Ray Bradbury's Creative Exercise To Generate Story Ideas

How Simple Lists of Nouns Can Spark Inspiration and Reveal Your Unique Voice

Oct 23, 2024

Ray Bradbury is one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers. Over his career, he wrote more than fifty books, worked in TV and film, and even founded a theater company.

Despite his many achievements, Bradbury always valued the power of simple creative exercises to generate ideas.

In Zen in the Art of Writing, he shares one of his most effective techniques: creating long lists of nouns to spark ideas and inspire story titles.

In this article, we'll cover:

How to use personalized lists as creative triggers
How to turn simple lists into stories
Why writing from personal beliefs is essential
How lists can help writers discover their own voice

…and more.

For further insights, check out Stephen King's Advice For Writers, 10 Writing Tips from the Original “Mad Man”, and 8 Writing Tips From John Steinbeck.

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Discovering a Creative Approach

When Ray Bradbury was in his 20s, he says he came across a creative technique that helped him write many stories and even books. The process was simple: he would start by making a long list of nouns—whatever came into his head.

“The night. The crickets. The train whistle. The basement. The attic. The tennis shoes. The fireworks.”

Bradbury would point out that what pops into your head to write down isn’t random. It ends up being very personal.

“Then, when you get the list down, you begin to word-associate around it. You ask, Why did I put this word down? What does it mean to me? Why did I put this noun down and not some other word?

Using Lists as Creative Jumping-Off Points

He would use his lists as starting points for creative imagining.

“I began to run through those lists, pick a noun, and then sit down to write a long prose-poem-essay on it.
Somewhere along about the middle of the page, or perhaps on the second page, the prose poem would turn into a story. Which is to say that a character suddenly appeared and said, “That’s me”; or, “That’s an idea I like!” And the character would then finish the tale for me.
It began to be obvious that I was learning from my lists of nouns, and that I was further learning that my characters would do my work for me, if I let them alone, if I gave them their heads, which is to say, their fantasies, their frights.”

Implementing Bradbury's Techniques

Making these lists helps you break free from writing what others expect. Instead of asking, “What should I write?”—which often means “What do people want me to write?”—you start with a personal list of nouns and go from there.

Create Your Own Lists: Start by setting aside 10-15 minutes to write down every noun that comes to mind. Don’t overthink it; let your thoughts flow freely. This list can include objects, feelings, memories, or experiences that hold significance to you.
Explore Your Lists: Once you have your list, pick one or two nouns that resonate with you. Reflect on why they stood out. Ask yourself questions like: What memories do these words evoke? What stories or emotions are tied to them?
Write from Your Nouns: Use your chosen noun as a prompt. Start writing a prose poem or a short essay that revolves around it. Let your thoughts wander; don’t worry about structure initially. Allow characters or scenarios to emerge naturally.
Engage in Word Association: As you write, if another noun comes to mind, write it down. See where it leads you. This associative writing can unveil unexpected connections and storylines.
Refine Your Writing: After drafting, revisit what you've written. Look for themes, characters, or plot ideas that have emerged. Ask yourself how these elements can be further developed into a full story.
Stay Authentic: Remember Bradbury’s advice on writing from personal beliefs. Incorporate your own experiences and perspectives into your work. If a character or idea resonates with your feelings about something you love or hate, lean into that emotional truth.

“If you are a writer, or hope to be one, similar lists, dredged out of the lopside of your brain, might well help you discover you, even as I flopped around and finally found me.”

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