How can I effectively use AI for brainstorming without getting stuck with generic or irrelevant suggestions?
You know how sometimes you try a new shortcut on your commute, maybe riding your motorcycle down a different street, hoping to save time, but you end up stuck behind a garbage truck or hitting every red light? Using AI for brainstorming can feel like that sometimes.
It promises speed, but often gives you generic junk that doesn't really help.
I've seen writers get frustrated, feeling like these tools are just spitting out the same old tired ideas. The thing is, in my experience, it's usually not the tool's fault entirely. It's more about how we're asking. We can't just expect magic; we need to guide it, like teaching someone a new skill.
Why AI Sometimes Gives You Vanilla Ice Cream When You Wanted Rocky Road
AI learns from everything out there, which means it often defaults to the most common, safest stuff. Think of it like asking a crowd for directions – you'll likely get the most popular route, not necessarily the scenic or quickest one.
It doesn't automatically get your specific need or the unique flavour of the brand you're writing for unless you spell it out. Asking vague questions gets you vague answers.
It's like asking someone "What should I eat?" without telling them you're vegetarian or allergic to nuts. You might get suggestions you simply can't use.
Getting Better Ideas: Simple Tweaks to How You Ask
I'm not about complicated processes. Here are a few straightforward ways I've found to get more useful ideas out of AI, things that actually help the writers I work with:
- Ask Wide-Open Questions: Instead of cornering the AI, give it room to move. Don't ask, "Give me blog titles about saving money." Try something like, "What are some surprising ways people accidentally waste money each month?" See the difference? It invites more interesting angles.
- Give It the Lay of the Land (Context is King): This is huge. I learned this the hard way – assuming the AI knew what I meant. You gotta tell it the specifics. Who are you writing for? What's the goal? What should it avoid? Constraints actually help creativity.
For example: "Brainstorm blog post ideas for new parents who are overwhelmed and sleep-deprived. Focus on practical, 5-minute tips. Avoid anything that requires buying expensive gear." Clearer instructions mean better results.
- Don't Expect a Hole-in-One (Use Chaining): Rarely do you get the perfect idea on the first try. It's like tuning a guitar; you make small adjustments. Start broad, get some initial ideas, then pick one or two that have potential and ask the AI to dig deeper into those.
"Okay, I like the '5-minute meal prep' idea. Give me 10 specific meal prep tips that take under 5 minutes each." It's a conversation, not a command prompt.
Mixing Things Up: Creative Ways to Nudge the AI
Sometimes you need to shake the snow globe a bit to see things differently.
- Play Pretend (Role-Playing): This sounds silly, but it works. Ask the AI to think like someone specific. "Imagine you're a skeptical small business owner who thinks SEO is a scam. What blog topics about SEO might actually convince you it's worthwhile?" Getting different viewpoints helps break out of your own echo chamber.
- The SCAMPER Thing (If It Helps): Some people like frameworks. SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, etc.) is one. You can ask the AI to apply each step to your problem. "Using SCAMPER, how could we adapt our current blog post format to work better as short videos?" If frameworks help you, use them. If not, don't force it.
- Ask for Lots of Ideas (Quantity First): Don't be shy. Ask for 20, 30, even 50 ideas. Most might be duds, but buried in there could be a few gems you wouldn't have thought of. Sometimes you need to sift through a lot of sand to find the gold.
Mistakes I've Made (So You Don't Have To)
- Trying to Ask Everything at Once: Too much info confuses things. Keep your prompts focused. One clear goal per prompt usually works better for me.
- Taking the First Answer as Final: The first response is just a starting point. Always ask for refinements, variations, or for it to "try again, but make it funnier" or "more serious." It’s a tool, make it work for you.
- Not Saying How Detailed You Want It: Need headlines? Ask for headlines. Need a full outline? Ask for an outline. Be specific about the type of output you need.
Thinking Outside the Usual Box
- Borrow from Weird Places: Ask the AI to connect unrelated things. "What can the way ants build colonies teach us about creating a better team workflow for writers?" Sometimes the craziest connections spark the best ideas. It reminds me of how different superheroes have unique powers but sometimes team up in unexpected ways to solve a problem.
- What If? (Scenarios): Push the AI to think about different futures or situations. "If our main competitor suddenly vanished, what new services could we offer?"
- Think Backwards (Reverse Brainstorming): How could you make the problem worse? "How could we make our blog posts completely boring and unreadable?" Then flip those answers around. Sometimes the best way to find the light switch is to stumble around in the dark first.
It's Still About You, the Writer
Look, AI is a tool, like a power drill or a really smart calculator. It can do some heavy lifting, maybe draft outlines or summarize research. But it doesn't have your experiences, your unique voice, or your understanding of a client's real needs. That's where you come in.
Getting good ideas from AI isn't about letting it take over; it's about learning how to guide it effectively. It's about asking better questions, giving clearer directions, and using its output as a starting point for your creativity and strategic thinking.
Don't get discouraged by generic answers; see it as a challenge to refine how you ask. It's your skill, your perspective, and your ability to connect with readers that clients ultimately pay for.
The AI is just another tool in your toolbox. Use it wisely.