Harvesting Article Ideas From Your Everyday Life

Don't look now, but there's an article idea staring you right in the face. Hey! I said, "Don't look!" Well, since you did, you'd better grab a pencil and write that idea down because that's one of the best tips I can give you for coming up with fresh article ideas. If you're hoping for a few more ideas, stay tuned -- I've got plenty of them.

When you sit down to write an article, it can sometimes feel like you're in an idea-less void. However, if you go through life with just a little awareness, there are more ideas out there than you'll ever have time to write. So, keep that pencil handy, and keep a notebook with you, too. You're a busy person and you shouldn't expect yourself to remember every idea that pops into your head. Instead, when you think of something, write it down!

As you think about topics for your articles, look to some of the things you do on a normal basis. For example, you probably already read magazines and newspapers. While you're reading them, think about how some of the topics relate to what you want to write about.

Let's say you run a business that sells pet supplies. You pick up a magazine and discover a wonderful article about the benefits of service dogs to disabled individuals. Use that idea! Write an article about what it takes to be a good service dog, where a person can get a service dog, or any other of the myriad topics related to service dogs.

Now, sit down and watch some television. I don't mean your favorite sitcom, although it's perfectly possible that you'll find ideas there, too. Spend some time watching topical shows that deal with current events, such as the Today Show, The O'Reilly Factor, or any news magazine. Staying up-to-date on the latest information in your field will not only keep your readers interested, it will also further establish you as an expert.

Then, spend a little time in front of your computer surfing the Internet. Read popular blogs related to your topic to see what others are writing about. Social directories are a great source of what's hot. Discussion forums are, too. One great way to come up with ideas is to visit forums related to your topic and write down some of the questions people are asking. Chances are that if one person is asking the question, many more are thinking it. Write an article that provides the answer to the question being asked.

You might also spend some time on your favorite search engine searching for keywords related to the subject you want to write articles about. Check out the top-rated results and see what's out there. Remember, if a site ranks at the top of the results, it's popular and lots of people are visiting it. That means the information presented is of interest to many people, so writing an article along those lines will be, too.

Finally, and perhaps most important, don't talk yourself out of writing. If you waste time telling yourself that all the good ideas are already taken, you'll never find the millions of ideas that really are out there. Just pay attention to what's going on in the world around you, and never let anyone tell you that you don't have the knack for writing articles or that you simply aren't creative enough. (Psst! That goes for you, too!).