Mind Stars

Free Association and Random Input are very useful when you need fresh ideas or new perspectives. We tend to think by recognizing patterns based on past experience. However, we often get stuck within a particular pattern and can't see a good solution.

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Group creativity:  Try using this as a story starter. You can work out from a main concept or setup, or create a premise from several different ideas. Don't restrict the ideas in any way. Don't dismiss any idea that's offered. Be open minded and then at least one of these tools is likely to give you a startling creative leap.

Individual Alternate: Try using a random word generator or just open your dictionary, close your eyes and slide your finger down the page (nouns work best). Then start brainstorming ideas that are deliberately as broad and out of the ordinary as possible.

While some of the ideas generated will be useless, hopefully you will gain some good new insights into your problem and get some great elements to add to your story.