For Freelance Writers – 5 Creative Ways to Find Article Ideas
Before her tips, a quip:
“I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten: happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.” ~ Brenda Ueland.
Isn’t that a calm, peaceful – yet practical – way to look at writing? Writers need to find the best words to string together to create sentences. But before the sentences and paragraphs and pages come, freelance writers need to find ideas to write about! Read on for Johnston’s freelancing advice. For more magazine writing tips, click From Spark to Flame: Fanning Your Passion & Ideas into Moneymaking Magazine Articles that Make a Difference – a new book for writers.
For Freelance Writers – 5 Creative Ways to Find Article Ideas
Finding ideas for magazine articles to query can be challenging, but I promise there are tons of fascinating subjects just waiting for you to uncover them. Here are five of the methods that I use when I’m stuck for inspiration.
1. Read alumni publications. Class notes and alumni magazines are great place to search for under-the-radar ideas that haven’t the mainstream media yet. Which of your classmates are doing interesting research? Which ones have started companies or published books? It’s easy to break the ice with someone from your own alma mater, but remember that many alumni publications are available online to anyone, so you can also look further afield.
2. Combine two seemingly unrelated topics. What does food have to do with personal finance? Or what does the TV show “Lost” teach us about dating? By mixing together subjects in unexpected ways, you might stumble on an interesting new angle. Ditto on sources with a fresh perspective on evergreen topics. Perhaps a drama teacher could offer new insights on office communication or a telemarketer could teach us how to bounce back from dating rejection.
3. Mine your past blog posts. What subjects might lend themselves to a full blown magazine feature article? Which posts got you thinking about topics you’d like to explore in more depth? I know that Laurie has used this method of brainstorming, and I have as well. Look especially closely at what posts are getting the most comments or drawing the most traffic, as those topics might be worth exploring in more depth for a magazine or other website.
4. Follow forums. If you’re writing for an online publication, and they offer a forum for readers to ask questions and share ideas, then you’re in luck! Even reading forums on other sites can be a gold mine for ideas. Look at the types of questions readers ask each other, and see if your editor might be interested in a more authoritative take on the topic.
5. Repurpose past articles. This is one of the best ways to find article ideas, because you’ve already done some of the legwork! And in many cases you can get more mileage out of the same idea by tweaking it for a different audience. For instance, the students in my writing class brainstormed a story idea about how to introduce your pet to a new baby. That article could appear in a parenting magazine with a focus on keeping babies safe around pets, while a similar article could also work for a pet-owner’s magazine (but focus more prominently on the pet angle).
Your turn! What methods do you use to find ideas for articles? Have you tried any of the suggestions listed above? I’d love to know how it work for you!
Susan Johnston is a Boston-based freelance writer and blogger who has covered business and lifestyle topics for The Boston Globe, DailyCandy.Com, and many other publications. She also contributed a letter to the newly released anthology PS What I Didn’t Say.
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Comment by George Angus on 24 November 2009:
Hi Laurie,
I would say to try and see articles in every day life. My neighbor started Alaska’s only vodka distillery. I saw an article, queried Alaska Magazine, and had the article published.
Great articles abound. You don’t have to look any further than your own back yard, Auntie Em. Hehe.
George
George Angus´s last blog post ..A Roarin’ New Blog of the Week
Comment by MarthaandMe on 25 November 2009:
These are great tips. In the past, I’ve sold articles based on questions or problems I encountered in my own life. I figured if I was wondering, others must be too.
Comment by Laurie PK on 25 November 2009:
I’m still learning how to mine my life for ideas to write about. I’ve never liked writing about myself, so it’s a challenge for me to look at my life for article ideas!
But, as George pointed out, writing about something in my backyard doesn’t mean I’m writing about ME. It’s something that I encounter in my life…..cool.
Thanks for this post, Susan!
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..Romance Tips – Easy Ways to Show Your Love
Comment by Kerry on 25 November 2009:
another thing that’s worked for me is to think about what I’ve learend from people I’ve interviewed. what else did they, or could they, talk about? is the musician a runner? is the artist a volunteer at a shelter? and so forth.
Kerry´s last blog post ..music for Thanksgiving
Comment by Rebecca on 25 November 2009:
Thanks for the tips. I never thought about checking out alumni publications. I receive a quarterly magazine from my university. Next time I will really read it before “filing” it.
Rebecca´s last blog post ..National Freelancers Day in the UK
Comment by Nancy Monson on 25 November 2009:
Thanks for the tips–I’m always looking for ways to overcome the dreaded idea block!
