Add Laser Focus to Your Article Writing Process

Brainstorming Techniques for Expert Authors

Brainstorming is a technique many Expert Authors use to cultivate ideas and tap into creative sources to keep their articles informative and laser-focused.

Try the following brainstorming techniques to unlock the power of your articles!

Mind Mapping

Mind maps help you organize your thoughts by being able to see them visually. This technique also taps into the creative and resourceful part of your mind. This in turn helps you write better and more engaging articles!

Begin a topic, which we will refer to as “the root.” Then start writing ideas that stem off from that root, and then write more ideas that stem off that root, and so on!

For example: Let’s say I’m a dog groomer and I’m stumped for article ideas. So I focus on my root “dog grooming tips” to get started and I let everything naturally flow from this root idea as it comes to me.

Mind Map – Dog Grooming Tips
Involves: dog nutrition for a healthy coat, brushing, and bathing. (Bathing! This reminds me that flea season is upon us with all the wet weather we had…)

Flea Season

  • treatment indoor/outdoor
  • prevention
  • hiring a professional to get rid of fleas (Professionals! Groomers and exterminators…)

How to Hire/Find a Professional

  • dog groomers
  • exterminators
  • check credentials
  • products professionals use (Products! Safe for home use and heavy duty…)

…and so on!

The 5 Ws and the H

Outlining the 5 Ws and the H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) creates an intuitive checklist and background for you to reference while writing. This helps you target your audience’s needs! Aiming your articles engages your audience, which builds loyalty to you and your site.

Here’s an example:

  • Who is your Audience?
  • What are their needs or wants?
  • Where do they go to get it?
  • When do they need it?
  • Why do they need it?
  • How can you over deliver on it?

Pump Up Your Brainstorming Routine

Grab a stopwatch and try these 15 minute brainstorming sessions:

  1. Stream of Conscious Writing: Begin by writing the first idea that pops into your head and keep writing wherever your mind takes you. It can completely change from the original topic, but keep writing! This technique helps unlock any article ideas you never knew you had!

  2. The Power of Lists: Pick a topic and begin creating a list of all the attributes of that topic. It could be a Pros or Cons list, best or worst, etc. Share your results in an article!

  3. Read Up: Pick an article and read it. After reading, set your stopwatch and begin writing everything you can remember about the article, any impressions, and how the article’s topic impacts your niche. This technique helps build your repertoire by gathering new information and you can share your impressions and the impact the topic has on your niche with your audience!

What methods or techniques do you use to brainstorm and stay motivated while writing articles? Let us know in the comments section below!

Posted by on September 7, 2011 at 9:47 am | 2,461 views

20 Comments »


1
Bellaisa writes:

I really like this idea. Normally, if I’m stuck on ideas, I think about what topic I want to write about and browse the web until I get struck with an idea, but this mind mapping idea will most likely work quicker than the way I do it.

I find that browsing the web forces me to read a lot of articles and waste a lot of time that I could be using to write articles! I will give the mind mapping idea a try TODAY and see how it goes. Thanks.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM

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2
Leon Noone writes:

G’Day Penny,
Great post: or as we might say Down Under, well bloody done!

I’m rarely stuck for an idea but it does happen. I’ve been using the mind mapping thing for years. Only discovered that it had a name last year.

But all the techniques you’ve mentioned will be useful.
Thanks again
Make sure you have fun

Leon

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 11:35 AM

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3
Lance Winslow writes:

Indeed, and this is such a simple method and it works so well, I am surprised more folks don’t use it all of the time – I do.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 1:51 PM

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4
Wolfgang writes:

Hi, I sometimes use the free flow method similar to what you mention in this article, I usually start off with a keyword in mind, and just write for 10 -15 minutes sometimes it’s a bit gibberish, but somewhere within what I have written is an idea to get started with.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 1:56 PM

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5
Lisa writes:

This should help me tremendously as I’m always overwhelmed with ideas and sometimes need to zero in on specific ideas and not go all over the map. Thanks, great tips.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 2:20 PM

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6
jason writes:

Hello to all; I try writing in different locations and at different times of the day. Writing needs to have variables and because of that I find this technique helpful.
I host a talk show and always think and write down topics for my talk show.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 5:19 PM

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7
Noel Villarosa writes:

Another helpful tips that surely will not lead us in astray. It is like planning and weaving those ideas to form something. Good suggestions.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 8:36 PM

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8
April O'Leary writes:

I like the mention of always writing for WHO you are trying to reach, not just on topics that you want to write about. Think of them first. What are their needs? What struggles do they face? What problems am I solving? How am I making their life easier, better, simpler, or offering a solution to their problem? I find another great way to come up with topics is to ask people in your target audience these questions and keep a list. People love being asked for input and feel valued when you listen closely to them. It is a way to stay connected, which as authors, we all need to be mindful of. That way you always have plenty of back-up material for dry days…knowing that what you are writing on was suggested by someone who will likely read it and pass it on.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 9:15 PM

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9
paulina writes:

I would like to share this article with my writing group. Can I print it and distribute to people in the group? Pls advise. Tks, Paulina

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 10:26 PM

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Rob, Director of Online Education writes:

Hi Paulina-

I would like to say yes to your request, but our policy prohibits the redistribution of any of our written training, including Blog posts.

As an alternative suggestion, you could take the tips we give and put your own spin on them for the training you do with your writing group. :)

You’ll find all of our Blog policies here:
http://blog.EzineArticles.com/2007/01/ezinearticlescom-blog-comment-policy.html

September 22, 2011 at 1:48 PM

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10
Karen writes:

Have heard of mind map but haven’t really started doing it. Time to give it a try with the help of your checklist. Thanks.

Comment provided September 7, 2011 at 10:36 PM

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11
prerna writes:

mind mapping method is very good tip. I often have idea but am not able to organise and express. This tip seems to be of a great help.

Comment provided September 8, 2011 at 1:47 AM

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12
SEO-Philippines writes:

Great advice Penny, I reblogged it on my blog because I don’t want to forget all your tips.

Thanks for the idea,
Anthony

Comment provided September 8, 2011 at 4:15 AM

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13
Holly Boyd writes:

I do much of this myself, however, your article made me realize it is time to do it again. When we get side tracked for any reason, this is a great way to get back on the right path! Thank you for your great posting, Blessings to All!

Comment provided September 8, 2011 at 9:01 AM

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14
Noel Villarosa writes:

The reason why I am here, to get professional advice and it is not disappointing getting new tips on this site, it really helps a lot.

Comment provided September 8, 2011 at 9:20 AM

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15
J Dianne Tribble writes:

Thank you so much for this article, I am a strong advocate of mind-mapping and journaliong.

Comment provided September 8, 2011 at 5:17 PM

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16
Kieran Gracie writes:

I often find that I can’t sleep because my mind is buzzing with ideas, or bits of ideas, to write about or edit in to existing articles. Perhaps it is a sign of old age! Anyway, I find that I have usually forgotten them all by morning.

So now I have a notepad handy beside my bed and jot down these ideas as I think of them. In the morning most of them look pretty stupid, but some of them make sense and help my writing enormously.

Comment provided September 9, 2011 at 5:38 AM

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17
Toni DeBella writes:

As a fairly new writer, I was intuitively using this brainstorming technique to write articles and I can confidently say that it works! Most of my ideas come to me in the shower….like your article suggests, I just start the “stream of consciousness” (or as I like to call it, The Spaghetti Technique: throw a hand full on the wall and see what sticks). Ideas just start to happen. Usually my articles will take a turn that I originally didn’t expect, but I go with it! Honestly I listen to my “gut” and just keep writing and editing until the piece “feels right”. You know, when you know. Thanks for all the great tips for writing articles! Toni

Comment provided September 10, 2011 at 7:52 AM

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18
julius writes:

Hey, am a greenhorn on article writing, but may i say i love what you’ve written. Now, i go to work, thanks.

Comment provided November 2, 2011 at 10:40 PM

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19
proxy list writes:

I am looking for a competent writer, long time in this area. Excellent article!

Comment provided December 29, 2011 at 11:37 AM

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