photo by SideLong
How to Focus Your Ideas series:
1. Series Introduction
2. Idea Dumps: Letting It All Hang Out
3. Navigating the Idea Dump
4. A Hefty Dose of Moxie
If you’re expecting this post to to take the GTD world by storm with some groundbreaking, über-productive system I’ve invented, you can stop holding your breath. No drumroll here.
This series is not about a productivity system. It’s about the art of collecting and nurturing your ideas. I’m talking to the people who have so many ideas that they can’t spit any of them out. Or the people who have the shadow of an idea looming over them, but they can never quite put their hand around it. Or anyone who wants to see what’s haunting the back corners of their minds.
You could say it’s an in-depth look at only the “collection” stage of Getting Things Done. If you’re looking for productivity hacks and new ways to gussy up your Hipster PDA, there are scads of websites out there that can do the job better than I can. I once tried to GTD-ify my Moleskine, and I ended up drowning in a heap of binder tabs, Sharpies, and calendar print outs, as I secretly yearned for the simplicity of my scribbles and scrawls. Those tabs were ripped out four days later, and the mind-of-their-own scribbles returned.
But I’m not out to slam GTD. The core principle of GTD is actually what I’m going to focus on today. I’m just going to skip all the bells and whistles — the fancy software programs, the tricked-out binder clips — and explore the motivation for collecting and cultivating those ideas in the simplest way possible.
First, I’d like to talk about the glories of pen and paper. Here’s the thing: I sometimes have a little too much faith in my memory. When I get into bed, it usually takes me a little while to fall asleep. Those long minutes before sleep stretch over my day, snaking their way through the piles that I’ve amassed throughout the day. The dark is indulgent and empty, allowing strange thoughts and connections to emerge from those tangled piles. Sometimes, little bits of brilliance even rise to the surface.
More often than not, I reassure myself that they will still be there in the morning. I decide that it’s wiser to let my body continue its slow drift toward slumber, and so I choose not to write anything down. As you’re all probably predicting, those bits of brilliance have usually vanished by morning. If not vanished, they’ve settled down into the depths of my brain, where they’ll be a long time in returning to the surface.
All I had to do was write it down. It’s an absurdly simple solution that I so often ignore because I fancy my brain a dexterous idea-juggler. But the truth is, I’m a klutz. So when I ignore this absurdly simple advice, my mind starts scrambling around, trying to make sure none of these jumbled ideas slips into the cracks. I lose focus, and most of the ideas aren’t even given the chance to focus. This is the core principle of GTD: by recording (or, “collecting”) your ideas, you free the space in your mind to concentrate on doing. The way I look at it, you free the energy wasted on trying to remember those ideas, and use it instead to focus your ideas.
What do I mean by “focusing your ideas,” you ask? If we take a very literal definition of “focus,” we can see it as a way of concentrating something into a sharp beam. If our ideas are sliding about and struggling to gain a steady foothold, there’s not much chance we’ll give them enough energy to create that sharp beam.
So here’s my “system” for giving those ideas some steady ground. Take a seat, boys and girls, ’cause this is sure to blow your mind.
1. STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER
2. WRITE IT DOWN
3. LET IT ALL HANG OUT
A stroke of genius, no?
Now comes the fun part. We’re gonna talk about how to write it down, and how to let it all hang out. How to dump out all those ideas you’ve got inside.
Limitless Listing
This idea sounds completely boring and lame. A list, Zoë, really? Yes, really.
1. Take a seat, or lie on your stomach with a pillow between your elbows (my personal favorite brainstorming position).
2. Pick your topic.
3. Decide on a time frame (four minutes, say) or a space frame (three notebook pages).
4. Start listing words — big ones, small ones, phrases, sentences, or even made-up ones — and do not censor yourself. Let it all hang out. Press the mute button on that “reasonable” part of your brain that tells you your idea is too zany, too costly, or just plain dumb.
5. Do not stop listing until your space is filled or your time is up.
This method is my favorite way to haul in a whole mess of ideas that I barely knew existed. When I first started rethinking the direction of this blog, I got nervous that I wouldn’t be able to think of enough post ideas. So before I wrote anything new, I lay down on the couch with a notebook and pen and let loose an eruption of possible posts. Within four minutes, I had jotted down a load of good ideas, some of which you’ve already seen manifested in my past few posts. These ideas all connected to broader notions that had been floating around my mind, but the simple act of writing it down in an automatic stream allowed these ideas to focus into tangible, sharp beams.
