10 Easy Ways To Get A Fresh Writing Idea (And Kickstart Your Creativity)

These 10 ideas will get your creative juices flowing instantly

I hate being stuck for ideas.

Without fresh thoughts, your writing becomes dull. Readers lose interest. And the process of writing becomes painful. Once this happens it’s only a matter of time before you quit.

I’ve written 146 articles in 12 months (whilst working full-time). And having an easy flow of new ideas has been essential. It’s kept me writing and helped me attract over 4600 followers.

Let me give you my best 10 hacks for finding a quick writing idea. You never need to be stuck again.

1. Celebrate a small success

Don’t need to wait until you’ve hit 6 figures to share your wins.

Readers love tiny gains more than huge ones. It makes you relatable. Hearing about someone making $10k/month is intimidating. But we are drawn to those who are similar to us.

Write about your recent progress. Why it was hard. How you achieved it. Inspire your readers to believe they can do it.

Sustained your new writing for 1 month? Write about that
Implemented a lesson from a book? Share that
Completed a course? Explain what you learned
Hit a milestone? Identify your key lessons

Showcasing your progress wins you fans.

2. Do a deep dive

Every piece of writing is research.

It tests what readers want. Look at which bits got the most highlights and comments. Readers are literally saying — I’m interested in this. So take those points and go deeper.

Let me show you how this works.

Say you write an article on the top 5 traits of your niche. I’ll use writers because that’s mine. And after a week you notice two traits get tons of highlights:

Being relentlessly consistent
Having empathy for readers

This is a signal to write a follow-up piece on each trait. Reader’s comments will show you where to focus. But here’s some suggestions:

3 lies that stop you being a consistent writer

The process I follow to consistently write every day

How to know what readers want. 3 things I do every week.

5 mistakes new writers make (that turns readers off)

Solve deeper problems to build loyalty.

3. Go crazy with a long listicle

Listicles are uncool in some writing circles.

But readers love them. And they are perfect for kickstarting an idea. I’m having a lot of fun with the long listicle approach. (Alex Mathers is the master of this).

Here’s how it works.

Pick a ridiculously big number and brainstorm a long list of tips. Write a few lines on each point and you’ve got a 5 minute article. Craft a strong outcome for your title. And make your writing direct and dynamic.

Readers treat it like a shot of steroids to boost their energy.

Here’s 2 examples:

17 Eye-Opening Truths That’ll Give You An Edge Over 93% Of Writers

14 Ways To Gain An Unfair Advantage As A Writer No One Tells You About

One thousand readers can’t be wrong.

4. Rework some old content

It’s ok to repeat yourself.

Take an idea that performed well in the past. And rewrite it. If it was more than 6 months ago you can even repost it. No one will remember.

But you’ve developed your thinking since then. And hopefully improve your writing. So take your old content and update it.

Give your new readers your old treasures.

5. Write from a headline

I usually write my headline after finishing my content.

But when I’m stuck I do it in reverse. This gets my creative juices flowing. Craft an intriguing title and then come up with a powerful answer.

Here’s 3 to get you started:

5 tools every (your target reader) needs

5 traits that help (your target reader) reach the top

3 lies (your target) believe that kill their dreams

6. Create a swipe file

Ok, so this isn’t a quick fix. But it’s a key practice of all great writers.

Creativity doesn’t work in a vacuum. A new idea never comes of out thin air. It needs a trigger. When you’re stuck you just need a spark. To light a huge blaze in your mind.

A swipe file is a collection of triggers.

Here’s how to create one.

Set up a file in your favourite database. Every time you spot something you like add it. It can be anything related to your niche

a clever email subject line
a well-written headline
an intriguing sentence
an interesting concept
a thoughtful quote
a powerful story
a funny photo

When you need a fresh idea. Browse your collection until something sparks in your brain. Then get writing.

7. Describe something you did recently

This is an easy article to write.

Yet easily missed.

Think of something you learned and took action on. Explain what you did, the results, and the key tips you used.

You’ll be able to do this quickly. No research needed. Include specific details, photos, and screenshots to bring the story alive. Readers love to see the details.

Here’s some recent examples of mine:

Everything you do can be turned into content.

8. Be inspired by another writer

Using other writing always triggers my creativity.

Glance at the writing of those you admire until it sparks a thought. When this happens stop reading their stuff and write your own. You can even bounce off the titles of others. What would I say to that? Or consider their opening story. What is your version of that?

Don’t steal their stuff. Use it as a prompt to get you thinking.

9. Write the opposite

Take one of your pieces that performed well and reverse it.

5 truths becomes 5 lies

7 traits of the top becomes 7 traits of those who fail

3 tips becomes 3 mistakes

Change the order and no one will notice. Thinking the opposite will provoke new thoughts.

10. Choose a reader’s pain point

What do your readers struggle with?

What is always on their mind? Look at their comments on your writing. Check out the comments on other writers in your niche. Imagine their feelings and thoughts. What it’s like to be them.

Then think about how you can help. Don’t rattle off a bunch of cliches. Think deeply about what could change their life. Why haven’t they taken action already?

Do they need inspiration to believe change is possible?

Do they not know how to do something?

Is there a gap in their knowledge?

Is something else stopping them?

Your readers have problems. So find them solutions.

If you want to learn how to craft compelling articles. Sign up for the system that earns me $800/month (its free).

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