Fun, Stress-Free Ways to Brainstorm Story Ideas

Turn on the Radio

Come up with a scene that fits a song. Use an annoying commercial as a short story hook. Take on the persona of a charismatic radio DJ and see what kind of mischief you can get up to. The possibilities are practicially endless. On the flip side, if radio isn't your thing, listen to some music of your own and see what you can come up with. For example, Santana's rendition of "Who's That Lady?" (one of my absolute favorite songs) inspired a short story about a cold but intruiging girl who enthralls a rich boy into a lifelong obsession (it doesn't end well ...)

Turn to Friends, Family & Fellow Fiction Writers!

Who says writing has to be a lonely venture? By incorporating a wider variety of viewpoints, ideas and influences, you create more dynamic fiction, writing enriched by a far less limited perspective and scope. Bouncing ideas off of other people is an interactive experience; this can bring out the best in a writer. If things go especially well, you might even wind up with a collaborator for future projects!

Get Visual

That old cliche ("A picture is worth a thousand words") has more than a grain of truth to it. I took art history my senior year of high school, a year which was arguably my most productive as a writer. Ideas materialized more rapidly, seemed to flow right through me where I once had to sit and wrack my brain. Works of art have always spoken to me, so why shouldn't they speak to you? It can be as easy as running a Google Image search, or you can make a day off it by visiting an art gallery or taking a camera with you while you're out and about.

Take a Walk

Brainstorming isn't a matter of wracking your brain for ideas. Sometimes it's as simple as leaving your desk and doing something else. By not focusing on your lack of ideas, you give your subconscious some room to breath, which then allows the ideas to float to the surface. Sometimes you just need to back off, take a break, smell the roses. (Note: This is more a last-resort, now-and-again tactic; waiting around for inspiration to strike is procrastination, not brainstorming)