If you’ve been writing about one area for long enough, it can seem like you’ve gone through every story idea you can think of. Taking a look at your location through a new lens can help you find a new slant or story — and perhaps submit a query to a new market. Consider these questions as a starting point.

1. Are there any major anniversaries coming up in the area? The anniversary of anything from a town’s founding to the beginnings of a favorite restaurant can provide a new story idea?
2. Are there any upcoming events — like a fair — that you can follow from the beginning stages? You can find unusual angles from an up close look.
3. Look at the favorite sons and daughters of the area. While the potential reach of a story depends on how well known a figure is nationally or even internationally, even a locally known figure can lead you to a a story idea.
4. Consider up and coming artists, musicians and other cultural figures. The opportunity for a cultural story is huge — and you may even wind up ‘discovering’ someone.
5. Is there an usual start-up or business in the area? You may not be able to put together a traditional travel feature on it, but you may be able to put together something out of the ordinary.
6. What literature has been written about the area? If you can follow a literary adventure in reality, you may find a journey that another traveler would want to see.
7. What about television or a song? Taking a look at the real places behind iconic images or lines can spark great ideas.
8. Are you traveling with your family or alone? Putting yourself in the shoes of someone with different traveling needs can be a way to come up with literally hundreds of new article ideas.
9. Is there any activity or part of traveling in your area that needs a little more explanation than other travels? Such an explanation can be the source of a great how-to article.
10. Talk to the locals: if anyone has a source on a new story in the area, it’s the people who live in the area. You don’t have to stick to PR specialists or anyone officially ‘in the know’ — talk to anyone you meet in your day-to-day routine.