I have something I call a “brainstorming sheet.” It’s usually a piece of 8.5 by 14 inch piece of legal paper torn off one of a stack of yellow notepads I keep by my desk. I like yellow, lined legal paper. I’ve used other media too, like bond paper and whiteboards. Whatever gets the job done. Lined, yellow legal paper makes me feel good. Don’t judge.
When I start a new project, I begin by writing down all the things that pop into my head about that project. Anything. I do not inhibit the flow of knowledge from my brain to that page. Some are words. Some are statements. others might be full fledged ideas. Still others may be whole paragraphs or quotes. Some of this is cart before the horse material. That’s okay. I just want to all on this page. I’ll organize it later.
Rather than leave you underwhelmed with a crappy iPhone picture, I bring you video:
Note the connecting lines, circled issues for emphasis and other Jason-isms to help navigate this flood zone. I usually can get between one and three sheets of ideas befors stopping. So, yes, there is a brain storm. I’m hoping the byproduct of that storm is a flash flood of ideas nor do I set a time limit. Some call this “mind mapping.” And there is great, free software for this very process as well. I like both, but at the moment prefer to write the ideas myself.
My general rule is this: when I run out of ideas or I seem to start repeating myself, I stop. I set the sheet aside and I go do something else. The good thing is that many times, as I start into something else, my subconscious is still ticking around with the original brainstorming session. New ideas may appear. if they do, I scratch those down somewhere too, remembering to drag them back to the orignal sheet.
I use this process for writing, illustration and in my business life, too. Stories, illuustrations and business problems are multifaceted. It helps to see all the things before I make decisions on what to keep and what to throw away. Once done, I then organize the ideas into three things: an outline, a reference sheet or glossary for that particular project (especially writing projects) and the start of the manuscript file. For illustrations, the Brainstorm sheet helps me add or remove details that won’t help the project visually. It’s a written thumbnail
The Brainstorm Sheet is key to the process, and admittedly I used to for things like planning parties, moving house and much more. However, I’ve also written and drawn things without it when I have a crystal clear idea of where I’m going. There were a pair of short stories recently that were written off the cuff and edited later. I added things afterward. Both manuscripts could have benefitted from initial brainstorming.
Now, don’t get the wrong idea: I hate overplanning, too. Sometimes ideas are plump, running gazelles sprinting across the Serengeti and we cheetahs must attack and eat them quickly. So, writing in the moment is important, too. Overplanning can kill something very genuine and special. However, other times, a project may be so large that it requires a bit of forethought and research before seeing work. Butt in Chair for two hours indeed means putting words onto paper. However, an hour of brainstorming sometime before that BIC session could yield bigger returns on the “word count” meter of your word processor.
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I go for an eight foot chalkboard and festive colored chalk with the snowflake/popcorn method on my first run. If I can see my notes through the graffiti my children left and the grocery list an hour later, it moves to freemind program. I actually bought a wider monitor so I could see the bubbles better in freemind. Yes, I am that dedicated to my craft. No, it was not an excuse to see streaming Spongebob on YouTube better. Stop looking at me like that.
If I’m at home, I use a large whiteboard on the wall of my office for brainstorming. I also carry a small notebook with me wherever I go just in case I want to brainstorm when I don’t have access to the whiteboard. My initial process is similar to yours. I write down everything that pops into my mind — words, phrases, bits of dialogue, etc. I circle some items, connect related items with lines, let my mind roam free and keep writing until the stream of ideas finally dries up.
I use a similar mind-mapping/clustering technique to develop new characters for my novels. It’s a useful tool to help you dig deeper and find new layers in a character’s personality.