Contest: Come Up with the Best “Opposite Idea” and Win a Free Copy of Get Unstuck! for Freelancers
In my 8-week Write for Magazines e-course (next one starts January 9!), one problem I see with many of my students’ article ideas is that, while they’re solid ideas, they’re basic evergreen ideas without a twist.
An evergreen is an idea that magazines run frequently in some fashion: How to save money, how to lose weight, the top 10 healthiest foods. The trick to freshening up an idea for a jaded editor is to give it an angle or a presentation that the editor hasn’t seen before. For example, I recently posted about unique packaging ideas and how to turn a ho-hum service idea into something special by offering surprising tips.
Another of my favorite ways to turn been-there-done-that into a salable idea it to change it into what I call an “opposite idea,” where you take a basic idea and turn it on its head.
For example, years ago when peanuts were making news because schools and airlines were banning them to protect people with allergies, I sold an article to Oxygen called “In Defense of the Peanut,” about the health benefits of this humble legume. And during a period when every writer was pitching “The Top 10 Healthiest Foods,” I sold “Hidden Health Stars,” about foods that seemed like nutritional nothings but were really good for you: Mushrooms, iceberg lettuce, and so on.
Another one: When everyone was writing about ways to save money, I sold “When It Pays to Pay More” to Family Circle, about the long-term cost-saving benefits of springing a few more dollars for quality clothes, furniture, appliances, and more.
Here’s an assignment for you to do right now: Take any of these evergreen ideas and use the “opposite idea” approach to turn them into fresh, salable ideas. Or, feel free to take any idea you’ve seen a lot of lately and turn it into an opposite idea. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be literal about it; for example, the opposite of “Potty Training Made Easy” is not necessarily “Potty Training Made Difficult.”
Post your ideas in the Comments section below by Thursday, October 20 at 7 am ET. I’ll select my favorite idea, and the winner will get a free copy of my e-book Get Unstuck! For Freelancers: A 6-Week Course to Boost Your Motivation, Organization, and Productivity—So You Can Do More Work in Less Time, Make More Money, and Enjoy the Freelance Lifestyle.
“Top 5 Ways to Save Money”
“How to Squash Sibling Rivalry”
“Natural Beauty: How to Look Great — the Green Way”
“Potty Training Made Easy”
“Family-Friendly Vacations”
“Protect Yourself from These Common Scams”
“The Bride’s Top 5 In-Law Problems — Solved”
“Decorating on a Dime”
“Build Your Business Through Referrals”
Let’s see what you’ve got — and have fun! [lf]
Turning popular themes on their head does increase the impact of an article. I have written mostly training material or technical articles, so this was a novel first exercise on this side of the fence.
“Sibling Rivalry Boosts Productivity” – the positive aspects of rivalry.
“When ‘Green Beauty’ Causes Health Problems” – case studies or stats on ‘green’ products or regimes that cause more health problems than they solve.
“The Dark Face of Green Beauty” – critically look at the impact of some ‘green’ products or habits that are not so good for the environment (or health aspects, …. )
“Scams Are Useful Life Lessons” – what you can learn from scams that can be used to improve business / personal relationships.
“Family Holidays, Individual Experiences” – holidays that enable individual family members to experience what they want.
I could not decide on one, so here are 3…
“Family-Friendly Staycations”
“Beauty–Inside Out: Foods that Make You Glow”
“Respect Thy Sibling: Difference is good!”
“Are You Too Careful? How Being Scam-Scavvy May Be Costing You”
I would open with the story of Gail Davis, who hung up on a call informing her that she had won a $10,0000 iTunes card. The call was real. By dodging phone calls and not answering our doors, we’re creating an atmosphere of fear for ourselves and our families that takes a psychological toll, not to mention the missed opportunities. It’s important to be smart, but when does it become paranoia?
“Nihilist Decoration – Making A Beautiful Home Out of Practically Nothing”
I hate excess work. I hate work that I don’t feel like doing that I can’t scheme or squirm my way out of. This includes decorating, cleaning…anything requiring house maintenence. This is how to solve the problem simply by not having a ton of stuff, and then how to take the stuff you keep and arrange it so it still looks good. Bingo. Less of a constant fuss with huge benefits.
Great ideas so far…keep ‘em coming!
Here’s my opposite on scam protection:
Security Theater: 5 Things That Seemingly Offer Protection, But Are Really Just For Show
- This would include things like social media privacy settings, simple passwords, and backing up your data on cds and external hard drives.
