Using OneNote for brainstorming and idea generation

Brainstorming helps you get your ideas out of your head and onto paper. It encourages creativity and can help with problem solving. Brainstorming can be used for a variety of reasons¬—for example, you can use it to help you create a comedy sketch, flesh out book ideas, create essay topics, generate business ideas, and more.

All your ideas in one place

Keep your thoughts, content, and lists handy with OneNote

Learn more

Dedicate a specific notebook in OneNote for brainstorming. To create a new notebook, click the notebook symbol and then click Add Notebook.

Use OneNote for mind mapping

If you want to brainstorm with structure, try creating a mind map in OneNote. Mind maps are brainstorming diagrams that feature a central idea that is connected to supporting content. The supporting content ideas get more and more specific. Creating a map of all of your thoughts can help you come up with even more ideas. To create a mind map in OneNote:

• Click the Draw tab.
• Choose your favorite pen color.
• Select Ink to Shape.
• Draw a circle. Ink to Shape will automatically turn your circle into a perfect circle.
• Move the circle to the center of the page.
• Write your main brainstorming topic inside the circle.
• Add smaller circles surrounding the center circle. You’ll put more specific topic ideas in these circles. Draw lines to connect them to the center circle.
• Add even smaller circles surrounding the second level of circles. In these circles, you’ll put even more specific ideas about the topic. Draw a line to connect them to the second level of circles.

Since you’ll never run out of space in OneNote, you can record an endless number of ideas. Make sure to keep your mind maps organized by creating a new page for each one. To create a new page, simple click Add Page on the right-hand side. Right-click each page to rename it.

Use OneNote for freewriting

There are many other ways you can brainstorm, but freewriting is the simplest way to do it. When you free write, you are simply letting the ideas flow out of your mind without stopping. If you have a tablet and stylus, you can handwrite your ideas in OneNote, or you can simply type them out. However, most people can type faster than they can write by hand, so if you’re eager to get your ideas out, typing may be easier.

Use OneNote as a mood board

You can create a new tab or page in OneNote to serve as a digital mood board for inspiration. Mood boards can aid the brainstorming process. To upload images to OneNote from your computer, simply click the Insert tab, then click Pictures. You can also find photos and videos from the internet by clicking Online Pictures or Online Video, then search what you’re looking for.

Brainstorm with others using OneNote

OneNote lets you collaborate with others in real-time, meaning you and your friends, peers, or coworkers can edit notes at the same time and you’ll see their name as they type. Many people find that brainstorming with others is more fun. It allows you to bounce off of each other’s thoughts, which helps you create even more ideas. To collaborate with others in OneNote:

• Click the File tab.
• Click Share. From here, you can type in their email address to share your notebook with them, or you can get a link that you can send to them.
• Click Share once you’ve entered their email.

Never lose your ideas

With OneNote, you can backup your work in the cloud so that you’ll never lose it. This also means that you can access your brainstorming ideas from any device. To make sure your notebook is backed up:

• Click the File tab.
• Select the Options button.
• Click Save & Backup.
• Click Back Up All Notebooks Now.

By default, notebooks saved in OneDrive will sync automatically. But if you want to check when your notebooks were last synced:

• Click the File tab.
• Click View Sync Status.
• A window will open letting you know when each of your notebooks were last synced.
• Click Sync All if you want to sync the latest version of your notebooks.

Using OneNote can greatly improve the quality and quantity of ideas you produce. If you’re interested in learning more about brainstorming, get tips on how you can run a brainstorming session like a pro.