Have you ever failed to capture ideas? Ideas are everywhere. They either occur to you at odd places and times, usually. An ad at the supermarket can get you a smashing idea. The biggest problem however is the idea leak out syndrome.
There are many aspects that have to be taken care of in order to avoid ideas being lost in the void. One of them is effective capturing of ideas. Here are some of the convenient ways to do it.
Pen and paper:
This is a classic yet very good method to capture ideas. You can carry a pocket size diary and a pen that can help you quickly note down that strikes your brain, almost everywhere. You can use it while you are shopping, walking, travelling (provided you are not driving) and so on.
If you are not comfortable with the diary you can carry the small 3 by 5 cards. They come in different attractive colours, so if you want to save ideas that are related to different topics you can differentiate them with coloured cards.
I am not sure however if the pen and paper option is safe and you can use it when you are in the rain, but I think this is still a goodie .
Software:
There are hundreds if not millions of them around. There are free and paid ones. One of them is Evernote. I use it at some occasions; however it is not my only option. The good thing about Evernote is that it syncs with literally everything.
So you can capture your precious ideas on every device and sync it when you get online. A cool thing about Evernote is that it can scan pictures for text, so you can do a screen capture of a website if you need to use an idea from the article and save it.
Audio/video recorder:
This is somewhat an expensive option but still worth (if you are going to use a paid software or a costly smartphone, then this option will be cheaper). When you are driving you can record a voice of yourself speaking out the idea with your audio recorder.
A video recorder is cool if you carry a small handicam with you always. The minus about this option is that you have to buy tapes (for audio) and not all camcorders, or handicams are handy.
Drafts online:
You have loads of options online. Your email provider is the first and the foremost place I will suggest. When you are online you can type a draft email and save it.
If you need to save ideas in different topics then use the folder option or label them (this depends on the email provider you are using). There are also solutions like Remember the milk, Vitalist, Todoist, Mindmap and so on. There are options to save ideas in different formats like text, images, mindmaps and so on.
Did I forget Google docs? This is an awesome tool. The added advantage with Google docs is that you can choose to share your docs online with people you choose. This will be helpful, for instance, when you need someone to proof read your article or parts of your thesis/dissertation.
In addition when you are working on a chapter or an article which involves a co-author(s), this is an excellent option. All the authors can edit or update the article and have the article in common. This saves a lot of time in editing and circulation by email.
Drafts offline:
Have you forgotten the very old text editor? There are word processing applications too! A simple .txt file or a .doc file can do the job. When you are working offline (in a situation where you cannot connect to the internet) you can have exclusive idea folders (I have them as one big folder on the desktop, with subfolders according to the topic/niche) where you can have independent text or doc files for each idea.
Again, you can also use the offline option of a software like Evernote which syncs when you go online.
Mobile:
Your mobile phone can be used in a simple manner to capture ideas effectively. You do not need a smartphone, a simple mobile is enough. If you get a brilliant idea when you are waiting for the doctor, just type a draft sms and save it in your drafts folder. This works goo for people who can make use of telegraphic versions of messages or hints.
You do not need to write elaborate sentences, just jot down the important bullet points. I once have saved about 10 post ideas for my blog at one time with my mobile when I waited at the hospital for my turn. I also use my mobile to note my ideas as I brainstorm on my way to office (of course, I am not driving ;)).
This list is not complete. Can you add more?
Jane, fantastic post!
And a great reminder for me to get into using Evernote more, I think it can really help me a great deal!
Mindmapping is something I started recently with MindMeister, a great tool for it!
Oh and the Buffer Button looks fantastic Jane, Buffered this post - Twice!
Hi Leo,
Evernote is really wonderful and comes in to rescue whenever I am at odd places.
I love the Buffer button too!
Cheers,
Jane.
Tapes?? Aren’t all voice recorders digital now??
If you’re referring to post ideas, I get 99% of mine sitting right her. I immediately draft it up in the blog itself.
Hey Dennis,
Tapes do prevail yet
You should be lucky getting your post ideas while you are blogging.
Cheers,
Jane.
It happens with me so much. So, I always make instant notes in my phone when I get any idea regarding anything. Lol
Our phone is our good companion isn’t? Given that most of the time we have it with ourselves, catching ideas while waiting or travelling should be easy with it
Jane.
Jane, aloha. Great topic. Samantha told me about RemembertheMilk yesterday and it looks good. For some reason, Evernote and I did not click.
That being said, I do keep track of ideas via many of the ways you suggest. Everything I carry has a pen and paper in it, every table/stand in the house likewise holds paper and pen. When I am in the office, I use both sending my self e-mails and drafting on the computer.
Whatever system people use, they need to do it. Once you note down an idea, two things happen: (1) that idea further develops and (2) more new ideas flow. If you don’t write them down, you tend to keep thinking of the same thing over and over.
Best wishes for a terrific day. Janet. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Hey Janet,
You are right, when we note down ideas, more ideas flow. This works nice for me when I work with pen and paper.
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane,
why do you think that a Smartphone is a costly option ? Of course, if I bought one specifically for the purpose of recording my ideas, it would be expensive. But if I have one anyway, it’s one of the most effective ways of recording one’s ideas. Well, who needs a smartphone to do phone calls ?
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
LOL yup that’s true Oliver. I meant, smartphone is costly compared to a pen and a paper. But what you are saying is perfectly right, who wants to make calls on a smartphone?
Cheers,
Jane.
Those are great ideas, Jane! I am often caught without either paper or pen, unfortunately, but I have been known to write on envelopes, receipts and anything I can find.
I love mindmapping, by the way. Not only does it help me capture an idea but it helps me come up with many more. Great for planning blog posts or articles!