Here’s two:
DIY: Redecorating with Household Items
and
Crap: The Scoop on Potty Training Products
“Decorating on a Dime” – Spend money to save dollars & sanity by hiring professionals for home rehabbing. Sometimes it you can save money by hiring professionals — such as the time I wish I would have had a decorator help me pick out paint colors. A gallon of paint and wasted day later, after painting OVER the ghastly red I’d tried on a wall, I called a local paint store who sent out a decorator. Within in minutes — really minutes! — she ticked off the paint colors for my entire house. I bought the paint and redid all the rooms of my house without having to redo any more color disasters. By using their decorator, I even got a discount on the paint to color my home beautiful.
Other pros that have saved me money? Decorator who kept me from buying a turquoise sofa which went with 0 percent of my other possessions. The list goes on.
Instead of Family Friendly Vacations – “Top 5 Places to Take a Personal Retreat”
“Nurturing Your Family’s Ecosystem”: According to psychologist Judith Rich Harris, one of the ways that kids develop their personalities is by figuring out which niche they can best fill in their environment. They do this by comparing themselves to the people around them and differentiating themselves somehow–and who is closer than their siblings? Seems like an article could probably be put together that talks about sibling rivalry in terms of healthy competition and individuation.
“Spaces in a Family’s Togetherness”: An article that encourages parents to consider cherishing their own relationship by taking a vacation (or staycation) just for the two of them while their kids are at summer camp or whatever.
“What You Can Learn From Your In-Laws”: Your new husband’s in-laws are the people he grew up with; what can you observe about how they seem to view family life, how people should treat each other, etc.? What can they tell you about understanding your spouse’s needs, enjoying his quirks, and dealing with his not-so-perfect side?
The Upside of Sibling Rivalry – How Those Early Battles Turn Us Into Negotiating Powerhouses
Getaways for Couples: No Kids in Sight (or for an edgier publication: No Brats in Sight)
Lavish Decorating Ideas for Comfort
Eat Up: A Little Fat Around Those Hips is Healthy (read about a study about this recently)
Encouraging Siblings Rivalry – As parents, we see sibling rivalry as a frustration, but encouraging children to compete with each other and together against adults through family game time and other outlets builds self-esteem, decision-making skills, thickens thin skin. Encouraging the proper avenues and the proper vantage points reaps tremendous benefits. Turn your frown upside down, Mom, their are learning their way and are looking for your guidance in doing so…
I just had to try all of them:
“The Top 10 Ways to Waste Your Money and the Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Them”
“Sibling Rivalry: The Best Days of Their Lives”
“Natural Beauty: How to Use Your ‘Flaws’ to Get Ahead on the Latest Trends, Naturally ”
“The Perils of Potty Training: How to Have a Party at the Potty”
“The Top Five Family Vacations Where Everyone is Happy…Separately”
“Learning From the Dark Side: Develop Your Own Scam-Savvy Mindset”
“Inevitable In-Law Problems: A Bride’s Lesson in Acceptance”
“Interior Decorating: Spending the Money Where it Counts without Wasting a Dime”
“5 Alternatives to Referrals that Will Help Your Business Generate Leads”
Unnatural Beauty: How chemical peels can help you get your glow back
Sibling Rivalry: Career advice from middle children who have climbed their way to the top of the corporate ladder
This is a great site! I’m trying to get started as a freelancer, and this is one of the most helpful and inspiring sites I’ve found. Here are my “opposite ideas”:
“Top 5 Ways to Save Money”
- He Saves, She Spends: Why It Doesn’t Matter
“Protect Yourself from These Common Scams”
- 5 “Scams” That Aren’t
“The Bride’s Top 5 In-Law Problems — Solved”
- My Mother-in-Law, My Best Friend
“Build Your Business Through Referrals”
- Renegade Entrepreneur: 3 Businesses That Succeed by Doing It Wrong
I would turn “Family-Friendly Vacations” into
“Adults Only – Diaper-Free Beach Bliss”
“Potty Training Made Easy” into a humour piece
“Please Sit Down! – The Art of Potty Training Husbands”
“Decorating on a Dime” could be turned into “Decorating with Dimes – Stunning Show Cases for Coin Collectors”
“The Bride’s Top 5 In-Law Problems — Solved” –> “Stretching the Limits: When In-Laws Become Outlaws”
You guys rule! Let’s get some more!
One can be enough: the social skills of only children
I decided to do a couple:
“Top 5 ways to save money” -> “A penny saved is almost 2 pennies earned”
“How to squash Sibling Rivalry” -> “Should we encourage sibling rivalry?”
“Natural Beauty: How to look great in a green way” -> “Green Beauties – Plant products that are beneficial for your health, skin and hair.”
Romantic Family Getaways: Five Ways to Nurture the Spark with Kids in Tow
(@Mary: I’d love to read your article on family ecosystems…you should pitch that!)