Your lists will naturally produce sub-lists, as the ideas splinter into handfuls of concrete specifics. That’s how this series came about. First, I wrote “focus your ideas” on the list. Then I wrote “idea dumps.” Then my mind had a lot more to say about that, so “write it down,” “simple lists,” and “stupid weird ideas” all got stuffed into a sub-list.
If you don’t already use this method, try it out. Start listing new ways to incorporate photos into your writing. Or character ideas for that one-act play you’ve been meaning to write. Or PR techniques that won’t cost you a dime. If you don’t squeeze out at least a few ideas that you didn’t know were lurking around, e-mail me and say you want your money back. Or your time, since my blog charges no entry fee at the door. I’ll figure out some crafty way to hand you back those minutes.
Mind Mapping and Clustering
You’ve already seen my mind-mapping madness here and here. But as I pointed out, those maps were colored and cleaned up for your viewing pleasure. I work with two types of mind maps: the messy brainstorming ones, and the pretty organizational ones (which we’ll discuss in the next post).
Here’s how to do your own messy brainstorm mind map:
1. Write your topic in the middle of the page, then draw a box or circle around it.
2. Start writing down associations as you think of them, connecting those words to the original square/circle with a line. Again, let it all hang out. Just keep the pen to the paper, and don’t worry about whether or not your connections make sense.
3. Keep going until you have a web spread across the page. You could give yourself a time limit for this one too, but I usually don’t.
Clustering is similar to my messy mind mapping. To cluster, you write the topic in the middle of the page, then write down associations anywhere on the page. Basically, you’re not stopping to draw the connecting lines. Once you’re finished, you’ll start drawing circles around related “clusters,” but that will be part of the next post on navigating your idea dump.
Keep It Simple
There are plenty of other brainstorming techniques out there — starbursting, cubing, the 6 Qs, etc. — and lots of articles describing how to use them for problem-solving. In this post, I’m aiming to give our creative ideas a solid foundation to work with. A fighting chance, at least. The conviction behind this post is so utterly simple that I started to question if it was even worth a whole blog post.
But now I’m confident that it does. Even though some readers may scoff at my small offering of “techniques,” my main motivation for writing this is to remind you — and myself — why certain small, simple approaches can provoke significant changes.
In the comments of my last post, a lot of people said that creativity was about making connections, being brave enough to deviate from the easy and the ordinary, and honestly revealing your distinct perspective. All those points come down to allowing yourself to entertain new possibilities. To allow yourself to take a chance. And that’s why I think these techniques work — because they only ask that you switch into automatic mode, and let your brain spout forth whatever’s bottled up back there.
I hope all of you will go do a mini-brainstorm when you finish this post. Do it on that question you’ve been keeping on the tip of your tongue, or that one project you just haven’t had the time to think about. I’m really curious to see if these bare basic methods are as effective for you as they are for me. If you get glorious results, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Or maybe there’s a method that works much better for you — I’d like to hear about that too.
Add your comments below, or click the title of this post if no comment form is visible!
If you enjoy this blog, I invite you to subscribe by e-mail or by RSS reader (links are near the top of the sidebar).
{ 6 trackbacks }
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Glad to see a new post come out with such heft! This series will certainly wind up being a cornerstone of your site.
Personally, I have to set aside some time to dump out all the ideas whether or not I’m inspired. While I do get the occasional great idea out of the blue, more often they come from intentionally sitting down to brainstorm.
Thank you Zoe! Although, I’m not a writer but a farmer I can actually implement your suggestions into the planning of my crops, marketing the farm and goals for the farm. These changes might help reduce the number of grays on my head.
I’m so glad I found your site.
Great article. I find the forced writing method to work good for me – just start writing anything even if it’s “I don’t know what to write” over and over until other thoughts start happening. Usually, after 2 paragraphs there is a flow of ideas coming out.
Also have been using Evernote Mobile on iPhone to log ideas when out and about. A great tool.
