How to generate ideas for your book project

By Dennis Mellersh

One of the roadblocks in learning how to write a book is the tendency of aspiring book authors to wait for “inspiration” for ideas to stimulate their writing efforts.

There is a misconception that as writers, we need to experience that magical feeling of spiritual excitement, that moment of blinding insight, in order to produce ideas for our book writing efforts.

However, there is an orderly process involved in the production of ideas, and it can be studied, learned, and duplicated.

An example is the idea-generating process outlined by James W. Young, in his little 52-page book, A Technique for Producing Ideas.

The book provides an interesting journey in visiting the subject of how ideas are born and stresses that the process is something that all of us can learn – it is not magic, or inspiration-driven. In fact, the process is relatively simply, but it does involve work.

On the last page of the book Mr. Young summarizes his views on the “process or method by which ideas are produced."

First, the gathering of raw materials – both the materials of your immediate problem and the materials which come from a constant enrichment of your store of general knowledge.

Second, the working over of those materials in your mind.

Third, the incubating stage, where you let something besides the conscious mind do the work of synthesis.

Fourth, the actual birth of the Idea – the “Eureka, I have it!” stage

And fifth, the final shaping and development of the Idea to practical usefulness.