How to Come Up with 100 Associated Content Article Ideas

Are you a new writer for Associated Content and not sure what to write about? A veteran content producer who's stumped by writer's block? If you're in need of some fresh article topics, here's how to generate 100 Associated Content article ideas in no time.

"Write What You Know" (Yeah, I know you've heard that one before, but hear me out.)

Most seasoned writing professionals will tell you that when you're not sure what to write about, to "write what you know." This sage and oft-repeated advice is a great place to start coming up with article ideas, but just repeating it to yourself as a mantra isn't exactly enough to get you cranking out article ideas by the dozen.

So start by actually making a list of what you love, hobbies, what you're good at, things you do, things you don't like, your favorite stores and restaurants, or things you're interested in.

I'll use myself as an example. Here's a list of things I love, things I'm interested in, and things I'm good at:

Things I love:
My husband
My kids
Gardening
Antique cookbooks
Vintage clothes
Old movies
Romance novels

Things I'm good at:
Cooking
Planning meals
Shopping for a month at a time
Crafting
Thrift store shopping

Things I'm interested in:
Homesteading
Self-sufficient living
Reselling (Etsy, Ebay, etc.)

Okay, that's a pretty short list, but It's more than enough to get us started.

On to Step Two

I don't recommend going down your list and doing a general article on each topic. You'd likely end up with twenty difficult-to-write, unfocused, wordy articles and that'd be it. Besides, as wonderful as they are, an essay on how much I love my husband and kids doesn't exactly make for great copy - what kind of useful information would I impart to readers with that? But don't worry: each item on your list is a building block and you've probably got enough on your paper to build a skyscraper's worth of article ideas.

Start with the first item on your list and a fresh piece of paper. You can use your computer, too, but I've always read that there's a link between the physical activity of writing and the creative side of your brain. Might not hurt to hedge your bets. Write the first item on your list top and center on your paper or type it at the top of a new MS Word page and bold it.

Now, get out your galoshes and let the brainstorm begin.

Think about every possible aspect of that item that you can and write down all the topics related to that item that you can think of. Some of them might be junk, and nothing you would want to write an article about, but you'll likely end up with a list of article ideas for each. Write (or type) fast so you can get out as many ideas as possible.

We'll use a few things off my idea list as an example. Don't make fun of me for dumb ideas - this is all off-the-cuff, and that's the point.

My Husband
Traditional Anniversary Gifts
How to Keep a 10 Year-old Marriage Fresh
Keeping Romance in Your Relationship
How to Get Your Husband to do the Dishes
Romantic Restaurant Spots in Kalamazoo
10 Sweet Things You Can Do for Your Husband
10 Sweet Things You Can Do for Your Wife
How to Get Your Hubby a Birthday Gift He'll Really Like
Do You Really Know Your Spouse? A 10-Question Quiz

My Kids
How to Keep Your Teenage Daughter Out of Trouble
Advice for Your Kid on the First Day of First Grade
Tips on Communicating with Your Child's Teacher
5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Child's Conference
10 Healthy Lunches You Can Pack for Your Child
20 Ways to Show Your Child You Love Them
How to Get Your Child Involved in Extra-Curricular Activities
How to Encourage Good Grades Without Resorting to Bribery
Fun Things to do with a Toddler on a Rainy Day
How to Get Your Teen Involved in Volunteering

Gardening
Tomato Worms: What are They and How to Get Rid of Them
Best Varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes
Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter
What do you Need to Start a Garden?
Natural Garden Pest Repellents
Review: Meijer Brand Organic Fertilizer vs. Miracle Grow
Best Ingredients for a Great Compost Pile
How to Keep Deer Out of Your Garden
How to Build a Scarecrow
5 Homemade Mosquito Repellent Recipes

Holey moley, we just turned three general ideas into 30 specific ones in about five minutes. Congratulations! Want to get really hi-tech? Break each of these down into as many topics as you can think of. Like this:

5 Homemade Mosquito Repellent Recipes
What Ever Happened to West Nile Virus?
Keeping Mosquitoes out of Your Yard
Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears?
The 5 Best Ways to Make Your Mosquito Bites Stop Itching
What Makes a Mosquito Bite Itch?

We could keep going on and on with this, but you get the idea.

As a bonus, most of these article ideas you've just created are perennial, meaning that they contain content that people always want to know about. Write all of these articles, and you'll have a treasure trove of marketable AC-ready articles without expiration dates: just the kind of articles that Associated Content likes.

The cure for your writer's block and the inspiration for your next 100 Associated Content article ideas lie no further away than your own life. Brainstorm your likes, loves, dislikes, hobbies, interests and favorites, and pretty soon you'll have more article ideas than you know what to do with. Now you just need to decide to write about first...

But that's a topic for another article.