Ten Article Idea Sources
by Neal Naughton

The hardest part of article writing is finding an idea to write about. Unless you're a student or professional writer no one is going to assign you a topic. So you have to get your own. If you're like most writers your ideas for articles will come from things that interest you. I used the headings below to bring out things that interest me. Hopefully these topics will help you get ideas, too.

OBJECTS: Observation and memory can lead to article ideas. I once owned a 1955 Chevy. With this old car in mind, I wrote "Ode To An Old Car" which was published in a local newspaper.

CHANGES: Some are good and some aren't. Simple as that, either way using this strategy you can create an article defending or attacking said change. Which I did in "The Advantages Of Flex Time" also published in a local newspaper. I set this article (an experimental piece) in a gas station as a conversation between the attendant and myself.

HOW'D I SOLVE THAT PROBLEM: This is a great source of article ideas, because with it you can tap a number of markets. Example, back in the days when I was an electronic technician I was flooded with printed information, catalogs, data sheets, articles, etc. To handle this flow I developed a filing system. And wrote about it in "The Ultimate Electronics Reference File" which was published in The Electron, a technical journal. A couple months later I was looking for a cheap source of electronic parts, test equipment, etc. (This was before E-Bay.) That rumination led me to write "Getting More For Your Electronics Dollar" which appeared in the same publication.

HOW I DID IT: This is a variation of the above topic. I, as a woodcarver, used it to detail how I made a certain carving in "Carving An Ancient Artifact" which was published by Chip Chats Magazine.

OPINIONS: This article should be considered an opinion or maybe a rant. It is something I'm passionate about. So I wrote "Ten Article Idea Sources" as either.

READ: Newspapers, magazines, e-zines, and just about anything else you happen to find. As you read ask yourself if there's anything here you can use? Does what you're reading leave you with unanswered questions? If it does, good. Write down your thoughts  and save the note and article. More about this later.

REVERSE A CLIPPED ARTICLE'S IDEA: The article you clipped above could also serve as an idea generator, if you can find a way to reverse the argument put forth in said article.

LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS: Sometimes while listening to a friend's tale you might think, hey that would make a great article. But, before writing it you probably should ask your friend for permission to use it-to maintain the friendship.

THINK OF SOMETHING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH: Changes are, it'll make others laugh too.

THINK OF SOMETHING YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT: Sometimes the best source of article ideas can be found by just wondering about something. In a chemistry class studying sugars, I asked the instructor what process was use to make brown sugar. He didn't know, so he assigned the topic to me, and I wrote a two page report (400 words) on the subject..

Once you find an article idea, write it down. Use a singe sentence to detail the idea. Put the paper away for a few days. When go back to it, focus on a target market. Study the publication you intend to submit it to and slant your article accordingly. Remember, ideas are the lifeblood of writers. I hope this article helps you. Good Luck.

Copyright © 2003 Neal Naughton. All Rights Reserved.

Neal Naughton is a freelance writer and a laid-off CAD drafter/designer who is in the process of transforming himself into a technical writer. Contact at nealnaughton@aol.com.