One of the most difficult questions for beginning writers is “What am I going to write about?” Seasoned writers, however, possess tons of ideas. (Their problem is finding the time to write about all the ideas they have.)

So how can you take this giant step from “I don’t know what to write about” to “I have many more ideas than I possibly have time to write about”?

This article will enable you to take that step because it contains a system for easily developing as many topics as you need. Once you understand this concept you’ll never be short of topics.

First, make sure you understand the difference between a topic and a subject. A subject is broader than a topic. A subject is the broadest division of truth. The earth, weather, mankind, automobiles, and computers are all subjects. Subjects cannot be written about in one article or book, because they're too broad. A topic is a subject narrowed down into manageable parts.

So, to develop a topic, break a subject down by thinking of its characteristics, components, elements, or qualities. What you’re looking for are the ideas that are integral to a subject—what the subject consists of.

The idea is to think of, from your general knowledge, all the broad facts you know about the subject. This is sometimes called clustering or free writing. Write down what you know about the subject, questions that occur to you, statements you’ve heard people make.

Here’s an example: writing. Is writing a good topic? No, it’s far too broad; it’s a subject. So narrow the subject down. Think of the characteristics, components, parts, or elements of writing. For example, you might think of careers in writing. You might also think of the difficulties of writing. You’re simply listing off the top of your head everything you can about the subject of writing.

Now try one yourself. Let's take war, which is clearly a subject, not a topic. By thinking about everything you’ve heard or know about war you can quickly develop topics of the causes of war, the consequences of war, or the weapons of war.

What if you decide that your topic is still too broad? Narrow it down still further by using the same process. Back up for a moment to careers in writing. If it’s still too broad for your purposes think of the characteristics, elements, parts, or components of careers in writing.

That might give you careers in newspaper writing, a career teaching writing, or careers in freelance writing. You can keep narrowing down your topic until you get to one that meets your requirements.

Narrowing the topic down in this way can be done with any subject—watermelon, stars, marriage, whatever. Try it for yourself with the subject of marriage. How about communication in marriage or the history of marriage?

Once you master this skill of developing topics from subjects you can write on any subject, whether concrete or abstract, magnificent or mundane. You’ll always have a topic to write about.