Brainstorming

Brainstorming is like freewriting around a specific topic. It helps you bring your subconscious thoughts into consciousness, identifying as many ideas as possible that are related to a particular topic.

To brainstorm, let your thoughts about a specific topic flow, and list those thoughts.

Example:

Squirrels

How to get them out of the garden
How to get rid of them ethically (without killing)
Squirrel traps
Repellants for squirrels
Types of squirrels
Brown vs. black vs. red squirrels
Flying squirrels
What they eat
Different types of play
Training squirrels
Hunting squirrels
Squirrels and cats 
How they nest
Build nests in the same place each year

So, what happens once you’ve brainstormed a topic? Look over the list. Are there items that group together? Are there items that catch your interest as a thinker, researcher, and writer—items you want to know more about? Are there items that seem unrelated or not useful? Use your list as a starting place; it creates ideas for you, as a writer, to work with.