Linda Formichelli has a great blog on finding article subjects called 8 Tips for Generating Salable Article Ideas. I love her site, The Renegade Writer. If you're writing freelance, you should check it out.
I'll add a tip of my own for essay and article writers. Try using smells to generate memories and associations. Smell is a strong brain trigger for memories, so use it to brainstorm about what the smell reminds you of. (Yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition now.) I use this with my class sometimes to help them think of possible essay topics.
Maybe smelling baking bread reminds you of your flour-covered fingers kneading dough in your grandmother's kitchen. Then you can write an essay about your baking memory and submit it to Chicken Soup for the Soul. They are looking for stories about Baking With Kids. Share your loaf lessons of childhood baking and you may get published. And don't forget to incorporate sensory information into your writing. It gives it a whole new dimension and texture.
Some other smells to scratch and sniff for ideas:
vanilla
peanut butter
garlic
peppermint
cinnamon
lavender
cut grass
chocolate
vinegar
perfume
roses (yeah, corny. I just told you to stop and smell them)
Today is the morning Coffee and Critique Meeting. Hope to see you there.
Showing posts with label finding topics to write about. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding topics to write about. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Finding Fresh Ideas for Articles - Non-Fiction Books
Sometimes finding article ideas to pitch is like finding that matching sock. It seems like the sucker will never surface. So when my brain has turned to cream cheese, I fall back on a few methods that make my grey matter work less and get my fingers writing more. So if you're stuck for article ideas to pitch this week -
Look at new non-fiction books.
Most authors are thrilled to give interviews on the subject of their book. Focus on a specific aspect of their book small enough for a magazine article. This gives you a topic idea and a possible source to draw from when you write the article.
Go to Amazon.com and click on books and then at the top click on new and future releases. You can further narrow the search by clicking on non-fiction. Then read the reviews to see what topics the book covers, or google the author's website for more details.
Example: Danica McKellar just came out with a new book called Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail. You could pitch an article about how girls can suceed at math to kids/teen mags, or spin it a different way and pitch an article to adult magszines on showing parents how they can help their girls succeed at math. And asking Danica for interview wouldn't hurt.
Look at new non-fiction books.
Most authors are thrilled to give interviews on the subject of their book. Focus on a specific aspect of their book small enough for a magazine article. This gives you a topic idea and a possible source to draw from when you write the article.
Go to Amazon.com and click on books and then at the top click on new and future releases. You can further narrow the search by clicking on non-fiction. Then read the reviews to see what topics the book covers, or google the author's website for more details.
Example: Danica McKellar just came out with a new book called Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail. You could pitch an article about how girls can suceed at math to kids/teen mags, or spin it a different way and pitch an article to adult magszines on showing parents how they can help their girls succeed at math. And asking Danica for interview wouldn't hurt.
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