Brent Haeseker´s last blog post..Social Networking’s Influence on Your Site’s Traffic – Part 2
“The dark is indulgent and empty, allowing strange thoughts and connections to emerge from those tangled piles. Sometimes, little bits of brilliance even rise to the surface.”
Love this. It’s true. My wife is now perfectly used to, and mostly comfortable with, my rising from half sleep to scribble. It’s what I do now. I’m a writer. Like you, I can’t keep hold of a thought from shut eye to open, no matter how much I try to convince myself that it will be shining with all its brilliance, right along with sun. It won’t, and as much as I love my laptop, I’ve found myself going back to pen and paper over the last month or so. I feel like I’m tapping a different mine.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Bright Ideas
I’ll take you up on the mini-brainstorm. Ironically, it was when I started blogging that I became too dependent on the computer and lost some creativity. You are the second person who has recommended getting back to pen and paper, and the results are tremendous! Flopped down on my stomach in a cushy carpet to cluster is better than staring at the blank computer screen, that’s for sure.
TJ Hirst´s last blog post..Forgo the Fast Lane for a Seat at the Thanksgiving Table
My problem – you hit upon it Zoe (how do you get those little dots above the e?) – NOT using the almighty pen and paper. Nighttime – I even keep paper and pen by the bed – but think – I’ll remember it in the morning – which of course, I don’t. So, first thing – I’m going to use that paper!
And…I love these creative ideas you’ve listed to really generate some new thoughts – those too I will be incorporating (although I’m at work now – so I better not lay down on the floor with the pillow – or I’ll probably lose my job – come to think of it, maybe that’s the motivation I need to take this to the next level…). OK, I’m still gonna hold off on that one until I’m in the comfort of my own home…
I’m a messy mind-mapper too, and I teach this to execs and others who must assess/analyze something. But I use circles (or ovals) around most words/phrases and I reserve the random square/rectangle around “off” ideas that don’t quite follow the presumed path, but that deserve extra attention later for an off-shoot mapping session, or a sequel concept, or cons vs the pros, etc.
The eye is an amazing sorting tool, and when the brain spews without limits (why I prefer pen over computer for mind-mapping) it will increase size, change letter styles, choose placement… many different ways to clue us into the literal “brain storm!”
Thanks for the post, keep up the good work.
I think that writing out all my eyes in a web-like this has freed me from my constant erasing and reordering that I would suffer through when I needed to figure out what I needed to do. Writing things in a seemingly disorganized fashion helped me get things done and be more efficient that I ever thought I could be.
(Reading the todoodlist also helped.)
Matthew Dryden´s last blog post..Who the Eff is Matthew Dryden?
Excellent! I actually learned this technique long ago in college, but rarely think to use it to stir up ideas for my blog. thanks for the reminded. Chuck’s choice for this project was well deserved.
dlyn´s last blog post..Sunday
I used to take all my notes in mindmap form at Uni . . . made studying and writing essays a breeze – and nobody ever wanted to borrow my notes once they had seen them . . . go figure LOL
For some reason though I haven’t applied it to blogging . . . duh! Thanks for the reminder Zoe (sorry don’t know how to do the umlaut!!). Its got to be more productive than staring at the empty computer screen. I have been slowly moving back to pen and paper lists though lately. There is something more solid and real about being able to pick them up and put them in your pocket/handbag/wallet to refer to/add to as the need arises!
Meg´s last blog post..Shop Local – Think Global
Great post! Learning to do a “brain dump” has helped to retain more of my thoughts than I believed possible.
So glad you have found readership and been inspired to put a post like this out there. I enjoyed reading it.
Suzanne´s last blog post..Focus Challenge – Month 8
Another great post Zoe.
I love pen and paper. I often ‘empty my mind’ and just allow myself to write. Words become sentences which in turn become paragraphs. I never time this, I just write until there are no more words. It is not only a useful tool to unleash the creativity held captive in your brain but also a good way of organising your thoughts. On a more personal level it is also a brilliant way of releasing any anxieties, somehow putting worries on to paper makes them seem less terrifying,
I have paper by my bed now to jot down ideas, as I have often had wonderful ideas for a post on my blog, the words flowing through my brain. I am now known to fall asleep with pen and paper still in my hand. Have changed to pencil now as the pens were making far too much mess.
