What you believe to be true
This can be useful in many ways so don’t blow this one off, fam
Without thinking too much about it (because that when self-censorship starts), make a list of things you definitely, certainly, truly believe. The list is just for you unless you say otherwise, so really let it rip. This list can range from spirituality to conspiracies, from food preparation techniques to the best flavor of soda. Whatever. Big and small, superficial and existential, get it all on your list.
Here are but a few things you can do with this:
Rework it into your personal manifesto.
Save it to your main writing ideas file for stuff to write about on days you feel uninspired.
Revisit it often in order to feel inspired in general.
Search each topic on the list in Google News and see if there is something topical happening related to your thing, in which case, you, my friend, potentially have yourself a timely news hook.
Write an essay about the “why” of each item on your list.
Use the list to guide some free-association research and see what ideas come to you.
Use items on this list to guide your social media shares to make sure you’re saying something of substance and/or personal truth (this is literally a path to personal branding as a writer).
Do a second free write, this time saying, “I believe this, therefore…” to each of your big truths.
