When it comes to brainstorming, you may already have an idea in your head, or you may have nothing screaming at the screen hoping something in your mind will pop up. When it comes to writing I am usually that's what I do. However, since this is a blog on writing and creation of comics I figured it would be a better idea to simply make some exercises on word association.
If you already have a character, you may be able to get some extra details for you character through thinking up things like what kind of job they have (if any), or family, or things like that and writing about them through the character route.
Another method is word association, think of your genre then think of your favorite things that you associate with it and go from there, use those items and try to craft a story or perhaps just an exercise.
For some people this is enough, it wasn't for me though. I didn't want that, I wanted to take a new route, something that was interesting a lot more harder than simple word association. I had to take the road less traveled. As a result it put me back a fair bit, perhaps I should say don't do this, but if you are committed and are tired of the same old shit you read from blogs telling you the same things over and over again, and screaming at the screen doesn't work and the neighbors are complaining at you and the cops are pounding on the door, maybe it's time to choose a different avenue for writing.
All I knew is is that I wanted to be a writer still and I wasn't willing to give up, I didn't have anything else anything! That's all I had and not any trips anywhere were gonna help me with anything.
First thing is first, you gotta come up with an idea, then twist it around. The unexpected is your friend here, and the contrary will help you coming up with something unique. So let's say we take Runie. Runie is going to the grocery store. What can we do to spice this up? Maybe she's going there because she needs magical shampoo because her hair fell out. Maybe she's going to a fantasy like store with fairies and elves. Now twist that around, try to think of something even more unique. Maybe the store is alive and wants to make her become it's unwilling employee for a crappy job? Maybe you don't see where I'm going here with this.
See you have your character, then your place, then your subject. When you have all those things, think about changing something with either or of these particular items- what could be unique about your character, your subject, your setting? Maybe even your theme, (which is a lot harder to actually use).
This is the key for having a unique/original plot to help get your creative juices flowing. You need those juicy juices and help give birth to your next story. By using your favorite elements from brainstorming as well you should be able to put together something fairly engaging to not only the reader but to you yourself, which is the most important thing.
If this doesn't work the first time around don't get discouraged, keep at it. There are other methods you can use for brainstorming and creativity mark up and we'll talk about that next time!