Collecting Ideas for Writing

Good writers often collect many, many story ideas (20, 30, 40!), more than we will use as a draft.  There are many strategies for collecting ideas.  Here are some of my favorites:

• People/Moments: Make a list of people in your life.  Then write a one sentence moment that you had with each person.
• My mom--the time she surprised me by taking me to the fair
• Juan--the moment when he told me that he did not want to be friends anymore.
• Grandma--the time she burnt the rice and we couldn't stop laughing
• My dog, Spot--the day he died.
• Place/Moments: Sketch a place where you have lived or spent time.  Then label it with moments that you had there.

• Emotions/Moments: Write a list of emotions.  Then write a moment when you experienced that emotion.
• Happiness--when my teacher told me that I had an A (after never having one!)
• Grief--the day my dog, Spot, died
• Surprise--when I found out that Courtney was talking behind my back

When you have found 20-30 ideas, choose one and write a blurb about it!