Read journal entries. Journal entries are a great way to brainstorm for short story ideas. Pick an entry that stands out or can be further elaborated upon, such as a conversation overheard at a coffee shop, a description of someone or a random word or sentence.
Choose a particular entry, then free write. Free writing is simply writing with no preconceived notion or goal. Take the example in the journal entry and continue where it left off. For instance, if the entry is a single sentence, then embellish it further. Write for 15 minutes or until a page-and-a-half is completed.
Set the piece aside for an hour, then return to it. If the piece is a description of a particular character, then further elaborate on these descriptions. Determine who the character is. What is her background? What does she do for a living? Is she married or single? What does she look like, if not already described in the piece?
Create a scene that takes place immediately before the free writing piece. What is the character doing? For instance, if the character is in a public garden, describe what takes place before she reaches the garden. Who and what does the character encounter before she arrives at the garden?
Determine what motivates the character. What does the character want? How will the character go after what she wants? For instance, what if the garden the character goes to is a secret rendezvous for an affair. If so, what does the character really want? Is she in love? Determining the character’s motivation will lead to various story ideas. How the character will achieve what she wants will become the basis of the plot and story.