Comments on: How to NEVER run out of ideas

By: Marline

Marline — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:27:09 +0000

This is my first visit to your site and I love it! For writers who want to use their computers to organize their ideas, a voice recognition recorder is ideal. You have to train it to know your voice, but then all you have to do is plug it into your computer, which will produce typed copy of your ideas. I like this because frequently my hand cannot keep up with my ideas! A recorder can. Just don’t use it in the shower!

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:06:54 +0000

I carry a recorder and use it mostly when I'm driving. That's when I seem to have my best brainstorming moments. I've also started keeping a tiny book light (the kind you can clip onto a book) and notepad by my bedside at night. That way, when I wake up at three in the morning with ideas buzzing in my head, I can write them down without waking my partner. Michael’s last blog post..Crippled for Life?

By: Matt Hayward

Matt Hayward — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:41:29 +0000

What an inspiring, well written post that just motivates me to actually begin an ideas collection and store it somewhere physical.

Up until now I’ve only kept ideas in my head, images and websites on my Firefox bookmarks list; I’ve never considered a physical (or virtual in the form of folders on my computer of the actual content) bank of inspiration and ideas. In general, they have served me well enough.

I think, however, I’m going to have to develop a much more robust and reliable system into which I can collect all my ideas for future use.

Overall, a wonderful post, David! I also need to say what a great design for the blog: I love it! Looking forward to the future of the Inkwell.

Matt

Matt Hayward’s last blog post..The Purpose of a RolePlay Post

By: Jamie Lee

Jamie Lee — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:54:50 +0000

Love your list of ideas. I’m working on a blog project that I hope to launch in the next couple of months. Though I’m usually a digital girl all the way, I found that writing with a PEN on PAPER (in both a beloved moleskine notebook and a basic sketch pad) brought out all kinds of creativity that was lurking in my brain just waiting to get out. There’s a whole new world of ideas that might not be willing to come out and play on the keyboard, but will jump for joy if you start doodling. My ideas have been flowing so freely that I have to take the notebooks with me everywhere – including to bed and the loo. Crazy? Maybe. But I’m not losing a single idea.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:50:58 +0000

Wow, never knew you were a journalist – explains the quality of your writing

really like the idea that everybody has a story – so true and far too overlooked.

i’m a huuuge fan of keeping notes. i keep them in my phone and dump them weekly (about 100 short mini mini tweets 54 characters) into my laptop. – also, more ideas than time to do them. high class problem

really enjoyed reading it.
inspiring stuff

alex
unleash reality

Alex’s last blog post..Why You Never Get Anything Done

By: Joan Kremer

Joan Kremer — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:21:09 +0000

First, David & Sean, I just LOVE this new blog of yours!! It's beautifully designed AND written -- a combination that never fails to give me pleasure. So glad I discovered it. (Actually the Thesis folks are where I heard about it!) Second, this post is terrific, David. I've been been a writer my entire career, and I concur with everything you recommend. I especially want to thank you for the idea organization idea. Ideas I never run out of anymore, but collecting and keeping them has been a huge problem -- especially since I have so many more "categories" to track these days. Your giant index card holder (which I already) have and the category names totally clicked for me. I usually carry index cards with me, but I also realize that's the perfect size for filing pages ripped from my little notebooks! I wish you the very best with this blog and look forward to hanging around it a lot! Joan Joan Kremer’s last blog post..Are You Missing What (Second) Life Has to Offer?

By: flowers

flowers — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:17:19 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. I get my best ideas when I’m not working, but out running around the town with my kids. I always have a notebook with me and way too many ideas and never enough time

flowers’s last blog post..The Essence of Great Knowledge

By: Paisley (Paisley Thoughts)

Paisley (Paisley Thoughts) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:49:39 +0000

Memories, experiences, small details and yeah – a notebook & pen.

By: dinu

dinu — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:32:32 +0000

thank you ! really good one ..
and you know what, an idea came to my mind while I was reading this

dinu’s last blog post..Thank you, Google Reader

By: Lori -- SpaceAgeSage

Lori -- SpaceAgeSage — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:23:19 +0000

When I need writing ideas, I go for the metaphor:

*How can I apply my cat’s purring to relationships?
*Can I filter any of my current situations through this amazing rain storm’s powerful cleansing?
*Does the dog howling in monotone next door because of the EMS sirens remind me of an emotion?
*Is writing this comment — dark text in a white box surrounded by black and bordered in gray — tell me anything about the gradients, layers, or facets of comment writing?

Metaphor opens the door to non-linear thinking, and once open, nothing is the same.