The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject to write about. Unless youre a student or a professional writer no one is going to select a topic for you. That means you have to come up with your own themes. If youre like most writers, your subject matter will be things that interest you. I used the headings listed below to generate ideas for my writing.
Hopefully these idea generators will help you become a more productive writer.HOW DID I SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?: This question can lead to an infinite number of article ideas. The articles that result from it are generally the easiest to market, because many people have the same problem. A writer just starting out could develop a niche by answering this question. Which was how I got started. I was an electronic technician when I published my first article.
At the time I was flooded with printed information, catalogs, data sheets, articles, etc. To handle this overflow I developed a filing system. Then I wrote an article about how I solved my problem. The article entitled, The Ultimate Electronics Reference File 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 thought led me to write Getting More For Your Electronics Dollar which appeared in the same publication.
OBJECTS: Observation and/or memory of an object can lead to many ideas. For example, I once owned a multicolored 1955 Chevrolet. With that old car in mind, I wrote an essay entitled Ode To An Old Car which was published by a local newspaper.CHANGES: Some are good and some arent, its that simple. Either way using this topic, you can create an articles defending or attacking changes.
Which I did in The Advantages Of Flex Time also published in a local newspaper. I set the piece in a gas station HOW I DID IT: This is a variation on the above topic. As a woodcarver, I used this statement to detail how I created a certain kind of carving. The resulting article Carving An Ancient Artifact was published by Chip Chats Magazine.
OPINIONS/RANTS: Now Im passionate about a few things in life, though some folks who know me might disagree with this statement.
Nonfiction Idea Generators is one of the things Im passionate about, after all I did write this article. But, what Im not sure of is whether this is an opinion piece or a rant. READ: Newspapers, magazines, e-zines, cereal boxes, and anything else you can wrap your eyes around. Read to find ideas for future articles. Ask yourself, as you read,
is there anything here I can use? Does this leave me with unanswered questions? If so, good.
That is what youre looking for. Write down your thoughts and save them along with the article. More about this later.LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS: Sometimes, when friends talk youll hear something that sounds like a great subject for an article. An article you know you can write. But before you do, you probably should ask for permission to use the infoif you value the friendship.SOMETHING THAT MADE YOU LAUGH: Changes are, itll make others laugh, too.
SOMETHING YOURE CURIOUS ABOUT: One of
the best sources of nonfiction ideas can be found by just wondering about something. Example, in a chemistry class studying different types of sugars, I asked the instructor how brown sugar was made. He said he didnt know and assigned the topic to me. I did the research and wrote a two page report (about 300 words) on the subject.PUT YOUR DREAMS TO WORK: I had a dream about selling an essay, which I had hadnt even written at the time of the dream. The essay, now exists, and is part of an e-book I am writing.
The essay is about putting my world back together, as a freelance writer, after being laid off from NASA Glenn Research Center, where I worked for sixteen years as a subcontractor. This is not an easy thing to write about; but since the dream, I now have a use for that story. USE LISTS OF CURRENT MARKETS: Here is a great way to find not only subject matter, but also a market for the piece, should you write it. But before you do a knock-their-socks-off piece for a listing: read the writers guidelines, study the publication and its advertising. The advertising will tell you a lot about the publication and its readers.REVERSE A PUBLISHED ARTICLES IDEA: The article you clipped above could serve as an idea generator, if you reverse the argument put forth in the article.
SAVE YOUR ARTICLE IDEAS: When you find an article idea, write it down. Use a single sentence. Put the idea away for a few days. Then go back to it, find a target market. Study the publication you intend to submit it to.
What kind of people read this journal? Slant your article for those readers. Remember, use you Article Idea Generators often and wisely. An idea is a terrible thing to waste. Good Luck..
