Getting Your Ideas On Paper

This may sound overly simple but the best way to get ideas flowing and on to paper is to simply get out of the way. When ideas come, avoid analyzing them and simply jot down the core of the idea(s) on paper. Without thinking.

At this stage of the process nothing is incorrect, spelling does not count, there’s no need to make sentences, paragraphs, or anything in particular out of your ideas. Just get the gist of the idea down on paper. Use individual words, sentence fragments, spell incorrectly on purpose, use arrows, lines, bullet points, pictures, or anything else visual that helps you. It’s all good.

For example (a silly example), your idea(s) may come in broken form. Such as…

suits… blue… nice!

These three words are all that is needed so that later, during the editing process, you can recall your idea to modify, refine, or trash it as you wish.

Often revisiting these initial notes later can begin a whole new flow of ideas. If that’s the case go with it! Just repeat the same process as above. What a bonus!

When capturing ideas in this manner we find it best to work with good old pen (or pencil) and paper. This way you can focus on your idea rather than on the mechanics of typing.

Later, when you have your rough ideas on paper, you can begin the editing process on your computer… if that’s what works best for you.

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