Mad Asthmatic´s last blog post..Off to see the Wizard!
Wow, that’s a lot to digest! I’ve been using a composition notebook to write down ideas, but I think I’m holding back too much – I’ll write down maybe 3 or 4 ideas at a time and then later I’ll pick one to write about.
Roy Scribner´s last blog post..5 Family Camping Abodes for 2009
Hey Zoe, Great post, I do a similar process but in a notebook,I am not artistic enough to use larger paper. The process is the same though
and it works very well, also acts as a backup for your work and Ideas
in case your mail gets dumped like mine has for the last 4 days on yahoo.
I’m not bitter, Just without mail! Now I have time to do what I am suppose to be doing. Have a wonderful day, Great Blog! Timothy Millar “The Leprechaun”
Timothy Millar´s last blog post..Yanik Silver’s Maverick business Insider
Hey, Zoe
There is at least one part of my brain that is accessible ONLY by pen and paper. I have learned to mind-map and cluster…and both techniques work well. Long before we had mind-mapping, we had “thought boxes,” and I still use them for pure brain dumping of life in all its many categories.
Novels, non-fiction, posts, short stories, and so much more are born through the process you describe. I had been thinking about such a post, but you have said it better.
B J Keltz´s last blog post..Push the Boundaries
@Lance – I’ll be a total pain in the ass and say that the two little dots above the e in Zoe’s name are called an umlaut. And I know this how? Because I’m a singer and often sing in German. My mind is full of stuff like that – what a friend used of mine calls “nickle knowledge.”
Back to coming up with ideas, I know one fairly well-known writer who writes her non-fiction while dressed and sitting at her computer . . and her novels in her nightgown, in bed, with a pencil and yellow legal pad. She finds the creative ideas flow better that way.
Zoe, your blog is looking and sounding terrific. One suggestion, which I think others have made: add “more” to partial posts before the runover. Otherwise it looks as though it ends there.
Jean Gogolin´s last blog post..Revealed: How the Financial Bailout Really Works
@ Chuck – Ooh, I’ve never had a cornerstone before…!
@ Ang – Never expected these methods to be used for crop planning and farm marketing — that’s excellent!
@ Brent – I recently started using Evernote on my computer. I’m still trying to get in the habit of actually using it, though.
@ Writer Dad – “I feel like I’m tapping a different mine.” I completely agree. That simple, unrefined stream that comes out introduces such a new perspective.
@ TJ – Sometimes it feels like we have to pull ourselves off the computers. There are just so many little points of suction…but it’s refreshing to work in a totally different mode for a while.
@ Lance – Yea, I suppose my favorite brainstorming position is best reserved for the privacy of your own home!
@ GirlPie – Circles and squares — a great subtle way to organize! It is pretty amazing to watch the organization our brain does automatically.
@ Matthew – I’ve been thinking about checking out the todoodlist… it seems right up my alley.
@ dlyn – I used it to study in college too — everyone kinda looked at my mind maps with a wary eye : )
@ Meg – Yea, I haven’t switched to digital for my mobile note-taking needs… just doesn’t feel natural to me. Of course if I had an iPhone I might speak differently, but I’d like to think not!
@ Suzanne – I wasn’t sure if I should put it out there, but it’s nice to see that people really do appreciate reminders of simple methods.
@ Mad Asthmatic – Freewriting is a wonderful way to trigger the creative writing habit, but you’re right — it also works wonders for calming the mind.
@ Roy – I keep a notebook around too for catching random ideas, but I think these idea dumps are really helpful to do every so often. A lot of good stuff builds up in there…
@ Timothy – Aha, a case of paper being the sturdy backup for digital! Hope you get your mail back…
@ B J – I like the image of ‘thought boxes.’ Haven’t heard that one before. Like Writer Dad said, it certainly is like tapping a whole different mine.
@ Jean – My umlaut is getting so much attention
! About the ‘more’ tag… I would really like to put it in, but I haven’t yet figured out the code I need.
Zoe,
great reminder. I often rely on memory to capture great ideas, only to find them forgotten. I am stuck on a project and will hit a few of your ideas. If I succeed, I will report back. Keep it up. I agree that this could be a cornerstone piece for the blog.
