Brainstorming. Do you love it or hate it? Is it easy or hard? Is it better
to make a list of ideas, bounce suggestions back and forth with a crit partner,
or do ideas generally hit you while doing some mundane daily activity?
For a little “lol”:
Dictionary.com defines the term:
Brainstorming: a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc., by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion.
Brainstorm: a. a sudden impulse, idea, etc.
b. a fit of mental confusion or excitement.
Or you could look at it this way:
This reminds me so much of that old party game where one person starts a story, then the next person adds a bit, and so on around the circle. As long as no one purposely sabotages the story line, it's great fun.
I like to make a list of ideas for one problem, sometimes an opposites list, too. I'm usually alone, so that works for me. But when I can get with fellow writers, either in person or in chat, brainstorming off each other is a blast.
Do you have any interesting brainstorming rituals or tactics? Please share!
For a little “lol”:
Dictionary.com defines the term:
Brainstorming: a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc., by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion.
Brainstorm: a. a sudden impulse, idea, etc.
b. a fit of mental confusion or excitement.
Or you could look at it this way:
This reminds me so much of that old party game where one person starts a story, then the next person adds a bit, and so on around the circle. As long as no one purposely sabotages the story line, it's great fun.
I like to make a list of ideas for one problem, sometimes an opposites list, too. I'm usually alone, so that works for me. But when I can get with fellow writers, either in person or in chat, brainstorming off each other is a blast.
Do you have any interesting brainstorming rituals or tactics? Please share!
Ideas tend to come as I'm driving to work. When I'm stuck, I make a list or bounce ideas off of my critique partners. I like the crazy ideas we come up with during the Spec Fic chats. They're always fun.
ReplyDeleteI do most of my brainstorming while getting ready for work in the morning or before I fall asleep. Walks are another favorite brainstorm place, even cleaning house will do in a pinch. Then I tuck my ideas close to my chest and don't tell anyone until I have a chapter to show for it.
ReplyDeleteI kind of actively brainstorm whenever I can. It's sad, really. Whenever I'm not talking, doing thought-requiring work, or worrying/else about something else, I worry/brainstorm about my book.
ReplyDeleteLove these! I think that's one of the neatest things about being a writer. Your brain is always pre-writing and sorting things out.
ReplyDeleteI work on something else while I am brainstorming and then jot down ideas as they come to me.
ReplyDeleteSadly, they just hit me out of nowhere. I don't actively brainstorm. Jot them down and go on LOL For example, we live near the BLM corrals. I also had a cousin (yes, I have enough cousins to make Little Rock look like a tiny town) who lives in HI and is an astrophysicist. For some odd reason, after talking to him, the BLM corrals came to mind and now I have a SF story waiting to be written when I am better at world building.
ReplyDeleteLightning strikes! Love it when that happens.
ReplyDelete