Where do I get writing ideas from?
Tags: writerblock, writersonwriting, ideas, softwaredevelopment
Published: 2022-08-28 11:45:23

---
title: Where do I get writing ideas from?
published: true
date: 2022-08-28 11:34:06 UTC
tags: writerblock,writersonwriting,ideas,softwaredevelopment
canonical_url: https://dvirsegal.medium.com/where-do-i-get-writing-ideas-from-bc98bb8d17d4
---


![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*MkrMxkFDfcqju54A)

<p align="center">
<figcaption>Photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash</figcaption>
</p>

I’m stuck; I’ve no muse about what to write. I can’t find any idea.   
Aha… the famous [**writer’s block**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer's_block).

What do I do in those cases? From where does the inspiration to write about stuff come from? Where do I find ideas? How do I find the time?

Regarding the second, you **make time**  — it is all a matter of prioritization. I’ve written about time management in the past, and those methods help me to focus.

[Arrange your time and your mind will follow](https://dvirsegal.medium.com/arrange-your-time-and-your-mind-will-follow-304ee0c99a29)

**The ideas?** come from various sources. I keep an extensive list of podcasts, newsletters, blogs, etc., which I follow to gain more knowledge or, as I call it, the quest for growth, more on that:

[In the quest for growth material](https://dev.to/dejavo/in-the-quest-for-growth-material-1mfk)

Besides that, I found ideas in unique places. I look for questions on Q&A-based websites such [softwareengineering.stackexchange](https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/), [workplace.stackexchange](https://workplace.stackexchange.com/) or [quora](https://www.quora.com/).

Sometimes I get ideas from my colleagues or people I follow on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/dvir_segal). Actually, Twitter is an interesting place to collect them; I tend to tweet my thoughts, and occasionally a debate might evolve; this can be a trigger to [blog](https://dvirsegal.medium.com/effort-estimation-its-complicated-8e1c77bf572c) about.

Anyhow, whether it’s a blog, podcast, or any other source. First, I collect the subjects I think I’d like to write about on a dedicated [Notion](https://www.notion.so/) page, a sort of ideas log. Afterward, I follow the method I wrote about here to sort it out:

[Digital Notes are your life dashboard](https://dvirsegal.medium.com/digital-notes-are-your-life-dashboard-e45ae64c64fc)

**This means that whenever I feel like writing or creating, I already have an arsenal of ideas.**

So now I have a prioritized list, the fun part can begin. I pick the first item and start to research it online and collect the info on the subject’s page.

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*QBL6-3AzNiiXVG2t2yIE1g.png)
<p align="center">
<figcaption>My digital notebook of ideas</figcaption></p>

Once I feel ready I start writing, which is about the time I feel I consumed enough sources to write about the subject and express my opinion on it. Don’t get me wrong: research is critical, but sometimes, you just have to stop and start writing and see what happens.

The draft is ready? I read the whole thing repeatedly and then again 😂 and fix whatever doesn’t get along with my main narrative.

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/634/0*KwJoGUjBpXWWCv-p)
<p align="center">
<figcaption>forget about it</figcaption></p>

Finally, I use [Grammarly](https://app.grammarly.com/) to find any typos and grammar mistakes and if the sentences don’t fit the defined Grammarly goals. I usually pick an informal general audience with a casual domain. My writing style (intent) usually tells a story (as you might have noticed).

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/636/1*Qx8P5WME1H3Nccbmn5eV7Q.png)
<p align="center">
<figcaption>Grammarly goals setting</figcaption></p>

Lastly, the reviewers, a bunch of close friends, and colleagues happily read my drafts and share their inputs, and based on their feedback (loops), I’ll rewrite the final draft.

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/660/0*ElaA7Zhqt7p7pOSG)

Basically, writing is all about reading and then more writing. As the old saying goes, “the only kind of writing is rewriting”.