What Do I Write? Brainstorming Article Ideas As a New Writer

The process doesn’t have to be intimidating!

Joining Medium or any online publication can be extremely intimidating, especially as a new writer. You sit in front of your blank, and the wheels of your brain are turning, but you’re left frustrated as you wonder what the heck you’re supposed to write about anyway. The market is already flooded with plenty of talented and famous writers, so how do you make your voice stand out and be heard amongst all the chatter?

Well, I found myself in that exact place not too long ago and as a writer returning to the craft after years of not writing consistently due to life and trauma, making writing extremely painful for me. After years of consistent therapy, I was ready to return, but I became anxious, wondering where even to start.

After struggling to find topics online that felt practical and relevant without being wholly copied and pasted from ChatGPT (I’m talking to you, Quora), I grudgingly realized that finding topics that resonated for me would have to come from me.

When you start writing, the worst thing you can do is put too much pressure on yourself. Don’t force yourself to devise a list of ideas in a single brainstorming session or even a single day. Unrealistic expectations can cause frustrations that can slow down or even halt the writing process completely.

Instead, take a deep breath, shake your hands, loosen your shoulders, and take a walk if you are physically able. Whether around your home, outside in your yard, or around the neighborhood is up to you. Just make sure you’re giving yourself a change of scenery. Take a small notebook and pen with you and review the list below. As the ideas come to you, jot them down as short points in bullet point form, and don’t worry about expanding on them until later. However, feel free to go wherever the pen takes you if inspiration strikes. This is your brainstorming time, so make it your own. There are no actual rules here.

1. Professional Knowledge: Think through your interests and areas of expertise. Is there a hobby you can’t stop talking to your friends about? Are you a subject matter expert in any areas of your job? Maybe you have a sneaky trick for fixing an appliance you’re sure most people don’t know. For example, I work in the federal HR world. So, I made a list of topics related to what I was already doing for work, such as onboarding tips and employee engagement initiatives. Think through the areas of your life you could write about and list as many ideas as possible. Don’t overthink it; if anything pops up, write it down and worry about if it’s “good enough” later.
2. Hobbies and Passions: What are your hobbies and passions? Think about what excites you about your passions and what areas you can share helpful tips for other hobbyists. Your readers can sense your excitement through your writing, which will help you stand out when you write for publications dedicated to those interests. An additional bonus is that you will build a community with like-minded individuals who will appreciate you sharing your passion and insights.
3. Product Reviews: Have you ordered something from Amazon that was even better than expected? Has your life been completely changed by a random Kickstarter campaign? Product reviews and suggestions can be a great way to stretch your writing muscles as you introduce readers to products and gadgets they may never have heard of before. Who knows? Your article may be just the suggestion they’re looking for. Including affiliate links is a simple way to earn passive income and could lead to you creating sponsored posts and advertisements. The world is your oyster, so get to writing! Take stock of the list of products around your home that you think you could write a decent review of and add those to your growing list of article ideas.
4. Areas of Expertise: Finally, if there are topics that you are always reading up on and staying current on, why not share that knowledge with the Medium community? Do you know everything there is to know about a certain time in history? Are you a parent who has done a lot of research in child development or parent hacks? Have you been growing your vegetables for a few years and want to help newbies avoid the mistakes you made starting out? Knowledge is power, and in this day and age, finding accurate and unbiased sources is as important as ever, so why not become that source? Your reputation as a reliable source of knowledge and awareness will help you create a following and find your niche.

Key Takeaway: Getting started as a writer can be daunting, but it helps when you have a list of ideas to pull from that are personalized to your experience and interests. You can continue to grow and refer back to this list as you build your readership and figure out your niche. You can even schedule the topics on a calendar, and then you have a plan you can stick to while you begin to write more consistently. Having passion about that you are writing will make the process so much easier and your readers will appreciate you all the more for it.

Let me know in the comments if you have found any of these tips helpful for your writing journey!