by G.K. Dickey

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: June 15, 2009

The essence of good writing is good thinking and brainstorming is the fundamental catalyst to launching a successful essay.

Methods for fomenting an idea are as various as are the creative juices that drive any writer. Richard Nixon, who became a prolific writer after he left the White House, once said, "I do my best thinking while walking." Some like walking and some find listening to music stimulating; for others, rather than the soulful search for focus, interacting with others in a group setting proves most effective.

The technique does not matter: The significant difference between the humdrum and the powerful is the writer's ultimate effectiveness in communicating the topic's intended result, an intention that cannot come to be without the forethought of brainstorming.

An old-timer, with a storied reputation, once said, it is not possible to become an effective writer until the scribe-to-be learns to "trust the writing process." Whatever form it takes, brainstorming is the initial step along the way.

Outlining, on the other hand, cannot seriously take place until you know where you are going. Otherwise, it would be like sitting behind the wheel of a car and stepping on the gas pedal without turning on the ignition.

If you are simply looking for an idea, say for a poem, an essay, a short story, or a novel, you have to first identify the reason you feel compelled to write. It could be based on a forced school or work assignment; or it may emanate from an emotion-based psychological need to express your feelings and thoughts. Whatever the case, it is helpful to react to your compulsion first by jotting down a list of "key words."

Not all "key words" will survive but it is a good start because some of these key words will evolve into "trigger words" which fuel the brainstorming dynamic. Drawing on the senses is an excellent way to energize the brainstorming engine. Not all will fit, and it is never helpful to force a fit, but cluing into your intellectual, emotional or environmental reactions to the topic at hand will inspire the kind of thought required to face the given challenge head on.

Intense brainstorming is the key part of creative development and often renders outlining a waste of time. Sure, should it be an academic or research-oriented project, for example, compilation and organization of facts and details will require a detailed outline to keep facts in order. From a thematic approach, however, once a writer is prepared to proceed, those

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