I heard Niel Gaimann give this simple advice.
Get two things you know and push them together. The outcome is the start of an idea.
His example is “Werewolves” and “Furniture”. What happens if a werewolf bites a chair?
Or question what you already know. What happens if a werewolf bites a wolf?
This is seed generation. I have played with this and it is fun and does trigger your imagination.
Do you have any things, exercises or tools you want to share?
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I am listening to that masterclass as well! great material!
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One tool that helps me when I'm struggling to come up with new ideas: I open up a word document and do a sort of stream of consciousness: I write whatever comes to mind without stopping, even if it's just gibberish, or "I can think of what to write" and eventually something comes. The hardest part is often just getting started, and that helps you to get going.
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I struggle a lot with conceptualising new material because I want to be noticed as a creator, I have high expectations of myself as far as originality is concerned.
My main method when generating new ideas is to create a character first and then give them an obstacle. Which is kind of an elementary method used by most screenwriters to start their stories but it is used so much because it works. But I will most definitely try Niel Gaimann's method, it sounds like fun.
Thanks for the comments. I have been cleaning out my studio. Yes procrastinating.
I have for years written snippets on paper. Which sends my wife insane. But cleaning my workspace and wading through these snippets, I realised they are all questions.
“What would make a girl kill her mum?”
“If you know heaven exists, can you ever do anything with expecting some form of reward? Therefore are atheists more christian as they expect no reward?”
I try to start with two people or ideas naturally in conflict. It almost always involves siblings.