Neal Naughton is a technical writer, copywriter, and creative writer. He is also a ghostwriter, who can handle your next article etc. You can reach him at nealnaughton@WRITENEAL.COM. All of his articles are copwrited and can not be reproduced without his written permission.Demand for Generators Set to Rocket as UK Power Crisis Looms
(ContentDesk) November 18, 2005 -- Natalie Chew, of Generators Express (http://www.generatorsexpress.co.uk), believes that demand for generators will rocket as households and businesses in the UK ready themselves for what could be a winter of power cuts. There is increasing concern that Britains natural gas reserves will run dangerously low in the event of a cold winter. This would force the government to shut down gas-burning power stations in order to maintain uninterrupted gas supplies to households. Around 40% of the UKs electricity is generated by gas power stations and shutting them down would lead to prolonged periods or power cuts across much of the country. Furthermore, several indicators suggest that this winter could be particularly severe.Households and small businesses are turning to generators as emergency power backup solutions.
These days it is almost impossible to function without electricity...
Demand for Generators Set to Rocket as UK Power Crisis Looms
Google Sitemaps Explained - How To Use Google Sitemaps
Three Ways To Index Your Site With Google Sitemaps[Difficult, Hard, And Easy]Google has recently implemented a program where any webmaster can create a Sitemap of their site and submit it for indexingby Google. It is a quick and easy way for you to keep yoursite constantly indexed and updated in Google.The program is appropriately called Google Sitemaps.In order for you to best use Sitemaps, you must have an XML generatedfile on your site that will transmit or send any updates, changes, and data to Google. XML (Extensible Markup Language)is everywhere these days, you have probably seen the orange XML logo on many web sites and its often associated with Blogging because Blogs use XML/RSS feeds to syndicate their content. Today RSS is known mostly as 'Really Simple Syndication' but its originalacronym stood for 'Rich Site Summary'. XML is only simple code like HTMLand it is used to syndicate your content to all interested parties.
And the interested party in this case is Google...
Google Sitemaps Explained - How To Use Google Sitemaps
Portable Generators
Portable generators are used in homes and in places where there is no power or the need for power is minimum. Portable generators are generally smaller and are designed to use for a few. A portable generator of 5KW has enough power to keep lights, refrigerators, computers and televisions running for 7 to 8 hours. Portable generators are normally powered by gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas. They are the most popular of all portable generators.
Gasoline generators are relatively less expensive but require frequent maintenance and have a shorter life span. Gasoline has a short shelf life and cannot be stored for a long time unless treated with stabilizers.
Diesel generators, on the other hand, are fuel-efficient, consume less fuel per kilowatt of power produced, have longer life and require less maintenance. Diesel can be stored for longer periods of time. However, they are harder to start in cold weather and noisy. Portable generators powered by natural gas...
Mini-Sites -- Highly Targeted Sales Generators
If you're looking for a highly effective method of increasing your Internet sales, then mini-sites may be your answer. Mini-sites are one of the most effective marketing tools online. Not only are they effective, but they're also very inexpensive and easy to create.The concept is simple. Create a one or two page website that completely focuses on one specific topic. Everything within this page should have one purpose -- getting your visitors to take action.This page should be neatly designed in standard HTML with no Flash or fancy plug-ins and very few graphics.
There should be no banners or outside links of any kind -- nothing that will distract your visitors' attention.The sole purpose of a mini-site is to attract highly targeted traffic. The more targeted the better. For example, if you have a website that sells a number ofproducts, a good mini-site will focus on one specific product instead of all of the products. You can create a mini-site for each product you offer. Designing...
Mini-Sites -- Highly Targeted Sales Generators
Tritera Releases BuildSim 2.2 with XML Support
Tritera Incorporated announced today the release of BuildSim 2.2. It includes several improvements and a new capability to Export and Import projects as XML files. With this new capability, BuildSim users can transform simulation diagrams into a format to integrate with other products or programs.Export Project as XML Import Project as XML XML definition includes simulation data, project topology and data coefficients Several minor bug fixes and user productivity enhancementsBuildSim is an engineering simulation tool and includes C++ and Java code generators. Simulations are built using block diagrams and point and click connections. Data plots can be created from simulation data.Go to BuildSim web page to download the latest version.
Tritera Incorporated is a Software Development and Consulting company based in San Diego, California. The company provides customized software development for Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, and embedded systems using C, C++, CPX, and Java programming...
Tritera Releases BuildSim 2.2 with XML Support