How to Find Ideas for Articles & Speeches

Do you have problems finding ideas for articles and speeches?

I cognize have had at times, and others tell me the same thing. At my Toastmasters club, for example, I've often detected members say they have difficulty finding topics for speeches.

But, I've learned, like others who write and speak a lot, to start with what I know. To use my own experiences or perspectives to do even as a simple subject unambiguously my own. And you can do the same.

Indeed, what seems mundane to you may fascinate causal agency else. Suppose, for example, you activity in a fast food eating place -- tell me just about the better and worst customers, or tell me just about the processes and training that do it possible to go from order to delivery in just a couple of minutes.

Here's a real-life example from my own experiences. I have a part-time job as a directory assistance operator for a telephone company, and that produces several exciting stories, like the time a woman called because the door knob to exit her borrowed living accommodations was broken, and she couldn't numbers out how to get out. She didn't cognize who to call except Directory Assistance, and we had an exciting time problem solving out a solution. Now there's a story to get an article or speech started, and mayhap even as a theme such as "Strange but true stories from a directory assistance operator."

Then, there's the idea of providing insights for others. If you driving a truck, for instance, you strength create a Top Ten list of common mistakes you see on the streets and highways. As a professional driver, you have special insight into the patterns of amateur drivers.

Beyond your personal experiences, think just about issues that intrigue you. If you're interested, doing research and thinking just about a subject wish be pleasurable and easy. Mayhap you can even as satisfy your own curiosity as you prepare an article or speech that enlightens causal agency else.

These approaches should lead you to any number of story ideas. Do a list, of say five or ten possible topics. Now, ask yourself which of them wish be the most pleasurable or easiest to develop. You likewise strength ask yourself if you have enough examples to illustrate the points that fall under a specific topic.

Now, write an outline, to set out the main themes in your speech or article. By the time you stop outlining these themes, you'll probably have a number of new topics that could be developed into topics that stand on their own.

For example, looking back at the contents of this article so far, I see that discussing thing others don't cognize more just about is one of the points. That would-be open the door to what I call the "Everybody knows" syndrome, the idle assumption that others cognize what we know. Mayhap you think that your parenting experiences are just like everyone else's. Yet, your feelings may really well be unique and of great interest to else parents.

If all else fails, get ideas from others. For example, I subscribe to many an online newsletters because I write a lot of articles myself. As potential story ideas move in I store them away in a folder, available to be searched once I don't have thing accessible in the top of my mind.

I can use the innovational article as the starting point, creating thing new and unique by victimisation my own experiences and route of doing things. Or I can abstract causal agency else's article in my own words, over again creating thing new in the process. In several cases, I'm creating thing new based on my unique experiences or perspectives.

So, ne'er be stuck for an idea for an article or speech! You already have enough experience and knowledge; it's just a matter of developing one of those ideas inside that framework.

And here's a bonus: If you're writing or speaking just about thing that's happened in your life, you won't have to activity hard to create the article or speech. Simply follow the path through your memory.

About The Author

Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Each week subscribers receive, at no charge, a new communication tip that helps them lead or manage more effectively. Click here for more information:
http://www.CommunicationNewsletter.com
abbottr@managersguide.com

This article was announce on March 11, 2004