Margaret
margaret chaidez´s last blog post..Michelle, Zoe and Jerry: Where It All Started
This is great – I found the five points under “listing” especially galvanizing!
cuileann´s last blog post..Nocturnality à la cuileann
“… certain small, simple approaches can provoke significant changes.” Yes. This is key. Do not look for the answer; look instead for instruction, in every little moment. Then you will live creatively, and find reason in your rhyme.
It’s true that writing works for writers, moving works for movers, imaging works for painters, etc. But there’s also a certain universal expressiveness in the simple ’stylo’ or pencil/ink on paper, guided by the hand as we’ve been learned from an early age. No computer can match the intimacy of making marks on paper. When we scribble mind maps, we respond intuitively to thought, and the intellect is kept at bay.
mary´s last blog post..The old toe touch
Nice post. I can never list everything. Dictionaries and phone books do that, and they are boring. Rather, my lists are filtered – by me, my self, voice, and personality. As I deconstruct myself with lists, it is important to have an eye on the moving forward, the reconstruction, the re-selfing that will arise with new insights. I need filters when both taking apart and when putting back together. Moving forward with wide-eyed purpose; I can always start the process over again if I missed something important. In the meantime, I will be somewhere and someone else than I was before.
Ken Wagner´s last blog post..Cricket Song | haiku
Very good article! I love how you laid it out. I personally found that I am much better at recording my thoughts into my phone…but that’s just me. I am not a writer…I am a talker!
I guess we all need to find what works and implement it. The biggest thing is to keep it simple.
Troy Malone
Pelotonics
Yes! I love handwriting and list-making. There’s something about pen and paper that frees me up and lets me write total crap if I need to. And if I didn’t write total crap most of the time, I would never write anything good every once in a while (or I hope it’s good…).
Tobey´s last blog post..What I Miss Most, a List
The one thing I miss having a very small place is my white board. I would draw all over it with lines and circles and you name it! I could see the big picture, literally.
Other than that I don’t idea dump because it drags me down into details. I prefer the big picture and keep that in mind while letting the details come out bit by bit and then I don’t get overwhelmed.
But when we get a bigger place one of my first purchases will be a whiteboard!
Alex Fayle | Someday SyndromeI´s last blog post..Creating Room to Grow: Akemi Gaines Interview
@ Margaret – I’ll await your report…! I’m still working on fully convincing myself that my memory is sub-par. Now I at least keep a notebook by my bed, so laziness is no longer a viable excuse for failing to write it down : )
@ cuileann – Lovely! It’s pretty exciting to know that these work for other people, not just my quirky little routine.
@ Mary – Yes — reason can be an extremely useful thing, but it doesn’t need to be in the forefront all the time.
@ Ken – You’ve painted the picture so well, it’s all about moving. “Deconstruct myself with lists” is a marvelous way to put it.
@ Troy – Hmm, I’ve never tried recording my thoughts. Maybe I’m too self-conscious?
@ Tobey – That’s precisely how I feel. Just looked at your most recent list… wine and cheese, I second that! Two of my favorite things, and I’m denied of them!
@ Alex – I keep thinking about getting a white board when I’m at the stationery store, now I think you’ve convinced me. That’s really interesting that focusing on the big picture lets you move forward.
This post tickles me pink because when it comes to practicing creativity, there’s nothing I love more than the idea generating phase. Lists, mind maps, index cards, I have tried all these methods and they all work extremely well. I tend to do lists the most though, probably because I find them to be the quickest, most efficient way to get the ideas recorded. Awesome post!
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Ten Tips for Doing Business Online
I like to use yellow legal pads to track new ideas and action items. Stepping away from the computer as you say, is the fastest way to get your creative side in gear. I find that most good ideas are a combination of frustration and inspiration. Where some people see frustration, I see opportunity.
Anyhow just found this site through Comment Luv, look forward to reading more.. you might like my title. VP of Ideas, I get paid to come up ideas on a daily basis.. my dream job.
