Inspiration can strike at any time — but as Winnie the Pooh put it, “doing nothing often leads to the very best of something.”
Sure, press releases, social media, and current events can provide you with timely stories on trends, trials, and tribulations.
In fact, I’d say sites like Newswire and Cision’s PR Newswire are the second-best friends a journalist can have in this day and age (Google being number one on the list, obvi).
But sometimes the best stories strike when you aren’t nose deep in research or laughing away the pain with late-night talk shows.
Sometimes, those in-between moments — in the shower, during an afternoon stroll, doodling amidst your coffee break, or simply laying in bed and staring at the ceiling — provide you with the insight you need to generate a great story.
Y’know, those moments where you’re simply being. Just… breathing.
Perhaps you’re pondering a curiosity that’s plagued you for most of your life (i.e. “Fucking magnets, how do they work?“). Perhaps you’re reflecting on struggles you or a loved one are currently facing (i.e. “Seeking Healthcare Treatment During a Pandemic“).
Whatever the case may be, dive into your deepest, darkest thoughts headfirst (without spiraling, of course). Grab your pen, a notepad, and start scribbling your ideas. See where each one branches off to.
If something pops off the page, start doing your research and allow the idea to keep growing from there.
What may have started as, “Gee, do plants communicate with one another?” can lead you down a rabbit hole of enriching scientific discoveries… And in this case, throw you into an unprecedented debate on the controversy of plant consciousness.
At the end of the day, your mind is a powerful lead in and of itself. Don’t take it for granted.
Click here to learn more about working with Burgundy Bug!
Can’t get enough of the bug behind the blog? Head on over to The Burgundy Zine to read more of her work!