Brainstorming, in a few words, is the essential process in which the writer thinks of possible ideas and topics to include in a story. Brainstorming is useful whether you have too few ideas, or too many. It can help you whether you don't know how to organize your thoughts, or whether you don't even have any thoughts. There are different ways you can brainstorm, for example:
1- Freewrite. Grab a paper and fill it with random thoughts. Don't even stop to correct grammar, remember that's a draft of what you're keeping bottled up. It is yours only.
2- Write a list. Enumerate, don't evaluate. Keep adding topics, names, quotes, whatever is on your mind at the moment.
3. Research. Pick a topic. Any topic. Let's say you chose "break-ups" google stuff like "the worst ways to break up", "the funniest break ups", "how to get over a break up". You are sure to find inspiration in articles or images.
4. Concept map. This is just like writing a list, except you are going to associate similar topics. You can either draw a line from one idea to the next, or use different color codes to match up the possibilites. It is up to you.
The most important thing about brainstorming is to remember it is a DRAFT. You can write whoever you want, whatever you want. The only person that has to understand is you.
Hope this helps at least a little! :)
