How to Brainstorm for Coherent Ideas?

Brainstorming is a dynamic, interactive process of bouncing ideas off one another. Its purpose is to stimulate creative thinking and is best done in groups or with a friend with similar interests.

I’ve stated this many times before that; sometimes when you start writing content – it doesn’t really flow as smoothly as you would like it to. Indisputably, I’ve experienced a few such hiccups myself but a simple brainstorm can branch out and grow into an extraordinarily structured piece of work.

How do you brainstorm?

I follow a simple 4-step Brainstorming process that regulates not just blogging minds, but creative thinkers across the world. I was taught this technique at the tender age of either or nine, but as the years packed on so did my understanding of brainstorming and how critical it is for producing exceptional content.

The 4-step Brainstorming Process;

1) Fill two pages of your journal – If you followed my previous posts, I’ve blabbered on about keeping a journal – the same blabbering that received mixed reviews and opinionated responses, which I’ve accepted gladly.

Having said that, if you have decided to maintain a journal – take a topic or theme from your blog and plan to fill at least two pages with ideas, definitions, opinions from other bloggers or anything else you can find on the topic.

You can always get in touch with your readers and discuss with them on the topics they would like to see you write. Perhaps a poll with key words? Then take a few of these key words, the ones that most prominently stand out to you and continue on to step 2.

2) Look up Keywords in your thesaurus and dictionary. Spend some time on a dictionary or thesaurus. Personally, this is my favorite part of brainstorming because learning new words and definitions allows me to explore areas that I wouldn’t even consider otherwise.

The idea is to write down 4-5 definitions or synonymous phrases. When you think you’ve got enough definitions and as you sift through you can move on to step 3.

3) Research! Research! Then More Research – Use a search engine at your disposal to read other blogs in similar niches to you. Frankly, it’s no secret – but I spend a lot of my time on ProBlogger and ShoeMoney because their style of writing and their gifted ability to connect with readers is extraordinary.

This is not as easy as it sounds, because many bloggers that use this step tend to fall in to the pitfalls of imitating their author’s content. What does that mean? Well, if you are repeatedly exposed to a single style of writing, you unknowingly can adapt it. This can lead to a lack of uniqueness and will eventually force you to fall short of success.

I just wanted to make it clear because many new bloggers tend to read so much content from a handful of top bloggers, that they “copy” or “adopt” their writing style. Take the effort to unearth your voice and your style!

4) Think what you want to read as a reader – Every now and then it helps just to sit down and think; “What do I want to read about?” You would be surprised how often you and your readers have a common interest. I mean, they are your readers because they enjoy something about you as a blogger, so there’s a good chance your interest comply with theirs

Don’t even break a sweat, ’cause that’s it!

Consider these four simple steps before you start writing because it has done wonders for me. However, it doesn’t guarantee anything because end of the day, you need to explore your strengths and your weakness, so you can adapt a writing technique that will help you spark your imagination.