How I Brainstorm Book Ideas
I used to think that brainstorming book ideas had to be this big, official process. A whiteboard, quiet room, maybe a coffee shop and a notebook full of inspiration. And sometimes, it does look like that. But more often than not, my ideas come in the ordinary.
A phrase spoken in conversation. A line in a worship song. A moment of stillness while rocking my daughter. An old journal entry that suddenly carries new meaning. These small things start to stir something in me. And when that stirring happens, I try to pay attention.
Some ideas come all at once like a wave. Others build slowly over weeks or even months. I have learned not to force them. I simply capture them. I write down titles or themes. I make little notes about characters or topics. I might open a blank document just to hold a single sentence until I am ready to build around it.
One thing I have realized is that brainstorming does not have to mean starting with a clear plot or fully formed structure. Sometimes it starts with a feeling. A question. A need I see in others or in myself. That is often how my devotionals are born, by asking, “What would have comforted me during that season?”
When I began Peace Within Chaos, it started with one line. A thought that kept tugging at my heart. The book grew slowly from there, one quiet prompting at a time.
Brainstorming is not about getting it right the first time. It is about being present enough to catch the whisper of an idea when it comes. And trusting that if it is meant to grow, it will.
A Note For You
You do not need a perfect plan to begin. You just need to be curious. Let your ideas unfold gently. Listen for what stirs you. Your next story might be hiding in your own healing, in a quiet memory, or in a conversation you almost forgot.
Start a Living List
Create a “book idea” document, list, or notebook. Every time a phrase, title, character idea, or topic crosses your mind, jot it down. Do not overthink it. Just collect. Over time, you will begin to see patterns and pieces that may come together in ways you never expected.
A Gentle Reminder
Inspiration does not always arrive with clarity.
Sometimes it starts with a whisper.
Pay attention to what lingers in your spirit.
That might be the beginning of your next book.