Finding Article Ideas in the World Around You

Many people have trouble thinking of topics to write about. Whether you write for Associated Content or a major newspaper or magazine, finding articles ideas is a crucial skill to have. Here are some tips on discovering fresh writing topics in the world around you.

The first and best advice I have is one we've all heard before: Write about what you know. I know about music, New York, and writing, so that's what I write about.

Look around you. The environment you live in and the things you know about might be mundane for you, but for others they may be new and interesting. I have written many articles about New York City, and although the things I described are a part of my boring everyday life, the articles allowed others to visit NY through my words.

Another method that works really well is word association. Pick an object or idea, and think of the first thing that comes to mind when you hear or see it. You can do this in your head or write it down. You may end up with some interesting ideas and a few article topics. For example, the pen I'm using says "Bally's Atlantic City" on it. This makes me think of casinos, the current issues and events surrounding the casinos in Atlantic City, or the dangers of gambling and methods of doing so safely. I just came up with a few possible ideas, all from just looking at a pen.

One thing that never fails is asking questions. If you can, I recommend spending some time watching kids. They are so curious about everything, and ask the best questions, many of which can make great topics for interesting and original articles. Why do we yawn and why is it contagious? What causes hiccups? Can animals laugh? These questions can lead to text that is fun to read and to write.

People are always interested in what is going on around them. Read newspapers and watch the news frequently to keep up to date on events in the world, and locally. You can write your own opinions on a current issue or find opposing theories, ideas, or opinions about these current events. You may want to give readers a basic history of a current issue or event, or explain how something works. For example, with the recent election in mind you might research some background on the candidates in your area, write about voter turnout, or explain how the election system in the United States works.

There are many other ways to find topics to write about. You can write reviews of products or books, write a travel guide to a place you've visited, or describe the best way to take care of a certain pet. Hopefully these few ideas will spark your creativity and imagination and ensure that you never run out of topics to write about.