Brainstorming

A brainstorm is a sudden insight or inspiration. As a writing strategy, brainstorming uses free association to stimulate a chain of ideas, often to personalize a topic and break it down into specifics. Start with a word or phrase, and spend a set period of time simply listing ideas as rapidly as possible. Write down whatever comes to mind with no editing or going back.

As a group activity, brainstorming gains from varied perspectives. At work, it can fill a specific need — finding a name for a product or an advertising slogan. In college, you can brainstorm with a few others or your entire class. Sit facing one another. Designate one person to record on paper, screen, or chalkboard whatever the others suggest. After several minutes of calling out ideas, look over the recorder’s list for useful results. Online, toss out ideas during a chat or post them for all to consider.

On your own, brainstorm to define a topic, generate an example, or find a title for a finished paper. Angie Ortiz brainstormed after her instructor assigned a paper (“Demonstrate from your experience how electronic technology is changing our lives”). She wrote electronic technology on the page, set her alarm for fifteen minutes, and began to scribble.

Electronic technology

iPod, cell phone, laptop, tablet. Plus TV, cable, DVDs. Too much?!

Always on call — at home, in car, at school. Always something playing.

Spend so much time in electronic world — phone calls, texting, tunes. Cuts into time really hanging with friends — face-to-face time.

Less aware of my surroundings outside of the electronic world?

When her alarm went off, Angie took a break. After returning to her list, she crossed out ideas that did not interest her and circled her final promising question. A focus began to emerge: the capacity of the electronic world to expand information but reduce awareness.

When you want to brainstorm, try this advice:

  1. Launch your thoughts with a key word or phrase. If you need a topic, try a general term (computer); if you need an example for a paragraph in progress, try specifics (financial errors computers make).
  2. Set a time limit. Ten minutes (or so) is enough for strenuous thinking.
  3. Rapidly list brief items. Stick to words, phrases, or short sentences that you can quickly scan later.
  4. Don’t stop. Don’t worry about spelling, repetition, or relevance. Don’t judge, and don’t arrange: just produce. Record whatever comes to mind, as fast as you can. If your mind goes blank, keep moving, even if you only repeat what you’ve just written.

When you finish, circle or check anything intriguing. Scratch out whatever looks useless or dull. Then try some conscious organizing: Are any thoughts related? Can you group them? Does the group suggest a topic?