind map, you’ll have a vivid visual overview of your entire book.
Think of a mind map for your book like a map of your hometown. Locate the downtown on an actual map. From there, you’ll see streets radiating out, connecting neighborhoods, suburbs, and even neighboring towns. Similarly, envision your book’s central idea as the downtown, with each neighborhood or suburb representing a subplot or event in your narrative. Much like roads on a map link your neighborhoods, you can establish connections between characters, ideas, and events in your book using the mind map approach.
Not only does mind mapping help keep your ideas in order, but it’s also an incredible tool for sparking new concepts and brainstorming ideas. It’s like a two-in-one package deal for authors looking to streamline their creative process.
6. Try People Watching.
Once again, equip yourself with that trusty notebook or your reliable phone, and venture into the bustling heart of humanity. Seek out a vibrant place crowded with people: a coffee shop, a train or bus station, a gym, a shopping center, a restaurant, or a public park. The more bustling the scene, the better!
This is one of those brainstorming ideas that allow you to become a sharp observer. Watch and listen intently. Perhaps you’ll catch snippets of intriguing conversations, or witness the unspoken language of a couple deeply in love. Or even two friends locked in a passionate debate. Jot down the things that pique your interest. Ask yourself questions about what you’re observing, like:
- Why does the man in the coffee shop corner wear such a stern expression?
- What’s the story behind the woman with the elegant bag asking for change to board the bus?
- Where on earth did that kid get a slice of decadent chocolate cake?
Let your curiosity be your guide, and use these questions as the seeds for your creative scenarios.
Remember, this brainstorming idea is all about igniting your imagination. The initial ideas that surface might not immediately resonate with you, and that’s perfectly fine. Refrain from being your own harshest critic. Instead, allow your thoughts to flow freely, unencumbered by self-doubt or judgment. Just embrace the process.
7. Play word association games.
This brainstorming idea is a great way to kickstart your creative process.
To begin gather a list of ten or more words that resonate with you and have the potential to ignite an exciting story. For example, if you’re leaning towards romantic content, you might choose words like love, partners, secret, jealousy, conflict, and so on.
Once you have created your list, write down the first thing that springs to mind next to each word. While the goal is to provide a single-word response if you find yourself inspired and write down an entire sentence or more, go ahead and let those ideas flow freely.
Remember, don’t overanalyze or second-guess your responses. The beauty of this game lies in the unexpected gems that emerge when you allow your creativity to run wild. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what bubbles up during this exercise.
If you find that this is one of those brainstorming ideas that just do not work for you, try looking up online word banks. Or leaf through a physical dictionary. You’ll be amazed at how a single word can evolve into the cornerstone of a captivating tale.
8. Play the “what if” question game.
At the heart of storytelling is the question “What if?” With every “what if” question, a world of possibilities unfolds.
- What if a psychotic ex-lover buys the apartment next door?
- What if the boy she tried to forget got a job in her company?
- What if someone kept sending romantic gifts with no name attached?
How should you use “what if” questions?
1. Set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes and write down every question that comes to mind about your story. This is meant to be a creative exercise, so don’t worry about how good or bad, or serious or laughable the questions are. Highlight the questions you find most interesting, exciting, dramatic, emotional, or any that interest you for no particular reason.
2. Choose one of your highlighted “what if” questions and write it down at the top of a new piece of paper. Now brainstorm all the possible events that could happen inspired by this question. You can even add notes about a possible character or potential scenes. After you feel like you’ve written down everything you can think of, highlight the ones you believe are most intriguing.
3. Now, let’s dive deeper into your ideas, examining every twist and turn and conceivable outcome. For each idea you highlighted in the last step, ask yourself this question: “What if this happened instead?” Don’t worry if your ideas are silly or not because who knows what those silly ideas can turn into?
4. Finally, review your lists from the previous exercises and write down the ideas you find most intriguing in a new list. Looking at your new list ask yourself: Do the ideas resonate with richness and excitement? Is there something missing? If you have the beginnings of a plot, is it one that will captivate the reader’s interest?
If you feel there’s room for enhancement, ask yourself these questions and continue brainstorming ideas with “what if” scenarios:
- How can I heighten the pressure on the hero/heroine?
- What if…
- How can I infuse more drama into the narrative?
- What if…
- What event, scene, or character could add greater intrigue to the story?
- What if…
Go back to your notes and highlight the twists and turns and possibilities you envision including in your story.
The goal of the “what if” game is to dig up all the thoughts churning in your mind – even those you might not be aware of until you start brainstorming ideas.
9. Keep a scrapbook.
Collect images of places that spark your imagination or intriguing “characters” that capture your interest. Save news stories that pique your curiosity, along with maps, brochures, poems, or anything else that stirs the desire to create an entirely new world around that singular concept, event, or image.
You can choose to store these inspirations digitally, or physically by printing, clipping, or scanning items to put in a notebook. When it’s time to start brainstorming ideas for a new story, return to this curated collection and see what sparks ignite your creativity.
10. Try a retelling.
Imagine if the Titanic had never met its tragic fate. Envision The Ugly Duckling as the tale of a young boy with dreams of becoming a ballerina.
Feel free to twist, spin, or entirely reimagine established narratives. The possibilities for alternate versions are boundless, as any fanfiction writer will enthusiastically attest!
Conclusion
In the realm of fiction writing, the journey from concept to manuscript can sometimes hit a roadblock, even while you’re brainstorming ideas. It’s a scenario we’ve all faced at some point – a mind once full of ideas is suddenly filled with cobwebs. Rather than think of this as a broken imagination, think of it as an opportunity for growth.
In this article, we’ve explored a plethora of brainstorming ideas intended to revive your creative process. From digging into personal memories to playing word association games, we’ve dug into methods designed to reignite that spark of inspiration. With the brainstorming techniques above, you’ll be equipped to navigate through any creative roadblock. So, the next time you find yourself staring at a blank page, remember, that it’s just the calm before the storm of ideas waiting to burst forth.
Find more writing tips in these posts:
- 6 Crucial Grammar Tips for Fiction Writers
- Should You Use Passive Voice in Fiction Writing?
- Mastering the Art of Sentence Structure
Books on brainstorming:
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Great ideas! I like mind-mapping especially for writing poetry and the what-if game when others are in the car and we can all play it together.
Thank you! The what-if game can be a lot of fun!