Writing Tip: Keep an Ideas List

Photo credit: La Famille Rapp on Flickr
So you're away from your computer and you get an idea for not one—but two fantastic blog posts. You write the first one as soon as you get to your computer and smile happily because you already know what you're going to write in a couple days for the next post.

A few days later you sit down in front of your computer and realize you've completely forgotten what you were going to write for that second post.

That definitely didn't happen to me this weekend because I keep a running ideas list and I would never neglect to write an idea down before I forgot it. *ahem*

Regardless of whether or not the aforementioned example is in fact based off of recent experience, I'm sure many of you have had something similar happen—and if not with blogging ideas, then with WIP or otherwise writing-related ideas.

An ideas list is a simple and helpful tool that can be used for various aspects of your writing career. I tend to keep two runnings lists: one for blog post ideas and one for WIP ideas. The format, how often you use it, and how often you refer back to it is up to you, but the only rule is this: don't censor yourself.

You see, the ideas list is a sort of never-ending brainstorming sheet. Whatever bits and pieces of inspiration you get—whether it's a full-fledged concept for a new WIP, or a wisp of an idea for a character, can be added to the list for future use. Don't worry about something sounding silly or overly-ambitious—no one else will ever see the list, and just because you write it down doesn't mean you have to go with it. The point is to keep track of your ideas while you have them, so you have something to springboard off of later on when you're fresh out of inspiration.

That way, when you realize you've forgotten that awesome idea that hit you while doing dishes yesterday morning, you won't have to worry because you've already written it down.

Do you keep an ideas list or something similar?

8 comments:

Daphne Gray-Grant said...

When I have an idea I don't want to forget I leave myself a voice memo on my cellphone. Why? 1) My phone is always with me, 2) All my ideas are in one place - I don't have to transcribe material on a bunch of pieces of paper (that may go missing) 3) I can email the voice memo to myself 4) It's less work to do all of this so I'm more likely to do it.

Ava Jae said...

That's a great idea for those who have smartphones. Very clever use of an object most of us carry around at all times. :)

Janet Smart said...

An Idea list is one of the best things a writer can have. Sadly, I don't always write my ideas down and I promptly forget them. So, I need to remember to keep paper handy always.

Vicki Orians said...

I keep a journal next to my bed. Every idea that pops into my head while I'm laying there trying to fall asleep (because inevitably it always happens when I'm trying to SLEEP!) gets stuck right in the journal.

Fallon said...

I don't have one for blog posts but do for my WIPs. Seems like it gets longer a lot faster than it gets shorter. ;)

Ava Jae said...

Lapses in memory are pretty common, so keeping a list handy definitely helps. I understand what you mean about forgetting to bring the list at times, though...

Ava Jae said...

That's a great idea! Although out of curiosity, do keep a lamp or something of the like nearby to turn on when an idea comes to you, or do you write in the dark?

Ava Jae said...

It certainly does, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. I'd rather have a surplus of ideas than a shortage. :)

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...