Hey Jeanine,
I used to write on anything I found around. But then I realized that it is no different from not writing that idea and losing it, coz the little pieces of paper are lost anyway
Now I maintain a notebook to collect ideas while I am working
Jane.
Hi Jane,
Interesting post and awesome topic. I still use Pen and paper classic style, it is very good & effective method for capturing ideas.
Thanks for sharing this awesome post. Have a great time, jane !
~Dev
Hi Jane,
What a great topic for a post! No matter how we capture the ideas, it’s important that we do or else we are likely to miss so many great opportunities to explore these further.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but no matter how convinced I am that I will remember an idea I just don’t unless I get it down somewhere.
Usually ideas come to me when I am least likely to have a way of recording them so because I know this is the case I am always prepared now. I always carry a small notebook and my phone with me both of which do the trick for me.
So whether I’m on the treadmill at gym, in the shower, on a walk in the bush, driving somewhere in peak hour traffic, entrapped in the dentist’s chair,or I wake up in the middle of the night with a stroke of genius I am ready to get it down before it escapes.
~Marcus
No Marcus it is not just you. I think our brains are trained to work on something only if it is registered (like approved and written down LOL)!
Hi Jane,
These are all great ways to capture our precious ideas. I haven’t used most of the software tools you posted here (and I’ll be checking these out). I do however, frequently use pen and paper, and my mobile. I haven’t tried audio too, as I don’t drive anyway.
Thank you Jane for this very helpful post.
- Rowena
Hi Rowena,
If you are comfortable with pen and paper you should be good to go, unless until you are in a situation you cannot use pen and paper. Less software is better. Moreover following one or two methods will help you not to scatter ideas all over the places
Jane.
Hey Jane,
This is an interesting topic. I use the old school way to capture my ideas.
I use a pen and paper. Why? Because sometimes I might be in a place where I dont have my laptop with me, or my laptop might be dead, or as is common in this part of the world, there might be power outage. I use a pen and paper.
I actually have a pad I call ideas book that I put the things I want to remember.
I’m embarassed to say this but sometimes my brain fail me, it helps me remember.
Thanks for sharing the different options with us. I’d be sure to write them in my pad.
Take care!
Tosin
Hey Tosin,
Pen and paper is a classy and working option. I think most people vote for it
Jane.
Hi Jane!
Another fun post to read!
This used to happen to me so often! And to be honest, it sometimes still does! But I’ve gotten much better at capturing the ideas I get.
I used to be a big pen and paper guy. Keep with the fundamentals, right? To this day, I still keep a notepad by my bed in case I wake up with a great idea (It happens!).
Then I went the route of the audio recording device, carrying it around every where I went. This was okay but I forgot to bring it along many times.
Today, I’ve replaced my audio recorder with my cell phone, which has a recording feature. This allows me to save my ideas on my phone for later reference.
The only one I haven’t quite figured out yet? THE SHOWER!
That’s right, I get some really great ideas in the shower, but haven’t figured out a way to capture them “in the moment”. LOL.
Thanks for the great post, Jane!
Hi Bob,
Shower is a great place for me to get ground breaking ideas. While I am in the shower I think about what I read, what I am using and what needs to be improved at my blog. So ideas just smash in. Many times I just come out of shower unsure whether I finished taking my shower at all
But the ideas are intact.
Well, someone has to tell me a way to capture ideas while “at the moment” LOL
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane,
The Remember the Milk site is a pretty nifty one. I’ve toyed around in there. Is using your mobile your favorite idea capture strategy?
Have you tried the voice recorder approach? That one seems appealing especially if you’re out for a drive.
I’m a pen to paper type. It helps me connect on a deeper level with the topic. I focus more. The writing comes more naturally to me that way even though the pain is then transferring it to electronic format. There is always a pen on me or nearby and I have several pocket-sized notebooks.
Thanks!
Jon
Jon,
Thanks for joining many people who vote for pen and paper as well. I am a notebook and pen gal; this option works great when I am working. But during travel or waiting in queues my cellphone works best. In particular I use evernote to capture ideas more realistically and it syncs with everything
Jane.
Hello Jane,
I definitely have the problem you mention, but I am driving about eight hours a day, so I don’t have much of any options to combat it. I agree that your ideas would be great solutions for most peoople. Thanks for posting them.
Lou B arba
Hi Lou,
An audio recorder could be of help. You can switch it on and speak the idea to it to work on it later when you are free
Jane.
Jane,
Nice tips
I use mostly my mobile phone while I’m on the go. It is a handy way to capture ideas.
Timo
When I’m on the go, i prefer Pen and Paper. I know that bringing tablets will give you a good impression however i don’t know, i think I’m just old school. Writing my blog ideas through Pen and Paper just makes me feel more enthusiastic and it makes me want to write my article right then and there.
Wonderful post Jane!
Those are wonderful ways or ideas to capture ideas effectively! I guess I have only tried the normal pen and paper, or my laptop for storing the post ideas mainly, and haven’t rally give it a real thought about the others you mentioned.
Yes, Google Doc. of course is there and someone had written a recent post on Evernote also, which made me check it out. But somehow I never really followed it up much. Guess you need that kind of peaceful time also to sit and try out these wonderful things
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend
It happens with very blogger that some times we stuck into this situation that we have no ideas and waiting for some one to give us suggestions.
Nice post Jane.
I use my ‘MiniDiary’ installed on my phone to store ideas and suggestion which come into my mind all of a sudden. Putting down on pen and paper doesn’t guarantee the privacy and peace of mind. Also, I can’t have access to PC all the time.
I must say that you have ability to write eye catchy posts.
Thanks
Aaron
Jane you have given some awesome tips here.
I personally use Evernote. I have it on my android phone as well as my desktop. I make a note of ideas on either of them which ever comes in handy and later I can access the same from any of them. I can tell you its just too good for me!