When I face desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me, and I know I can never do it. Then gradually, I write one page and then another. One day’s works is all I can permit myself to contemplate. —John Steinbeck

I know that it seems easier to make that extra pot of coffee, read that good book, that you have had in storage for last ten years, and suddenly decide to make kids that Halloween costume by hand, than it can be to make yourself sit down and write. Believe me, I have been there.

Here are some brainstorming techniques to get your brain pumping again and churning out ideas.

1) If you are having trouble coming up with characters or even a story line, try developing an action scene. One good scene to kick off your book can get rest flowing. Develop characters and story line around that scene.

2) Come up with a problem to solve. Is your main character class clown or brainiest kid in school. What type of problem would your character face in his or her normal life? Write your story around problem and a unique way of solving it.

3)For character development use common sense. Use what is in front of you.

Even this one – I’ve been hemming and hawing for more than a week now just trying to decide on a subject.

It has been said in so many places that to put out a newsletter is easy because of amount of fr*e content that’s available on net. And I suppose that’s true. I could peruse net and find articles – in fact, I DO. All my newsletters contain an article I have read and particularly enjoy.

But I still feel that it’s necessary to contribute something original. There are several reasons for this: Credibility – Why would people want to read your newsletter when you don’t even contribute to it yourself?

Content – If you write your own articles, then you are guaranteed to have fresh content.

Visibility – Once you start writing articles, you will get to point where you will start to submit them to ezines, article databases, etc. This is a great traffic builder!

Anyone who reads my articles knows – I am no writer. I’ll never win any awards. But each one I write gets a little easier. Even a little more fun. You start to realize that you really do have something to say. You even start to believe that what you have to say has an impact on SOME one. That maybe one or two of your readers become inspired through one of your articles. That’s where rush is for me.

My problem is imagination. Or lack of one, really. I find it hard to come up with an article idea. Even in this day and age of information at your fingertips you still need to sit and brainstorm for ideas. For me this is hardest part of writing. It’s amazing, though, once you have found subject you want to write about how it will just flow once you start.

Over time I have learned a few tips about preparing your next article or ezine. Some of these tips come from numerous books I have read on subject – rest from personal trial and error.

1. Always carry a small notebook and pencil or pen. This tip I think has helped me most. There are times when an idea will pop in to your head, but by time you get home – poof! It’s gone. With this handy little tool you can write down your ideas as they come. A small recorder will do same thing.

2. Schedule yourself brainstorming time. You really need to make a conscious effort to brainstorm. If you plan this first, you will find yourself thinking ahead and putting yourself in right frame of mind to do this.