As a freelance writer you must generate high-quality ideas if you want to be successful.
Idea generation and development has been a key focus of mine for the last dozen years, and today I share with you what I’ve learned and what works best for me.
1. Be Alone in Nature
Get outside and do whatever you love to do most. I’ve generated the majority of my best ideas for writing projects when I was walking alone on a trail in nature. I’m away from my normal routine and the myriad stimuli that bombard my brain, and the ideas just start popping up: sometimes an idea for something new to write; sometimes an idea for what to include in something I’m currently writing; sometimes an idea for how to market a product or service.
2. Drive Somewhere
Get in the car and go. Long-distance drives are the second-most productive way for me to discover good writing ideas. I typically listen to educational audios in the car, and often something the speaker says will trigger ideas.
3. Go Places
Go someplace different and experience new things. I love to visit places that are far different from where I live. My home is in Ashland, Oregon, a modest-sized town in a mostly rural area just north of the California border. When I go down to San Francisco, I’m surrounded by sights, sounds, and smells that spark my brain in new ways.
4. Read
You can get ideas from reading widely. I read books, e-books, magazines, and blog posts regularly, and in many diverse subjects: science, current affairs, health, technology. I also read a lot about marketing and succeeding as a freelancer.
5. Talk with People
Often a conversation with someone will spark an idea. I’ve found that discussing my ideas with people I trust and respect helps me identify which ones are truly worth pursuing and which are not.
6. Examine What Your Fellow Freelance Writers Are Doing
This means looking at what other writers in your niche(s) are doing, both online and offline. I subscribe to many freelance writing blogs and follow freelance writers on Twitter. I also visit bookstores and libraries to peruse magazines and books.
7. Pay Attention to All Media
When you’re on the Internet, watching television, or listening to the radio, be open for new ideas and opportunities. For example, I recently listened to ads on commercial AM radio (KGO 810 in San Francisco) and got an idea about how to improve the sales page for my e-book Writing College Textbook Supplements.
8. Ask Your Mind for Help
Just before you drift off, ask your mind to generate good ideas while you’re sleeping. As soon as you wake up in the morning, relax and see what comes. I’ve gotten several good ideas while lying in bed in that completely relaxed state that comes right after I wake up.
9. Relax…
Lie down on your bed or the floor, close your eyes, and relax your entire body, including your mind. Tell yourself you’re open to new ideas and ask your brain to come up with some. Don’t force it: just let it happen. This has worked well for me. If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, the physical and mental part is the same as the corpse pose that most classes end with. Do that — and ask your mind for ideas.
10. Ask People
Ask people you know well and whose judgment you trust what they think would be good writing projects for you to pursue. This has definitely worked for me.
Your Take
How do you get your best freelance writing ideas? Share them with us!
What a breath-taking photo, John. I share some of your same methods for ideas. My daily walks are my best time for generating ideas. I’m away from the noise of the online world and can breathe in freshness. 🙂
I have a very simple method for generating blog ideas. I recently coined it Miller Mind-Mapping (thanks to a comment from our friend, Anne Wayman asking how I spun my ideas).
1) I focus on something right in front of my face. In the past that has been everything from items on my desk, a T.V. show I’m watching or the newspaper. 2) I pick a theme (e.g., the cactus plant on my desk) 3) I jot down what comes to mind (dry, prickly, etc.) 4) I put a business writing spin on it (or whatever your blog theme is) 5) Write the post – e.g., what you do when writing ideas dry up, how you handled a prickly client.
Works every time. But, I like the nature walks even better. 🙂
Cathy, I really like the Miller Mind-Mapping Method, and I’ve seen how well it works in the many excellent posts on your blog.
I take walks every day and I always have my digital recorder in my pocket so I can save my ideas. In fact, most mornings I do a short walk around my neighborhood right after I get up. It’s quiet and peaceful and gets my day off to a good start.
Oh, and thanks for the kind words about the photo.
Little Bear Lake is in the Trinity Alps in far northern California. It’s a cross-country scramble across steep granite slopes, so not many people visit it. I had it all to myself when I was there last summer.
Great ideas, John! My favorite way to get ideas is to sit on the swing in the garden. There’s something about that simple motion of lifting the feet and letting it swing that starts the ideas flowing. Maybe it reminds me of being younger when there wasn’t any stress beyond how to squeeze the most fun into a day. 🙂
I love people watching. I’ve seen a ton of ideas float in as I just observe people around me.
Two ways not on my list: love ’em Lori!
I’m not much of a “swinger,” but I do like to people watch and I can see where that could really spark some good ideas.
John, good stuff as usual. I’ve found that when I’ve been thinking a bit about something I’m writing, going on a bike ride will have fully-formed sentences on the subject pop into my head—and that during the ride when I was just daydreaming, and no longer mulling the piece.
Love the “ask your mind for help” tip (though I do fear my mind would say “Hey buddy, get a real job.”) By the way, I think Ashland is a great city; always enjoy my visits.
