1.

The Reporter's Formula—Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Newspaper reporters use these six simple questions to discover essentials of events on which they are reporting. You can use these same questions to remind yourself of details you know about a subject. Answering these questions will (1) set you up to write a complete account of your subject and, therefore, (2) jog your memory to supply every detail and, therefore, (3) serve your reader. Readers always want a complete story, and this method is one way to be sure that they get it.

2.

Brainstorming—To freely call out ideas on a subject; to explore a topic in order to produce as many ideas as possible.

Business leaders often employ a brainstorming session to discover ways to solve problems, create new products or services, or get a fresh approach to an old situation. Brainstorming is a group activity--ideas spoken by someone else stimulate you to have ideas of your own. It is this back-and-forth play that causes new thoughts to come.

3.

Making a List—An item-by-item printed or written entry of persons or things, often arranged in a particular order, and usually of a specified nature or category.

As you settle down to write, a list can (1) give you a definite purpose and activity to get you started; (2) cause you to have associations and thereby to think of something you might not have thought of before; (3) provide you with a framework for your thinking at that moment.

When you have finished the list, you can do several things: select items on the list that seem to have the most promise for your writing; put the items on the list in some order--say, most important to least important; cross out items that you don't like; expand one or two items; add new items. The important thing is for the list to serve as a source of ideas as you begin to write your paper. The most valuable use of the list will be what it reveals to you--what you see when you review it.

Rules for Making a List:
1.)Put a title at the top of your list so you will stay on purpose and always know why you are making the list—"Why I deserve a raise" or "Things our town could do for young adults"
2.)Write as fast as possible and use single words or short phrases.
3.)Don't be critical of any item on the list at this point; collect as many things on the list as you possibly can in a limited time.

The Best Uses for Making a List:
1.)For seeing the bit and pieces of your thoughts begin to form a whole picture
2.)For putting things or ideas in sequence
3.)For seeing levels of distinction or the way things sort themselves into groups
4.)For exploring alternatives
5.)For jogging your memory

4.

Chaining—A series of thoughts so related to each other that each one initiates the next.

Chaining is a simple creating technique that uses questions and answers in order to stimulate your mind to make connections and see relationships. Chaining is particularly valuable as a method that allows you to build one thought off another and, through this, produce something new.

Chaining works like this: The first question becomes the first "link" in the chain. The answer to that question then becomes the second "link." Then a question related to the answer becomes the third. And so on. By asking and answering your own questions, you can produce a chain of thought that builds effortlessly on itself.

Rules for Chaining:
1.)At the top of your paper write the subject to be explored.
2.)Begin by asking a question about this subject.
3.)Let the answer to the question lead to the next question to be asked.
4.)Keep asking and answering questions until you get an insight into the topic.

Example Chaining:
Q: How do I get enough money to invest?
A: You work.
Q: What kind of work will earn me enough money to invest?
A: Something that pays a lot.
Q: How do I get a job that pays a lot?
A: You go out and look for it.
Q: Well, what if I can't find it?
A: You keep looking.
Q: Well, what if investing money has nothing to do with working or with the job you have at all?
A: Well, that's possible.
Q: But see, how can I get the money to invest if I don't work?
A: You could borrow it.
Q: Well, how am I going to borrow it?
A: From a banker or a friend or a broker.

5.

Free Writing—Non-stop writing for a specified amount of time on a single subject.

Rules for Free Writing:
1.) Begin with a specific topic or phrase.
2.) Write nonstop for x number of minutes.
3.) Make no changes or corrections.

6.

Looping—A writing activity in which you start with a subject and, without planning or consciously thinking, write anything that comes into your mind on the topic.

Rules for Looping:
1.) Begin with a specific topic.
2.) Write nonstop for x number of minutes.
3.) Make no changes or corrections.
4.) Write a center of gravity sentence for each loop before going on to the next one.

7.

Cubing—A technique to help you learn to look at a subject from a variety of perspectives.

Imagine a cube—think of it as a solid block. Now imagine that each side has something different written on it.
—One side of the cube says: Describe it.
—Another side says: Compare it.
—A third side says: Associate it.
—The fourth says: Analyze it.
—The fifth says: Apply it.
—The sixth side says: Argue for or against it.

Rules for Cubing:
1.) Use all six sides of the cube.
2.)Move fast. Don't allow yourself more than 3-5 minutes on each side of the cube.

8.

Track Switching—This makes use of our automatic tendency of the mind to put down familiar words running along their familiar track.

Rules for Track Switching:
1.) Begin by making any statement on your subject.
2.) Write on that track for five minutes.
3.) Switch to Track #2. Make another statement about your subject, as different as possible from the one you just made.
4.) Write on this track for five minutes. Stay on the track.
5.) Repeat the process until you have five tracks.
6.) Write a fresh idea track, in which you trace the fresh idea you see emerging from or standing around the fringe of the tracks you've just written.