Take a Trip to the Writing Store

A writer’s path to unusual ideas

Photo by Artem Gavrysh on Unsplash

Creativity sparks often from unusual places. As writers we are required to pay attention as part of the job.

I am continually writing down ideas in notebooks, apps on my phone, my hand, or doing the “I will repeat this phrase until I find a pen”. I do not recommend the last one.

I started composing a “List of 10” over a year ago. Shaunta Grimes does this, Austin Kleon does this too. With daily lists you always have something to write about.

I write what strikes me as funny, unusual, appealing or something I cannot stop thinking about.

Authors will tell you to keep a notebook of ideas. Most of us have several notebooks.

Here is a list of places to shop for ideas for those little worlds of paper:

1. Tarot cards — just use the images on the cards or use spreads
2. Open 30 random books and write down the first phrase or sentence that pops out to you
3. Keep a collection of words
4. Write down the idea that randomly comes to mind when listening to a podcast — even if it doesn't make sense or isn’t about the topic you are listening too — ESPECIALLY THEN
5. Random memories — when I was blow drying my…