The first book was based on your life and now you want to write the second. The problem is you can’t think of a good idea. Here are three ways to help

1. Go back to your childhood.

When you first get into the business most novelist use the worse thing that happened to them and go from there. But after that idea is used you may feel pressure for your second, especially if your life has a tendency to be boring. But by spending fifteen minutes a day going over intricate details about your childhood you’ll find a treasure trove of book material.

Think about the first day of school, and maybe the creepy neighbor who looked at you too long as you walked down the street. If you were poor, what about the feeling you had while having to wear cheap shoes, or tennis with holes in them? What about your first broken heart, or when you lost your virginity? Was the person gentle or rough? Were you traumatized? What about the scariest thing that happened to you as a child?

My point is by starting at the early part of your life you’ll be surprise what you can scratch up to get your next book started.

2. Surround yourself around interesting people and become a good listener.

On everything I love, writers talk too damn much. We act like nobody has ever said a word to us in life… ever. It’s time to start practicing the art of silence.

Although it isn’t good to use your friends’ stories, because you might find yourself in somebody’s trunk, or even lose a good friendship, some stories are up for grabs and if nothing else will jog your creative juices. But if you talk too much you’ll never be able to get enough material because a person can’t get a word in edgewise.

Although this method is awesome, please be courteous of your friends and family’s private stories. Folks won’t say shit around you if you take everything they say verbatim and stick in in your books. Pay more attention to how people feel as they tell their stories. Consider situations that may be light to you but emotionally heavy to someone else.

3. Write everything down.

In my book How To Write A Book In 30 Days, I talk about the importance of writing good ideas down immediately, using your note app on your cell phone or a notepad and paper. Yet most people are lazier than newborn babies when it comes to this major practice.

One of the main reasons my career has spanned ten years is because I write every good idea down. I don’t wait until I get home. Or until I finish cussing somebody out. I get up, and write the idea down the moment it comes to mind. I can’t begin to tell you the amount of times this has gotten me out of jams.

Hope this helps.

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