Nancy Monson´s last blog post ..Pushing Past Limiting Fears
Comment by Sarah on 25 November 2009:
Your local newspaper can also highlight unusual people/events that would be interesting to a wider audiences as well.
I also like to think about problems in my own life – stress at work, relationship issues, etc – and then write a how-to article offering advice to overcome those issus.
Comment by ruth pennebaker on 25 November 2009:
Very helpful post, Susan. When I can’t think of new ideas, I often take a shower. Opens the pores, opens the mind.
ruth pennebaker´s last blog post ..Sixty Things I’ve Learned in 60 Years, Part 2
Comment by Sheryl Kraft on 25 November 2009:
These are helpful tips, Susan. I am forever trying to come up with new ideas. The harder I try, the less my brain is able to be creative. Sometimes they happen at the most unexpected times, usually when I am at the gym, exercising. (That’s why I keep a pad and pen with me at all times!)
Comment by Jennifer Margulis on 25 November 2009:
These are all really excellent suggestions. Thanks for this motivational post! I think I’ll send out a few queries…
Jennifer Margulis´s last blog post ..Women Giving Birth Without Midwives
Comment by Jennifer Margulis on 25 November 2009:
Susan, I tried to Stumble this excellent post but it doesn’t seem to be working?
Jennifer Margulis´s last blog post ..Women Giving Birth Without Midwives
Comment by Laurie PK on 25 November 2009:
Jennifer,
Thanks for pointing out that the StumbleUpon didn’t work…….I’ve fixed it.
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..Romance Tips – Easy Ways to Show Your Love
Comment by articlescreen on 26 November 2009:
The talking about alumni publications is really a new idea of course and I do try to follow the rest…Anyway good work and keep it up
Comment by Susan Johnston on 27 November 2009:
Thank you everyone who weighed in! I agree that drawing from your own life can be really helpful. I should have mentioned in the intro that sometimes we need to dig a little deeper or look outside ourselves to find new ideas (especially if you’ve plateaued in your personal life). Hopefully these will give you some helpful ideas!
Susan Johnston´s last blog post ..Happy Thanksgiving!
Comment by Meredith Resnick - The Writer's [Inner] Journey on 27 November 2009:
All great ideas. I especially think the one about Alum mags is terrific.
Meredith Resnick – The Writer’s [Inner] Journey´s last blog post ..The 5-Question [Literary] Agent Interview: Nathan Bransford
Comment by Meredith Resnick - The Writer's [Inner] Journey on 27 November 2009:
I, too, tried to Stumble this post but the link didn’t appear to work!
Meredith Resnick – The Writer’s [Inner] Journey´s last blog post ..The 5-Question [Literary] Agent Interview: Nathan Bransford
Comment by Alisa Bowman on 28 November 2009:
Just pay attention–article ideas are all around us. I watch people. Eavesdrop on their conversations. Pay attention to what they are buying. Twitter is also a good source of inspiration. As is Facebook.
Alisa Bowman´s last blog post ..25 Things That I’m Thankful For
Comment by Stephanie - Wasabimon on 29 November 2009:
A great list! Especially #2 – hadn’t really thought of this. I’ve been so bad at coming up with new ideas since the economy faltered. Freelance malaise is a bummer. :/
Stephanie – Wasabimon´s last blog post ..What Am I Thankful For?
Comment by ReadyMom on 30 November 2009:
All great suggestions–esp. reading alumni magazines (I need to do more of that). I would add that with pitching you often need to keep in mind timing. Right now I’m pitching Mar/Apr stories, which is often hard to think of when it’s snowing outside!
Comment by Laurie PK on 30 November 2009:
Okay, this time StumbleUpon DOES work…I tried it successfully…
Thanks for your comments, I love hearing from readers who are writers!
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..Types of Evergreen Articles in Freelance Writing and Blogging
Comment by Kris on 6 December 2009:
Oh, after a trans-Pacific move that has absorbed me for a couple of months, this is JUST what I needed to read. Time to stop aimlessly gazing around and get cracking! Thanks
Comment by articlesshare on 7 January 2010:
I am reading your post again and again…Really some nice tips and ways to get ideas…I must add that if you want to be a serious writer then you must seek for new and good ideas. I do really admire your works.
Comment by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen on 9 January 2010:
Thanks for your comments — I think that finding solid, creative, valuable article ideas can be the most difficult part of being a freelance writer!
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post ..Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes, Symptoms, and Tips for Writers and Bloggers
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