Writing Is Consuming. To Write More, Consume More.

How do I write more articles? How do I find writing ideas?

Many writers seek answers to these questions.

When I started my writing journey, I used to have the same problem. I ran out of ideas and got stuck — days went by without me writing a single word.

You can find many tips on how to write more and improve your craft. Some of them are:

- Make a list of ideas every day.

- Read more books.

- Carry a notebook with you so that you can write down your ideas.

- Share your life experiences.

These are all great pieces of advice. I have applied them all, and they have proven to be worthy.

As my writing improved, I understood one thing that helped me the most to find ideas. It is;

Writing is consuming.

Consume more to write more.

Here's something you must remember: There are no new ideas. You can't find an original writing topic because people have already written about all of them.

Content creators — writers, filmmakers, or artists — find inspiration in others' work and create something of their own.

“Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.” — Austin Kleon, Steal Like An Artist

Don't try to find original ideas because you won't find many. It might take a long time to develop something truly original. Instead, consume the work of other people. You will find inspiration that will lead to something you can write about.

Here are some examples of how you can consume:

- Read books

- Watch videos online

- Watch movies and documentaries

- Follow other writers and creators on social media

- Read articles, stories, newsletters, etc.

- Take a course

- Be a part of different events and training programs

When you consume, you acquire knowledge and learn from the experiences of others.

Don't copy.

Plagiarism is unacceptable. You should never copy someone else's work.

Your job is to find inspiration. You are to collect great ideas and mix them to make something of your own.

Start consuming.

You must start consuming content if you are stuck trying to find writing ideas.

Take a break from writing. Instead, read books, watch documentaries, and read other people's work. Subscribe to newsletters, read emails, and follow creators on social media; you will find tons of inspiration and ideas from them.

I find my writing ideas by consuming other writers' work on Medium and reading books. Your source of inspiration might be different. You might find ideas by watching Youtube videos or movies/documentaries.

When you consume, take notes. Capture all the ideas you can find. Write it down on a piece of paper, journal, or on your phone. Don't consume just for the sake of consuming.

Keep a journal.

I recommend you keep an idea journal with you all the time so that you can write on it while you consume content.

There are no specific rules for how you should write in your journal. Draw pictures, write headings/subheadings, or list the main points; you can do anything as long as you get the idea.

I have my idea notebook with me when I'm at my office. But I don't carry it everywhere I go. I use my phone when I don't have my notebook. I either email myself the idea (with links, sometimes) or write it in the notes app.

Input. Process. Output.

Think of how a computer works. It has input devices, a processing unit, and output devices. I remember reading this when I was a kid.

Use this system in writing too.

Take input by consuming many forms of content.

Process them by making the ideas your own. Mix things up — add your opinions, feedback, and ideas to your consumption.

Write a story with all the elements you have processed. That is the output.

Remember, you must consume to create.