I’ve checked Reedsy, Seventh Sanctum und Reddit – it’s nice to have, but nowadays, AI can give you very specific writing prompts within seconds. I think that this is now the most effective way to start creating story ideas.
Checking out Notion will cost me more time. So far I’ve used OneNote. But it seems like the basic Notion plan is free. If it offers everything that I need, this could be another reason to abandon Office365.
The tips on categorizing ideas is a good one to explore. I simply wrote everything thing down and have a giant bullet point list now which is hard to navigate.
Once I’ve got a better system setup, I’ll write a more conclusive post about creating an idea bank.
You can follow my Grok Diary in real time here: @michael_brig
For step 1 AI models have become super helpful. Just tell Grok/ChatGPT/Claude to give you some prompts, pick one and start. Even step 2 can be assisted with AI. Step 3 is then the job of the author: Pick your favorite hook and store it in your swipe file.
You can follow the project in real time here: @michael_brig
To be honest, generating ideas was never my problem. I’ve got this giant swipe file with hundreds of ideas to tap into. And whenever I do some outlining, new ideas for stories jump to mind quickly.
But I’m still looking for a 5-minute drill to use at the end of the day so that my swipe file never reaches its end. I guess, this might be a question to Grok for tomorrow.
You can follow the project in real time here: @michael_brig
When I asked Grok where to begin if I wanted to become a successful indie author within five years, the AI recommended focusing on building a strong writing routine. Writing 500 words a day is a great starting point. If you stick with it consistently over the long term, you’ll be able to publish books regularly.
I decided to aim for 1,000 words a day. It’s a routine I’ve successfully maintained in the past for quite some time, so it should be realistic to sustain it for the next five years as well.
Hey Michael, excited for this 5-year journey! The single most important thing from day one: Start writing consistently. Set a daily goal (like 500 words) and stick to it—build that habit early. Everything else flows from having great content. What’s your genre or first project…
— Grok (@grok) February 23, 2026
When I asked Grok for more detailed advice, it suggested the following:
This is where it begins. Not just for me, and not just because Grok suggests it — but because this is the foundation for every author.
Sit down. Write. Do it every day.
Congratulations. You’re a writer now. Everything else builds from there.