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Even if our writing aspirations include writing the Great American Novel or the next bestselling movie script, the bread-and-butter of the freelance writing world continues to be short articles and stories. With the explosion of the Internet and the continued growth in the print magazine industry, content will be the new mantra of the working writer. Companies with Web presences will need fresh content as never before, which should keep freelance writers working for quite some time. Everyone from the church secretary who creates a monthly newsletter to the editor of a national magazine needs short articles to fill the pages, making freelance writers very valuable commodities indeed. But where do writers get their ideas for new articles, and what should a writer do if the old brain pan seems to be running dry? Here are some ideas on how to generate short articles on just about any subject you can imagine.
1. When in doubt, brainstorm. This is one of the most time-tested methods for generating new ideas, so don't skip this step unnecessarily. In order to have a good brainstorming session, clear off your entire agenda for a few minutes. You need to devote all of your attention to the brainstorming process in order to benefit. If you work with other writers, suggest a group brainstorming session. Begin the session by clearing your mind of any preconceptions. There is no right or wrong, marketable or unmarketable, useful or useless- just ideas. Pick a subject and just start talking about it. Snow. Snowballs. Winter weather. Bad driving. Snowball fights. Blizzards. Slush. Shovelling driveways. Snowblowers. Snowplows. Kids home from school. Colds... You get the idea. Riff on connections, other related subjects, feelings, memories and so on. Take those rough ideas and turn them into marketable ideas for short articles. From the above example, here's what a writer might submit as a query:
Ten Worst Blizzards in History
How to Shovel Snow Safely
My First Snow Ball Fight
Ideas on Entertaining Children on Snow Days
How to Drive Safely During a Snowstorm
Five Ways to Earn Extra Money During Winter
You can always take a few minutes out of every day to brainstorm, which can unblock your creative side on those days when inspiration is not working.
2. Go beyond the nuts and bolts of your subject. Many experts who become freelance writers become frustrated after writing all the 'how-to' articles they feel are useful. For example, a professional bowler may write articles on ball delivery, lane conditions, spares, scoring, tricks, leagues and ball selection. He or she may feel that the subject of bowling has pretty much been exhausted, and the chances of creating any more useful articles are slim. This is the perfect opportunity to start thinking 'outside the box'. Writing articles on a subject you know very well does not have to end when you've covered the 'how' side of things. You still have why's, where's, who's and what if's to consider. Let's take our bowling expert's situation, for example. Here are some questions to ask yourself when generating new ideas on a subject you believe is tired:
What is the history of bowling?
Who are some of the best bowlers in history?
Have there been any recent equipment changes?
Where do you see the sport going in the future?
Have there been any humorous bowling incidents?
You can adapt these sorts of questions to any other subject you seem to stuck on. Histories, famous figures, strategies, theories, trends and forecasts, personal anecdotes- all of these elements can help generate new ideas, even if you believe that the 'how-to' element has been exhausted. Think outside the box for new ideas.
3. Keep an eye on other mediums for new ideas. One concern for beginning writers is the fear of plagiarism. They may feel that any idea generated or inspired by another medium will be considered plagiarized. This in turn leads to fewer and fewer ideas, and can cripple the creative process. Rest assured that writing an article on your own after seeing a television program on the same subject is not plagiarism. Using the exact phrasing and not crediting outside sources for information will hurt a new writer much more than writing an original article based on ideas you heard on a news program. Information in and of itself is free to all, and general ideas are not protected by copyright laws.
You are perfectly free to write a story on fire safety after seeing a local news report, or submit an article on child abuse after seeing a documentary on a public television station. Mediums such as television, movies, radio talk shows and newspapers can help generate a lot of useful ideas. As long as you use that idea as the basis of an entirely original article, you are not in any danger of plagiarism. If you use quoted material or research, include phrases such as "According to Dr. Dave Winters, head cardiologist at Pratt and Whitney, the incidence of heart attacks among veterans is climbing..."
Real plagiarism comes as a result of improper quoting or not quoting at all. Using facts that are public knowledge is not considered plagiarism unless those facts are copied verbatim from another uncredited source. If you make sure that your article is original, then you can get a lot of inspiration from watching the other media outlets.
4. Nothing replaces observation. If you are completely stuck for new material, take time to observe your surroundings. Watch people interact in a public park or mall. Engage in conversations with friendly strangers, or professionals you encounter. Join in an online discussion group to see what concerns are currently on people's minds. By taking time to recharge your creative batteries, you may discover some renewed interest in writing. Many interesting article ideas can be generated simply by taking the time to consider what potential readers really want to know.
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