SD #12: 5 Steps to Being Creative, Even on Command

Learn a Pressure-Free Brainstorming Exercise to Help You Be Creative (Even On Command)

Read Time: 6.5 minutes

I've often said that there's no such thing as writer's block; the problem is idea block.

— Jeffery Deaver, Novelist

In this post, we’re sharing a brainstorming tip to help you create fresh messaging when introducing a new idea.

All of us know how hard it is to create messages that break through. That challenge becomes even harder when you’re trying to explain a new product or service to your audience.

But when you finish reading this issue, you’ll have a go-to brainstorming exercise that will help you generate compelling copy.

What’s the Tip?

Brainstorming doesn’t have to depend on inspiration. There’s a simple exercise that will help you be creative, even on command. 

By selecting a random object and assigning descriptive phrases, adjectives, and qualities to it, you can create something we call a Wordbank. 

You’ll then be able to draw upon this banked collection of words to create engaging content for your new idea.

How Do You Use It?

To create a Wordbank, we’ve adapted a trick from our friend, Mike Long, a renowned speechwriter and Georgetown professor in Washington, DC.

Here’s how to create your own Wordbank step-by-step:

Step #1:  Write down whatever it is you’re introducing. For our example, we’ll be introducing a fictitious new podcast.

New Thing: Introduction to New Podcast

Step #2:  Pick a random object, process, person, or idea. Maybe a favorite movie or novel. Anything at all. Write down what your random object is. In our case, we’ll use a tissue box.

Random Object: Tissue Box

Step #3: Write down as many descriptive phrases, adjectives, and qualities of the random thing you chose (i.e., tissue box) in 1 minute.

Here’s what we wrote down:

• Square
• Open
• Accessible
• Helpful 
• Useful
• Plentiful
• Necessary
• Practical
• Portable 
• Compact
• Dependable
• Reliable

Step #4: Highlight the descriptive words of your random object that are a good fit for your new product or idea.

Below, we’ve highlighted words that we think could work for the new fictitious podcast we’re introducing.

• Square
• Open
• Accessible
• Helpful 
• Useful
• Plentiful
• Necessary
• Practical
• Portable 
• Compact
• Dependable
• Reliable

Step #5: Now, start writing your copy for whatever it is you’re introducing, using the words you highlighted from your Wordbank.

Here’s our example for promoting our new, fictitious podcast: 

Every Monday at noon, you can depend on us to bring you practical storytelling tips that will help you right away. Tune in wherever you happen to be, whether you’re working out, driving to school, or taking a lunch break at your desk.

You don’t want to miss our useful insights, so we’re making the live podcast and its recordings accessible on your favorite channels, including Spotify, iTunes, Overcast, Podchaser, Amazon Audible, and Stitcher.

What Are Some Real-life Examples?

The examples below contain copy taken from some very successful podcasts.

Take a look and you'll find some interesting word choices that help differentiate each show.

These are the kinds of word choices that your Wordbank will help generate.

The Tim Ferris Show:

Guests enjoy the show because it’s friendly, long-form, and they have final cut before audio is published. This leads to extremely open, raw interviews and — paradoxically — fewer edits.

Masters of Scale podcast with Reid Hoffmann:

Most episodes begin with an entertaining tale…It then unfolds like a detective story…

Much more than just an interview show, this is a genre-defining series on how to think boldly and differently about the world.

Amy Porterfield:

Expert interviews, mini execution plans, and intimate behind-the-scenes secrets from my biggest launches… all tied together by my mission to make EVERYTHING you listen to as actionable and profitable as possible.

What’s the Benefit to You?

Brainstorming just got a lot easier because you have a Wordbank to draw from.

TL;DR

1. Brainstorming doesn’t have to depend on inspiration.
2. There’s a pressure-free exercise that will help you be more creative, even on command.
3. You can create a Wordbank of words describing a random object and apply those words when promoting your new idea.

We hope this issue has been helpful. Happy Wordbanking!