Thank you! I appreciate that; maybe I will!
The Mean Green; 10 “Green” Beauty Products to Avoid
Okay, I’m going off the list (especially since I write in the technology sector). Steve Jobs and Apple are EVERYWHERE (understandably – considering his untimely death and the release of 4S). Blog posts and articles singing his praises, heralding him as a veritable God. So, at the risk of sacrilege, I’m going to propose:
4 Ways in Which Steve Jobs’ Apple Legacy Leaves Much to be Desired
My Brother’s Keeper; 10 Ways to Use Sibling Rivalry to Strengthen Sibling Bonds
DIY Downfalls: When Youtube Makes It Look Cheaper, Easier and More Special Than It Actually Is
Referral Karma: If You Wanna Get, You’ve Gotta Give
BRIDEZILLA! 5 Tips for Keeping the Peace When Your Family’s Newest Addition Cracks Under the Pressure
Fun exercise!
M.
The Potty Pit; 8 Signs That Your Child May Not Be Ready For Potty Training
What great ideas so far! Some of these are cracking me up.
A lot of pubs do pieces on how social media brings you closer to those you care about or helps you find a job, so how about pieces called “Not So Social Media” (about people who develop a dependence on social media and stop interacting IRL) or “5 Ways Facebook Could Get You Fired” (humorous but true stories about people posted rants about their boss and other faux pas that got them fired)?
Here Comes the Bride: 10 Ways to Mute Meddling Mother-In-Laws
“Fratricide and Sororicide: Sibling rivalries ending in death” – murdered brothers and sisters, extreme examples of rivalry.
Oh my this is great! The ideas keep coming fast!
Ok, here goes:
“Top 5 Ways to Save Money”
=> “The yo-yo debt diet: is pinching pennies setting you up for a spending binge?”
“How to Squash Sibling Rivalry”
=> “When competing with your spouse hurts your children”
“Natural Beauty: How to Look Great — the Green Way”
=> “Green where you least expect it: how to spot mainstream beauty products that are in fact nature-friendly”
“Always read the label: 5 ingredients to banish from your beauty cabinet”
“Potty Training Made Easy”
=> “Is your Toddler Teaching You? What parents learn from potty training”
“Toddlers knows best – is there a natural way to potty train?” about aboriginal cultures that don’t use diapers or potties and just let their children become clean on their own
“Family-Friendly Vacations”
=> “Is a Holiday Apart the Best Thing for your Family?” – give your children some space and allow them to become more autonomous and independent by sending them on holidays without you
“I left my three children and my husband home alone while I went on a holiday with my girlfriends – and it was the best thing I ever did!”
“Protect Yourself from These Common Scams”
=> “Are your customers ripping you off? 3 scammy things clients do to businesses”
“The Bride’s Top 5 In-Law Problems — Solved”
=> “It’s not you – it’s them! When their parents are the reason you have to leave your partner”
“Decorating on a Dime”
=> “Tell-tale decor: 5 things your decorating says about you that you might not be aware of”
“Build Your Business Through Referrals”
=> “How to steer clear of referrals that hurt your business”
Vacation from Hell? 10 Ways to Recover and Profit from Your Family-Unfriendly Vacation
Sibling Rivalry: Short-term Battles Mean Long-Term Best Friends
Marriage Is Eternal and so Are Problems with Your In-Laws
Marriage Is Eternal and so Are Problems with Your In-Laws: 5 Ways to Manage Your Spouse’s Parents and Achieve Wedded Bliss
I wanted the challenge of trying them all!
“Top 5 Ways to Save Money”
Are you so obsessed with saving that you can’t even spend? 5 ways to splurge on yourself–and avoid the guilt
“How to Squash Sibling Rivalry”
How sibling rivalry encourages your child to develop individual strengths their siblings don’t possess–and why it’s ok to nurture the competition
“Natural Beauty: How to Look Great — the Green Way”
When green means black: the carbon footprint of the beauty industry
“Potty Training Made Easy”
Why it’s ok that your kid isn’t potty trained yet: not hitting age milestones doesn’t mean your child is falling behind.
“Family-Friendly Vacations”
Your family can benefit when you take vacations–from each other. Parents in one country, kids in another, and everyone refreshed after a summer of exploration.
“Protect Yourself from These Common Scams”
How to find the loopholes to get what you want from banks and credit card companies
“The Bride’s Top 5 In-Law Problems — Solved”
Maybe it’s you: 5 ways you annoy your in-laws
“Decorating on a Dime”
We redecorated our home–and the chemicals made us sick! The case for leaving things as they are.
“Build Your Business Through Referrals”
How to avoid being the obnoxious self-promoter