A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young

     Ideas are a new combination of old elements. We use our minds with existing resources to create something new, hopefully unique and perfect for our needs. James Webb Young (1886-1973) wrote this very short guide which could really be more of an essay. In one sit-down reading session, you'll learn more about the following five steps of the creative process that is idea-production.

1.      Gather. Specifically, gather raw materials. This would include information about your program/business/product in combination with your vernacular, experiences and knowledge. Looking to freshen your raw material supply? Take a look through the dictionary and see words as images and "short stories" as Webb puts it. A word, an experience, a memory won't necessarily make logical sense with your purpose just yet. A useful suggestion of Webb's is to write each piece of information (anything that comes to mind) on a 3x5 index card for the next step.
2.      Examine. Work the materials over in your mind. Imagine each piece of raw material as a jigsaw piece and turn it around and around with other pieces. How can two (or three or four) ideas fit together? Maybe they don't, but consider every angle of each idea and  perhaps a tangent will lead you to a new piece of raw material to consider.
3.      Incubation. After you've exhausted your mind in exploring all the possible combinations and maybe-cohesive materials, leave it be and let your unconscious mind take over. Keep your brain stimulated with music, film, exercise or even sleep. When you're finished, hopefully you'll be near step four.



Author James Webb Young

4.      Eureka! If you haven't already had an unexpected Eureka! moment, take a look again at what you left in step 3. Do you see it in a new way or do things appear differently than before? Are there new possibilities or things you hadn't considered during step 2? This is the step where you find your idea. It's rough around the edges but it's there and time to put up to the jury for criticism and collaboration. 
5.      Fine-tuning. Work with your partners (or by yourself) to see how your idea needs shaping and further development to exactly fit the needs and purposes of your original task.

     This simple five-step process can be successful if you're persistent and passionate about producing ideas and creative thinking. As with all things practice and experience bring progress and eventual success.

     You can find A Technique for Producing Ideas at your local library. You can also purchase it on Amazon for your Kindle or as a paperback.