Brainstorming MY WAY

My Struggle with Brainstorming

I wouldn’t necessarily say that my way of brainstorming is the best way of brainstorming… There are two main reasons why:

1. NO ONE else is going to see any of my brainstorming notes (AKA scribbles) and understand it. I don’t even understand how my brain works because it tends to work in a little thing that I call A MESS. Somehow, I like to brainstorm in utter chaos, and then, clean up when making graphics. Why? I do not know, but it’s just how I function.

2. My way… Isn’t really any specific way. I have used many strategies for brainstorming. Very few have worked more than once. I probably need to start brainstorming ways to brainstorm because I’ve already used most of them.

However, though my way (s) of brainstorming has a few limitations, it has helped me to come up with lots of ideas for Facebook posts and other graphics. So, I will share a few tips that have helped me in the past.

Method 1: Cue Notebook!

Sometimes, to get ideas flowing, I have to allow all ideas, good and bad, to out from inside my brain and onto a piece of paper.

I find the best way to do this is just to write any words or phrases that come to mind or even to draw any pictures that come to mind. However, as I said before, this does NOT look pretty.

To most people, this looks like a disaster. To me, it’s a plan. I guess I don’t know what most people’s brain dumps look like, but mine looks like exactly what it sounds like—a dump.

Method 2: Canva, Take the Lead

Occasionally, I actually need something I can see to get my thoughts flowing. So, I have recently developed a method of brainstorming, in which, I let Canva suggest elements for me, and I insert about ten into their own pages. Then, I create some kind of idea for which I could use each element.

Though this looks less chaotic than Method 1, I try to keep myself from fixing all of the graphics so that I can get all the brainstorming over with quickly.

Method 3: Um… Mad Scientist?

Sometimes… I kind of just scribble… And talk to myself. This method is more useful when I need to focus on one specific topic, rather than just comin up with random ideas.
For instance, I once used this method while working on an outline for a book I’m writing. I was trying to come up with a plan for a character in the book to come up with, and… Well, the picture to the left is the plan.

It may sound ridiculous, but it works for me!