This article is a companion article to one written on Frumpy Haus Frau on the topic of getting ideas for blogging.

I find that ideas occur to me at the strangest times. Now it seems that every business conversation, every new problem or solution is a fit topic for blogging. Ideas usually occur to me in batches, and I’ll think of topics at the oddest times!

So how do you keep track of them? I use Notesbrowser.  It is a great little free program that helps me keep track of a whole lot more than blogging ideas - I’ve used it for keeping track of article ideas for over a year (along with marketing tasks, project outlines, reference information, and more). I can categorize lists, and sub-categorize them. I like hierarchal thinking, so this program works perfectly for me.

When I’m in the middle of something and cannot be distracted, if an idea occurs to me, I can jot it down, and then go back to my work. I can let it go, because I no longer have to remember it.

The only time it really isn’t helpful to jot it down, is when I’m in the bathtub… no computer there! And an amazing number of ideas occur to me in the tub!  I have learned to repeat them to myself a few times, then to recall them as soon as I do get back to the computer.

As many blog posts, articles, and instructional materials as what I have to produce, I have no choice but to get organized about how I come up with ideas, and how I record those ideas until I have time to write them. I spend an average of 2-3 hours a day just writing some kind of article or instruction. Ideas are gold - they have to be recorded for use when I need them!

Nothing is more frustrating to me than having a good idea in the morning, and then failing to remember it when I am ready to write for the day! Recording those ideas has helped me to be able to reference back, and use well, the inspiration for writing that seems to sleet down throughout the day. I’m less likely to get distracted by an idea that intrudes at an inappropriate time, and I’m more likely to have a good idea to refer back to when I need one.