Dan Nickerson´s last blog post..Get Backlinks and Traffic with Tipz.com
Wow! It took me a couple of attempts to get my head around all that! Great post. Undoubtedly, scibbling ideas down on paper is a good idea. Personally, like some others who’ve commented on your posts, I just sit down and write and often I’ve little more to go on other than a title, or a first line, or even a sort of central phrase – I even write most of my novels this way.
However, you’re so right. Ideas pop up, but if you don’t record them, they pop back down again and you can’t for the life of you recall what they were – except that they were “brilliant” at the time.
I’ve never managed to make brainstorming work unless there is someone else to join in, but you can often get inspiration just by reading blog after blog and comment after comment, which is similar to brainstorming. Sooner or later, someone’s post or comment inspires or angers you to the point where you suddenly have a “great” idea, but like those flashes in the semi darkness, you need to write it down, or, ten minutes later, it’s gone, rarely to return.
CJ´s last blog post..Your Options Are Limited
I used to think I would be able to remember important things from one day to the next, but eventually discovered how important it is to write them down. I should definitely start idea mapping the way you do. My current method involves writing whatever I’m thinking on whatever paper happens to be nearest (or in my moleskine if it’s available). This method ends up working okay, but only after I’ve scoured the notebooks for every class I take, my assignment book, and every receipt stuffed in my wallet.
I’m pretty good at coming up with ideas because they’re based around funny things that actually occur. The challenge is making those things funny in print. That seems to be a matter of just plugging away for me…
Johnny Truant´s last blog post..The 2008 election results are in!
I happen to come to your page through a friends and just wanted to tell you that you have a lot of great information on this post. Thanks. I’m sure that I’ll use a lot of the hints in the future.
Tony´s last blog post..The Wall – Veteran’s Day
Another good post, Zoe. I haven’t read other comments because I don’t wish to be influenced by them.
I find it often amazing at the difference in people, who are after the same results, yet approach it differently. I have never been big on lists, and mind maps just don’t cut it for me. But I carry around a dog-eared Hipster PDA that is my lifeline to reality. My daughter and wife are big list makers. My daughter cannot begin her day without making a list first, and dutifully crosses out each task as it is accomplished. Much the same with my wife. I tease them both in telling them that the time they spend making a list they could accomplish what they are putting down on paper. Of course, it works for them.
When I am under the gun, which is often, I make a different kind of list that works for me. I used this when working in voc rehab. I often got overwhelmed with the number of clients I had, so I would make a “day calendar” to GTD. Separated into half hours, each client got that much of my time. I would meet their needs, cross them off the list, and get them out the door. It worked for me because it empowered me to GTD. What works for some does not always work for others. Now that I work for myself, I often use a timer to measure out my day in sizable chunks to help me stay focused. When I am racing the timer, I get a lot done. I am sure it is a psychological thing.
When you go to sleep at night you say that your mind won’t shut down because of ideas. The approach I use is more of a meditational one. I quiet my mind, for both the business of sleeping and to clear my brain of activity. When this happens, many good things come to me because I have silenced the “chatter” in my head. The ideas get written down on my PDA, and greets me in the morning. I then have a plan for the day. Each of us do things that work for us. We may scoff at other people’s idea of how to accomplish things, but the bottom line is this – if you are getting things done, no matter how you get to them, then what you are doing is working. I firmly believe that we should never lock ourselves into anything that is against our nature or will. I also believe that it is very important for anyone with a creative mind to have a method of keeping track. Mind map, cocktail napkin, Hipster – it is all the same thing. it is how we approach it that matters.
Peace,
Alden~
Alden Smith´s last blog post..Adds You – A New Concept In Social Networking
Tricked out binder clips…! Who knew?? I’m frequently held hostage in a Trauma Unit of a university teaching hospital–lots of hoopla/not much moola, where we constantly rig together equipment with paperclips and 3M clear tape. Binder clips look like heavenly fun.
Back to the subject at hand, idea dumping, BRILLIANT(please imagine this being said in an Oprah chant). One of those things that sits in front of a person’s face and is totally ignored while you look around it searching for nirvana. Working-outside-the-home moms live by the grace of lists, but they are generally linear and/or chronological. This mind-mapping(not to be confused with mind-melding, or even mind-melting)will take a little practice, but if it gives me the excuse I need to buy new colored markers and pencils I am so in. Thanks again for the generosity of sharing the gifts of your ideas.
