Brainstorming

Brainstorming is an informal approach for creating a free flow of ideas. Brainstorming promotes creativity and can
help writers find solutions to their problems. Brainstorming can also be effective individually and with a group.

Brainstorming Techniques:

Association

Think of the most obvious ideas or the first thoughts that come to mind. Associative brainstorming can help you
tap into your subconscious. It is helpful to take ideas that you already know and add various, different adjectives
and concepts to those ideas. Mixing different words and concepts together can inspire you to create new solutions.

Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is a proven and popular brainstorming technique. This form of brainstorming is especially useful if
you are a visual learner. To create a mind map, find a central idea and place it in the middle of the page. Then
branch your sub ideas that are associated with your central idea to generate new ideas and specific details about your
central idea.

WVU?
Marshall? Career
Pitt? Ideas
College
Eating Family
Healthy

Health Central Idea: Love

Future

Exercising
Friends
Word Storming

Word storming is another brainstorming tool. To word storm, write down the first words that come to your mind
when you see another word. For example: Writing—Creative Writing—Genre—Creative Nonfiction—Memoir

Word Banks

Word banks are collections of words that are related to a specific topic or theme (synonyms). If you want to have a
variety of words that are related to your topic, look for word banks to avoid repeating yourself.

Create a Pros and Cons List

If you need to choose between two topics or need help choosing which side of an argument has the most evidence,
create a pros and cons list. Some items on your lists may outweigh others. Not everything on your list will be equally
important. To narrow down your choices, try listing your top goals from most important to least important.

Free Writing

Free writing can be used for any writing issue, not just writer’s block. Free writing involves forcing yourself to write
openly and continuously for a minimum of ten minutes. Eventually, you will come up with something. Even if the ideas
that you are coming up with don’t work for your project or task, free writing stimulates the part of your brain that
does the work of writing.

Group Ideation Storming

Two is better than one. Two minds doing the same work generates new ideas. Brainstorming in a group, with an
instructor or with a friend, allows you to feed off of each other’s ideas and discover new solutions.

Want more help? Find us at the

Writing Studio!

Locations: Colson Hall G02 & Evansdale Library

Appointments:
Call 304.293.5788 or
Stop by Colson Hall G02 or
Visit http://speakwritewvu.edu/writing-studio

*Adapted from coschedule.com and mindtools.com