The satisfaction and contentment that one gets after writing, proofreading, polishing and then posting an article is unbeatable. The next couple of days are spent basking in the glory as comments and ping backs start to come in. (Oh, I love it when that happens). And just when you feel that you can relax for a few hours, have a cold beer and catch up on the latest installment in the ‘Saw’ franchise (I think part VI is due now), social engagements, moral responsibilities and other professional assignments pour in. No sense being grumpy. Its more work, work and work! And by the time you realize that it’s been a busy week, it’s posting time once again.

Now, what was that idea that I was planning to develop into an article?

Oh, darn!

I can’t remember it.

No sweat. Happens to me all the time. I guess it has happened to almost every freelance writer on god’s green earth. The problem with ideas is that they tend to hit you at the worst possible time for them to hit. And then they disappear deep into the folds and wrinkles of our grey matter and refuse to come out no matter how hard you try. In fact, the harder you try, the more difficult it becomes to remember. It’s almost like trying hard not to remember a thing and an image of that thing keeps popping up again and again.

So, the best, tried and tested way is to write it down the moment it hits you. It might be while you are having dinner, while you are playing ball, or while you are busy woolgathering. I have left several chores midway, hunted for a pen (you never find them when you need them the most) and scribbled a word or two in my writing pad as a smokescreen of words appear right out of nowhere in my mind. Yes, I have a scribbling pad right next to my desktop and it has got everything from one liners and scripts to stories, articles, phone numbers, appoinments, grocery list, recipes, movie schedules and small notes. It is almost like an idea bank. But hey, it works. Even a couple of words briefly describing what you want to write about are enough to give you a gist of the idea.

And what if you can’t find ideas at all? Don’t worry. Not everyone has a mind that meanders in the realms of obscurity like a mendicant. Sometimes, even the best of writers are unable to come up with a decent idea. You can call it the writer’s block. And on such occasions, it is so easy to get carried away by the first idea that comes to your mind and post a stinker instead. (A stinker is a post that gets greeted by tumbleweeds) There are enough resources in the world to get your creative juices flowing. Think about it. Here’s my list of 10 best ways to gather ideas for your next post.

1. Surf your niche: There are thousands of websites on the internet and you can easily find at least one new website or blog everyday that caters to your niche. Every new writer lives with a sense of fake supremacy but there are a gazillion better writers out there. Surf, read and explore. But never copy.
2. Mind Mapping: Ever heard this term? It’s almost similar to brainstorming. Mind mapping is an extremely powerful tool for that has endless number of uses. A mind map is a visual method of brainstorming and hence is far more productive when it comes to breaking a creative block. A pen and a paper are all that you need to get going. Animals, Britney, Cars, Dance, Emotions, Future, Guitar, Horoscope, Internet, Jesus, Kung fu, London, Money, Night, O(b/s)ama, People, Questions, Recipes, SEO, Traffic, UFO, Vacations, Wall street, X-mas, Yahoo, Zoo. It took me around 120 seconds to come up with this alphabetical list of topics to write on. Each one of these words can be further elaborated into several subtopics. You see, there shouldn’t be a dearth of ideas.
3. Rest your mind: Rest is extremely important for creativity and productivity. At times, when faced with a writer’s block, a writer tends to spend too much time trying to break out of it. But it only adds to the woes. A ‘5 to 6 hour’ marathon session in front of the monitor is not going to help you. Take some rest. Listen to your Ipod for some time. Take a walk. Anything that refreshes your mind will work.
4. A slice of your life: Most experts will recommend that you write only within your niche. Yes, it is the safest way of generating a loyal readership. But at times, it won’t hurt to waver from the niche and write about a day in your life. A good incident, a bad one or simply an uninteresting day of your life. It helps you to break away from the monotony. Don’t worry. Your readers won’t ditch you for it.
5. Blast from the past: Go back to your archives and check some of the most read articles. Now try and find out a way to rework them from a different angle. If the topic is interesting, then your readers will love it no matter what.
6. Subscribe to Newsletters: This is one of the best ways to stay in sync with topics that interest you. All it takes is a couple of clicks to subscribe.
7. Create a to-do list: What are the ten things that you want to do before the year ends? Let the world know about it as long as it isn’t something very personal. What is your wish list? Create it and display it.
8. Watch People: It might seem strange but ordinary people have been the inspiration for some of the most notable works of fiction that exist today. People can always give you an idea or two to write an article. And you can observe everyone from friends to relatives to a guy walking on the road.
9. The News: There’s always something on the news that’s newsworthy. It may be local news that could be turned into an article for a global audience. Or it might be the reverse. What’s your take on the latest piece of breaking news?
10. Twitter: There’s always someone doing something writeable on Twitter. It’s almost like sitting in a crowded café with your scribbling pad and watching interesting conversations unfold. The more you read the more literature you get to write.

And if these 10 ideas aren’t enough, then here are 50 more. Yes, this is the most comprehensive list of ‘techniques’ to collect ideas for your next post. This is Susan Johnston’s ‘50 Ways for Writers to Find Article Ideas‘.