AnnieH´s last blog post..November 11,
@ Matthew Dryden Todoolist Rocks!
Zoe, I am a huge fan of a yellow legal pad and a gel pen. And it has nothing to do with the fact I type like I have hooves instead of fingers. Baaaa!
Jamie Simmerman´s last blog post..The Unseen Struggle
@ Melissa – I like using different methods too, but it does seem that in the end, using the simplest approach (lists, for example) allows your mind to slip really easily into automatic mode.
@ Dan – VP of Ideas?? Hm, I am the sole proprietor of Essential Prose…perhaps I can give myself that title too : )
@ CJ – Interesting comparison between reading blogs+comments and brainstorming. Sometimes I feel guilty for reading through so many blogs all the time, but I honestly do agree with you — snippets of other posts and comments can unleash a sudden stream of ideas.
@ Morgan – I used to do the receipt-note-taking thing quite often, but after a while I couldn’t handle lugging around a wallet that doubled as an archive! Now I almost always carry a small notebook.
@ Johnny – If your election post is any evidence, it seems like you’re doing pretty well
@ Tony – Thanks, hope they serve you well!
@ Alden – As always, thank you for your keen insight. Your daily idea processing is quite intriguing. It’s the first time I’ve heard (er, read) about someone using a Hipster PDA without it making me roll my eyes. In fact, you make me want to throw one together myself!
I especially enjoyed reading about your practice of writing down ideas before bed, and using those as your plan for the next day. I have been planning to try my hand at meditation, but I hadn’t thought of practicing before sleep.
@ Annie – Wow, your excitement is contagious! Mind mapping does take a little practice. Once you get comfortable with it, it feels natural enough to serve its purpose extremely well, though.
@ Jamie – Ooh, hooves might make it a bit tedious, I’d imagine. Had a few people saying they use legal pads…maybe I’ll pick up a few, since I suppose the ample space is a useful benefit when spilling all your ideas out!
You are so right about the brainstorming ideas. One of my long term jobs is tutoring two boys in reading and writing who homeschool. I’ve been doing this for almost 4 years. Your ideas for the graphics work for them, too. I’ll have them draw a circle with questions or ideas, and it goes on from there. This method really works……………:)
BTW, the creativity mentioned in your last blog post really got me thinking about to institute more creativity in my own blog posts, and it’s working. I’m still getting the hang of it, but loving the idea of using a little bit of myself in each post.
Just wanted to let you know, I looked you up courtesy of Chuck Westbrook, and I think your blog is fascinating. I, too, seem to have a million ideas running around in my head that I don’t organize well! I will use some of your tips in the future.
Kate´s last blog post..Our Own “Over There”
Zoe, I just wanted to let you know first that you have an awesome blog! I’ve been avidly reading all your posts and they have given me tons to think about (so much so that I’ve been unable to formulate any coherent comments as of yet b/c my brain has been so full with the new ideas or Aha! moments you’ve shown me).
Finally, I’m trying to “focus”. I’m much more of a pen and paper person, simply b/c pen and paper are so much more mobile (and indestructible). I tend to end up at hazmat sites and chicken coops–electronics don’t live well in these places and are expensive to then replace. I’m also a seriously crappy typer and can lose an idea between one breath and the next. Therefore, I have notebooks and pads of paper everywhere, b/c I have the memory of a gnat and always have my best ideas in the most inconvenient places (bathrooms). I write down every idea or hint of an idea that I have b/c you never know which one is going to turn into something great. I am also petrified that one day I’ll run out of ideas so I’m saving all the extras for a rainy day.
I had never heard of mind-mapping until I read your blog and can’t wait to try it. Once again, thanks for the great blog, Zoe. You are solving so many of my problems!
Anya´s last blog post..Listen Or The Chickens Will Get You
I use mind maps in the form of webs and graphic organizers in my job: elementary school teaching. I can see how these tools would work for my own idea mapping, too. Since I type faster than I write, Inspiration software is great for brainstorming.
Daisy´s last blog post..Crock Pot Potato Soup with or without Ham
The question on the tip of my tongue: WHY DO I BLOG? It’s the same reason why, in high school, instead of paying attention to Beowulf, I wrote my own mini novels. Later, I was taken with the poetry of Dickinson, Roethke, Levertov, cummings – but, before I “discovered” them, I was rhyming song and wrong – love and above.
