My Writing Territories

My list of things to write about when I’m stuck.

Books that I’m currently reading; book reviews about books I’m reading or have recently read.
Books that shaped the person I am today.
The process of writing.
Metacognition, or thinking about thinking.
Stories that I have read in the news, especially The New York Times.
My response to Op-Ed pieces published in The New York Times, or other news sources.
Response to interesting blog posts on just about any topic under the sun. If it exists, I have an opinion on it.
Films that I’ve recently watched, or am reminded of; film reviews.
My niece and nephews, who are becoming such interesting individuals.
Students! How much I learn from them; how much they push me to be a better educator; their zest for life, desire to seek new territory and find new and better ways to do things.
The gender gap in education.
The professional cycling circuit; its ups and downs, heroes and villains, the problems caused by drug abuse.
Cycling: road, mountain biking, single speed
Birds and birding
Places I’ve visited, especially Wales and the UK.
Smaller trips I’ve taken closer to home: backpacking, sight seeing, skiing, climbing, caving, and kayaking in the US and Canada
Places I want to visit.
The JMT.
Literary theory.
Louisa May Alcott and pretty much everything she has written.
Nineteenth-century American and British literature.
Reviews of good young adult books.
Concerts I’ve attended.
Song lyrics that blow me away with their truth and beauty.
Ron Hawkins.
Popular culture, especially trends in American culture that are reflected in the literature, music, and film produced by it.
Swimming.
Poems that I love; poems that I don’t understand.
Haikus.
My husband!

cheer29 Says:

September 24, 2007 at 10:21 am

I often get stuck when I’m told I have to write an assignment and don’t have something specific I’m told to wirte aout. I’m not very creative and I can never think of a topic that i would want to wirte about. Making a list such as this really helps me come up with an idea. Seeing all the differnet options is really helpful and can get me started with a thought to write about.

graceless7716 Says:

September 25, 2007 at 11:32 am

When I get stuck for a topic to write about I often make my own writing territories list. On my list would be my favorite movies, favorite tv shows, and books I have been reading lately. Often I write about some or somthing that interests me. I have tons of stories about my friends and I feel that I can create great adventures and interesting subjects for them to be involved in.

sugarsweet3290 Says:

September 26, 2007 at 10:13 am

I do the same sort of thing. I get stuck a lot when i write and i always jot down topics that I can write about. I’m in creative writing and he always had us brainstorm about different tops we can write about. I always find something from the list I wrote and work off of that. I write about places i’ve visited and my nephews too.

ryder27 Says:

September 26, 2007 at 2:36 pm

I Like to write about sports. Anything that has to do with sports players and the game intrest me. I really can just write off the top off my head or just thing about somthing to write. I do write about stuff ive been doing or have done as well.

JSkot Says:

September 26, 2007 at 6:33 pm

I have to be honest. These days I’m rarely at a loss for words, but when I was younger I think this would have helped me a lot. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the process of creating my writing territories because it gave me the opportunity to think about what I do write. It was interesting to see what popped up on the list.

sassie1190 Says:

September 27, 2007 at 9:54 pm

I really hate getting writing assignments without a specific topic because I can never think of anything to write about. However lately I have a lot of things to say and I can’t decide what I should write about first. If I ever get stuck though and can’t think of anything, I’ll come back here and pick something because there are a lot of good ideas.