Saved by Molly Simpson and
Here Are Some Ideas For Essays You Could Write
Once I’ve finished with a session, I look back and pull out threads that are worth saving. Story ideas. Anecdotes for future stories. Memories that I want to record. New ideas. Interesting thoughts.
Dan Kennedy • Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
I notice that I feel embarrassed by the ideas I get when I ask myself what would be funny to write about. The ideas feel odd (a review of underrated grammatical tense forms, an essay exploring the image of transparent ice) and I can’t explain why they excite me. They feel elliptical and, well, not like the kind of thing I should be writing.
Henrik Karlsson • A funny thing about curiosity
- Borrow ideas shamelessly. A blog post, a doodle, a conversation—treat them as creative ingredients.
- Add your perspective. What’s your unique take? How can you connect this idea to something else?
- Keep a swipe file. This could be a digital folder, a notebook, or even a Pinterest board filled with things that inspire you.
Jenn • How to Build a Personal Knowledge System That Fuels Your Creativity
Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Austin Kleon)
The thing about writing is that you can't really sit down and say "and now I'll write a good thing" the way you can with most work. Instead you have to just tend your state: read good stuff, take notes, have conversations, and wait nervously for piece of writing to arrive.