The Blog is a commercial endeavor for so many. It’s hard to ignore bloggers making thousands. But, I didn’t write in 9th grade thinking I was going to be famous or rich. I wrote because I HAD TO WRITE. Like breathing. I didn’t think of marketing myself or what my brand might be. These days, bloggers have brands. I think I’ve decidedly rebelled against that. If the truth is a brand, that’s what I want mine to be. And, I’m not nearly honest enough. I want to tell the truth, but I will not stoop to being an exhibitionist.
Anyway, what I love about your blog is that the content is so rich and this is such a commercial-free zone. You have inspired me to get back to the basics. No gimmicks here, Zoe, and in the Blogosphere of cheap dates and cheaper tricks, your blog is hand written letter. or I’ll be sticking around long after this blip of two weeks is over.
JenX67´s last blog post..Veteran’s Day 2008: May your feet be jubilant today, Daddy
Loving this post. It also goes to show that if you have something worth saying and it needs to be said in more than 400 words, your readership will read and appreciate!
I don’t know why, maybe it’s just me, but I end up doing a weird version of half mind map half bullet point thingies. Am i weird?
Paradise @ lastminuteacademic.blogspot.com´s last blog post..Jerk Mentality?
@ Lisa – I think the idea of “drawing” a brainstorm is also less intimidating (for kids or adults!). Some people hate lists, cause they feel like everything on it has to be “important.”
@ Kate – Thanks for coming by. Even though organization can sound so bo-ring, it can be just what you need to strike that balance.
@ Anya – I’m so happy to read your lovely words : ). I must say, I think the bathroom is the only room in the house I haven’t yet graced with one of my notebooks. But now that you mention it, it does make sense…!
@ Daisy – I just downloaded a trial copy of Inspiration, so I’m curious to see if I can actually feel comfortable mind-mapping on the screen.
@ JenX67 – Being called a handwritten letter has never sounded like such a wonderful compliment. I love the posts I write here, but it does make it really special when I can share them with people who will truly read and dissect them!
@ Paradise – I seem to have a really hard time sticking to the under-500 blog rule. Lucky me, it seems to be flexible
I don’t think your mind-map-bullet-point-thingies method is weird…when you find a method that feels natural, definitely stick with it!
All right, so I thought of a “constructive criticism” for this post. I don’t follow the structure very well. Are parts of the post supposed to correspond to the first three points (1. step away, 2. write, 3. let it all hang out) that you mention?
cuileann´s last blog post..Seer wanted
@ cuileann — Oops, I see your confusion — three steps, then three sub-headings. That wasn’t intentional, the sub-headings aren’t supposed to correspond to those first three points. Thanks for pointing that out — I’ll have to be more aware in the future!
Zoe, still playing catchup from being away for about 2 weeks… I found your post quite intriguing. I had not found the total program of GTD useful to overlay my habits. However, there were parts of the book that I found thoroughly useful. Perhaps one of them was the art of list making – lists for everything.
This helps me keep topics for my blog handy, but I have also found I am an emotional writer. I have to feel what I am writing for it to really stand up and talk to me. Sure, I can write when needed, and can force some form of creativity – but ultimately I found my voice finds its way out in loosely structured outlines of 4- 10 lines…
What is perhaps most useful in your post is a notion I have been seeing over the past several months – that of “splinters”.
What I find is that my writing often has several tangents that I do not explore – and might like to. I am working on ways to catalog these and circle back on them for later posts. Thus they are proverbial splinters broken off of the main board and lodged in my brain.
I know this is a rather gruesome image, but nonetheless, one I have begun to really grapple with lately. I think I might find a better listing system to catalog these, and possibly might even employ something like a mind map.
ChangeForge | Ken Stewart´s last blog post..Information Traction: Find It, Consume It, Apply It (Part 2 of 4)
@ Ken – My turn to play catchup now after my two weeks. I love splinters! They can transform the direction and take you to somewhere you didn’t even know you wanted to go. I love that gruesome image of splinters lodged in your brain…finding a way to pry them out and preserve them
.