Where and how do you find ideas for your articles?

1. 0

   Lauren Romanoposted 17 years ago

   Whether it be on hubpages or wherever else you write.
   
   I usually go on digg and get ideas from there and if I happen to stumble on an idea while reading news pages.

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2. 67

   relacheposted 17 years ago

   I don't use either of those methods, as frequently items that are in the news or on digg are just topics of the moment and aren't something that will actually have a sustained interest over the long-term.
   
   My best Hubs seem to be based on topics or pursuits that friends and I have been interested in for many years.  They have traffic that is steadier (less peaks and drop-offs) and they sustain more interest year-round.

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3. 83

   Whitney05posted 17 years ago

   Things I'm interested in... Usually I'll be walking the dog or cleaning reptile cages and think about something. Basically, when I'm doing things I like to do, I come up with most of my hubs. That or trying to go to sleep or in the shower, I'll sometimes think of decent ones. The problem is remembering it until I can get to a computer.
   
   I find when I force myself to think of a topic, or force myself to write about a topic that really doesn't interest me, I tend to get a poor hub that gets little traffic. But, those hubs that really interest me are usually those that are better hubs; usually those are the ones that I think will get little traffic, but instead get tons of traffic.

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4. 67

   Peter M. Lopezposted 17 years ago

   I agree with Whitney, if I try to come up w/stuff, it's usually not that great, but if I allow inspiration to do its thing, it usually works out a lot better.
   
   Too, just being a keen observer of life yields pretty neat stuff.

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5. 57

   TheSpot-Erposted 17 years ago

   Here is one - how about answering the question your potential reader might have ...
   
   Cheers

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6. 60

   darksideposted 17 years ago

   Things that I've had as an interest or hobby.
   
   Or anything that grabs my attention.
   
   Figuring out how things work and then explaining it.

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7. 77

   robie2posted 17 years ago

   I'm still getting my sea legs here on HubPages and have been writing mostly short opinion pieces while I learn how to use the site and get to know its ins and outs.
   
   I'm writing just for the joy of it so I have no particular hobbyhorse to ride--but don't seem to have any trouble thinking up subject matter.  I've only done 8 hubs and they are on wildly different topics--a couple of political rants, answers to a couple of requests, a couple of opinion pieces on life in general--and finally,yesterday,I posted something that took a little research just to get back into doing it. The subjects sort of find me--when I'm doing other things.  They bubble up from the bottom of my rather messy mind

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8. 88

   stephhicks68posted 17 years ago

   My 10-year old son (and future Hubber and Hub-addict) has instructed me to write a Hub about my next topic.  After putting him off for almost a week, I am giving in.  I can't wait to see how it works out.
   
   BTW, its kind of scary.  He takes over my laptop and checks my account, yelling out when a Hub has reached a new height in score.  He asked if he clicked on my ads, if I would make any money.  LOL.  I think I'm creating a monster.

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9. 74

   Inspirepubposted 17 years ago

   I have Google alerts set for topics that interest me, so each day I get an email full of interesting news to look through, which often leads to a Hub (or research for one - I have about eight or nine prospective Hubs in Word documents, just lists of links and bits of text, ready for when I find time to work them up into a Hub).
   
   And conversations with friends, or things I find myself explaining over and over to people.
   
   Jenny

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10. 75

    jimmythejockposted 17 years ago

    I seem to always have a million thoughts in my head at the same time, and before hubpages came along I had nowhere to share them nor the confidence to, now i write my thoughts down and pick out the ones i think would be a good topic for a hub, hubpages has given me a confidence in myself and my writing that i could ever have imagined possible.....jimmy

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11. 83

    Zsuzsy Beeposted 17 years ago

    I'm with Jimmy here. My problem is not coming up with ideas to write, it's the time to research and to write...my day-planner has 102 of my potential hub ideas listed.  I also am still in awe that my hubs (or maybe they should be called rantings) are actually being read. What a boost... Thanks Zsuzsy

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    1. 0

       Lauren Romanoposted 17 years agoin reply to this

       102! Goodness!
       
       Ever since I started writing more frequently, I've gotten ideas from the strangest places. I find myself dozing off to sleep and start thinking up topics.
       
       I've actually gotten into the habit of texting to my email with ideas. I find it easier than carrying around paper (plus even a small notebook would never fit in my purse!)

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12. 74

    Ben Evansposted 17 years ago

    Lauren,
    
    It all depends on what you write.  I am a poet and fiction writer so my ideas often come from what I would like to paint at the time.  I am also an avid investor/trader so I often write about the market....I am new to hub pages (joined 4 days ago) so I haven't done much writing on financial subjects yet.
    
    The key in my opinion is to write about something that you have an interest in. Something like cooking, woodworking, driving in the country, or anything else, could be used as a good subject to write.  If you have a keen interest in something and write it well, you are likely to find readers who will enjoy what you write.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Ben

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