Brainstorming is a process of generating ideas. While it is often done as a group, with individuals tossing out ideas, it can also be done alone.
When we brainstorm, we let our subconscious feed us thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Some may be silly. Some may be outrageous. But some will likely be useful. The goal of brainstorming is to generate ideas, good or bad.
To brainstorm, ask yourself a few relevant questions. If the assignment is to write about your favorite vacation, this might be questions such as: What did I like about Mexico? What did I like about the food? Why did I like the beaches better than Galveston? These types of questions will start ideas flowing. Write them down as they occur, and do not judge them at this time. Do not worry about writing complete sentences—a word or phrase is sufficient.
An example list might be:
- Fresh fish on the beach
- White sand on the beach
- Clear ocean water
- Street tacos
- Street corn
- Mayan ruins
- Charro beans
The list of ideas that you generate provides you with possible points to make in your writing. You can see which are connected or related, and thus will help make your writing easier for you to write and the reader to understand.
If you are completing an assignment in class, you probably won’t have a lot of time for brainstorming. But a few minutes on this step can help you more clearly identify possible topics and points to include. Combined with the other steps in the pre-writing process, brainstorming can help make your writing more efficient and more effective.
Below are several exercises for you to practice brainstorming. Like any skill, the more you practice brainstorming the better you will become. I encourage you to regularly practice this skill, and your journal is an excellent place to do so.
There are an almost unlimited number of topics on which you could brainstorm, and you might find it difficult to decide which to focus on. As a suggestion, pick something that happened during the day that made you happy or sad, bored you or excited you, that you liked or disliked. Pick one of these events, and then brainstorm on what you would include in a letter to a friend that explains the event and your reaction to it.
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