So many methods for generating ideas!
I also get ideas when I’m working out at the Y, doing tai chi, even doing the dishes.
Let me know the next time you’re in Ashland. We can do coffee or go for a walk.
John, love to. My girlfriend and I have some good pals there we see every once in a while.
Great methods for idea generation, John. I’ve used quite a few of those. Reading is particularly productive for me as well as looking at various media – often a chance remark will send my mind off on a productive tangent.
Thanks Sharon. It’s interesting how one little tidbit of information can lead us into such fruitful directions.
Hey John, great post!. When I first started blogging I was freaked out that I wouldn’t have enough ideas. Now I have a list of over 60 topics I plan to blog about at some point, and new ideas keep coming. Key to me is to write the idea down so I don’t forget!
I use all the methods you mention although I could probably pay more attention to media. Just recently I was writing about the 3 principles of jujitsu on the TR blog and I speculated about what the 3 principles of kayaking might be. John Lull responded with his “off the top of his head” suggestion. Bingo! New future topic.
Nancy, I have list of 150-200 ideas for future posts here on Productive Writers. And yes, you gotta write ’em down! And organize them and prioritize them and then decide which ones to actually implement.
And FYI everyone, Nancy is my sister-in-law and she runs the Tsunami Rangers sea kayaking blog.
good list – the only thing I’d add is take a hot shower… I’m always pleased and amazed how many ideas strike me there.
Another good idea!
Also, soaking in hot tubs and hot springs.
All very good ideas. I get a lot of ideas when I’m walking my dogs or riding my horses. Even though your #9 is relax, depending on the person all your points could be something that a person finds relaxing. And that is the answer. Thoughts come more clearly to a relaxed mind.
By the way this little share bar on the left side of the page is annoying. It covers up the script of a few letters on your article and just stays with you.
Cheryl, I totally agree that a relaxed mind is very conducive to good ideas.
Sorry about the share bar blocking part of the text. It’s either because you have a computer with very low resolution or you’ve increased the font size in your browser. Try making the font smaller: CTRL – on Windows machines.
Hi John. This has been your best blog entry ever, in my opinion. It states succinctly what works best for me, too, as far as doing my best writing, but to which I hadn’t given focused thought and listed out as you have. It’s encouraging to see it in print.
On a side-note, I wonder if you would be willing to share a link or two to some of your more lucrative published projects.
Also, if I may ask, are you able to generate a steady income by freelance writing itself, or do you and/or your other half rely upon other income to pay the bills?
(I also direct the latter question to any of your blog readers who care to share answers.)
I’ve recently been discouraged by one excellent writer I know that writing is no way to earn a living. I’ve not gotten as far as submitting anything in an attempt for monetary gain yet.
Thank you for your kind words Steeny.
I’ve been supporting myself as a freelance writer since I left college teaching in 1994. I know many other freelance writers who make a decent living without doing other work.
Most of my writing projects are for higher education companies. Some of them are listed on Amazon. Type “John Soares” into the search bar and then select books. Some of my actual books show up on pages 1 and 2. Many of the higher ed projects are pages 3 onward.
I’ve made by far the most money from 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, first published in 1994 and now in its third edition.
Hi John! Great ideas. To write a good article need a good environment. Concepts of writing are come from the elements of our surroundings. I must say the ideas are fabulous.
Great ideas. Thanks for posting. I’ve gotten some of my best stories from song lyrics. Many songs tell a very short story. It can be hard to resist the urge to finish it, or change it.
Steve, I don’t listen to country music much, but I think country songs do an especially good job of telling stories.
I actually find myself mentally rewriting the lyrics of many songs. If you have the time, consider reading Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs.
Hey John,
Country music and I don’t get along either. At all. (Fortunately, you normally get all the story you want just from the song titles, which saves having to listen to them.) But, my man Bruce Springsteen and the Counting Crows, for example, have some great “storybook” songs, among others.
Hi John,
Very informative articles, I have bookmarked this page for future reference, very nice and helpful. I also appreciate the tip about bringing back up relevant articles/posts from the past.
Thank you
Hi John, great post.
Nice ideas for generating ideas, just great.
Thanks for sharing this.
WOW, Great ideas for writing content.
I usually talk to people to find inspiration and information about a topic.
great ideas and tips here, i am the same as the rest of you, the great ideas come to me when i am in solitude, walking, cycling my bike, having a bath,thats when my brain seems to kick in at its best, very helpful post, thankyou
So true, John. I especially like number 9 – relax. Amazing how many good ideas come when we just stop trying too hard!
Seems as though we use many of the same strategies! Going for a walk works for me, as does going to new places, reading and telling my brain, pre-sleep, to get to work.
It can also help when I switch to a writing project that isn’t all that interesting, because my brain can sometimes come up with: boy, I’d really rather be writing about . . . and an idea is born.
Kelly, overall going for long hikes works best for me.
I like your idea about working on a project that isn’t very interesting!