The power and purpose of Brainstorming
Storm clouds and words falling from them. The electricity of an idea taking shape and magically appearing on a paper. This is what brainstorming looks like for all of us, right?
When I was younger, and a teacher would tell us to take out our pens and paper, it was time to brainstorm. This was not an easy process for me. It was usually a time when the teachers wanted you to sit quietly, jot down ideas and maybe start to create inspiration for the project. For me It was hard to sit quietly and just put ideas to paper.
When I brainstorm, I need a sounding board. I need some help to talk me through my ideas. In these moments as a young child, I often found myself getting in trouble for talking during quiet time or frequently reminded to work independently.
I am a grown up now! I do not have to work independently. I can talk out all my ideas with anyone who is willing to listen.
As creative people we sometimes have an overload of ideas. It can be hard to stay focused and work on the current idea when our brain is still thinking and starting up so many other thoughts and projects. It can also be difficult as to where to start when you have so many ideas going on.
One of the best things we can suggest is Anchoring when you start to brainstorm.
What is Anchoring?
For these instants it is setting boundaries. It means that as you head into brainstorming you have a very clear idea as to what you want to accomplish.
Are you brainstorming a single book or a whole series? Going into a brainstorming session with an anchor helps keep you on track and make sure you are making the best use of your time. Anchoring will also help you define a clear goal for your work. While goals can change as your writing process goes on it is helpful in creating tangible achievements.
We all can get stuck and feel like we are in an unending loop. It can make the creative process frustrating. It also makes it easier to set it aside and not always come back. When this happens creating a goal might help get you out of the unending loop and move you forward in your project.
Going back to my story of having difficulty brainstorming independently, it can be helpful to have someone you can bounce ideas off with. It can also be a big help to you in creating these goals and making progress on your writing project.
Writing itself can be a solitary experience when you are starting a new project. Engaging with someone who helps you organize your ideas and create your anchor can help lead to a less chaotic writing experience for many.