I'm not 100% clear on what you're asking, but I'm assuming you're wondering how you come up with something to write about.
This certainly depends on what I'm writing. A paper for class about 1930s in Germany and America has a much simpler topic generation process--usually meaning I just regurgitate something from class--than a blog on which I can write whatever I want.
Generally, I'll just have an idea in my head that I want to explore. Today, I was thinking about how insecurity often causes people to strike out at others. After playing with that idea, I ended up writing about how most disturbances to world peace are a result of feelings of insecurity. Tomorrow, I'll write about something else that pops into my head.
That's generally how I work. I just find something that's interesting and it becomes the topic.
If nothing pops into my head, I usually struggle. I try traditional brainstorming approaches (word association, free writing, mind maps) but they never seem to work very well. If you're completely starved for ideas, though, they're worth a try.
Usually, I just sit down in front of a blank screen and go with whatever hits me. Sometimes it's good, often it's not. Either way, I feel infinitely better for getting it all out.
Well I write a Tech blog, so therefore most of my material is cutting edge meaning I have to skim through a lot of crap to find a few good gems to write about. Considering how the popular trend with Tech news is to spew forth dozens of articles a day in hopes that a few draw some heavy traffic, there is a ton of stuff to sift through. On a good day I'll report 1 news article and every other day I'll try to do something original or offbeat. Well, that's how I'd like it to be if I was blogging 9-5. Since my blog also is aligned with my computer-related hobbies I usually have something on the backburner that I can post about, always a plus.
Whatever inspires me in the day. I'm not really sure how to answer your question: is this in the context of the blogosphere? Essay competitions? Thesis writing?
Comments
4 Comments
davidhayes
Written Oct. 11, 2007 / Report /
I'm not 100% clear on what you're asking, but I'm assuming you're wondering how you come up with something to write about.
This certainly depends on what I'm writing. A paper for class about 1930s in Germany and America has a much simpler topic generation process--usually meaning I just regurgitate something from class--than a blog on which I can write whatever I want.
Generally, I'll just have an idea in my head that I want to explore. Today, I was thinking about how insecurity often causes people to strike out at others. After playing with that idea, I ended up writing about how most disturbances to world peace are a result of feelings of insecurity. Tomorrow, I'll write about something else that pops into my head.
That's generally how I work. I just find something that's interesting and it becomes the topic.
If nothing pops into my head, I usually struggle. I try traditional brainstorming approaches (word association, free writing, mind maps) but they never seem to work very well. If you're completely starved for ideas, though, they're worth a try.
bgilham
Written Oct. 11, 2007 / Report /
Usually, I just sit down in front of a blank screen and go with whatever hits me. Sometimes it's good, often it's not. Either way, I feel infinitely better for getting it all out.
Gomeler
Written Oct. 11, 2007 / Report /
Well I write a Tech blog, so therefore most of my material is cutting edge meaning I have to skim through a lot of crap to find a few good gems to write about. Considering how the popular trend with Tech news is to spew forth dozens of articles a day in hopes that a few draw some heavy traffic, there is a ton of stuff to sift through. On a good day I'll report 1 news article and every other day I'll try to do something original or offbeat. Well, that's how I'd like it to be if I was blogging 9-5. Since my blog also is aligned with my computer-related hobbies I usually have something on the backburner that I can post about, always a plus.
shadowsun7
Written Oct. 11, 2007 / Report /
Whatever inspires me in the day. I'm not really sure how to answer your question: is this in the context of the blogosphere? Essay competitions? Thesis writing?