I have found it extremely useful to keep a list of subjects or, more specifically, scenes I want to write about as they occur to me. And, since things to write about nearly always occur to me at inconvenient times – in the shower, during a conversation with a friend, while I’m reading a book, while I’m commuting – I keep the list in my smartphone because it’s always handy.
Having a running list lets my brain relax, knowing that I can come back to the subject when I have time to flesh it out. I don’t know about you, but I can’t always count on remembering a brilliant idea long enough to get the story written so I need to capture the idea as soon as possible.
In class, we generate some spectacular lists of things to write about. Here are a few categories to help spur your own brainstorm:
– Firsts: first love, first loss, first skinny dip, first crime, first big win …
– Family: mysterious elder, sibling antics, what I learned from my mother …
– Favorites: favorite teacher, vacation, guilty pleasure, childhood crush, song, object …
– School: best friend, recess games, graduation day, homecoming game, locker room antics…
What topics are you saving up to write about?
Food and all things associated with food.
Most definitely! Food memories are ripe for harvesting. Ha, ha :)