Coming up with Ideas: 5 step approach

The author from Medium borrows this from Gary Larson of Far Side

Here’s the simple five-step formula:

1. Gather material (specific and general)
2. Think (write down every idea)
3. Take a break (put the problem out of your mind)
4. Let idea emerge (idea appears, write it down)
5. Development (refine and rework idea)
6.  

• this is from "Where Good Ideas Come From" by Steven Johnson
• Go for a walk
• Cultivate hunches
• Write everything down, but keep your folders messy
• Embrace serendipity by following links
• Make generative mistakes
• Take on multiple hobbies
• Frequent coffeehouses and other liquid networks
• Let others build on your ideas
• Borrow, recycle, reinvent
• Build a tangled bank (collaborate)

All of these are in service of his big idea: “The trick to having good ideas is not to sit around in glorious isolation and try to think big thoughts. The trick is to get more parts on the table.”