How do you generate ideas?

[apophenia]

It's normal, and if you keep reading you will realize that perhaps you have something to add, or that something tangential could be developed in a new venue. 

Also, sometimes great research already written needs a periodic refresh to see if things have changed.

In this day and age it's quite hard to come up with something that hasn't been said and done to some degree. It's no coincidence Google Scholar's motto is "standing on the shoulder of giants".

That said, you should look at glass half-full: as a graduate students your ideas are already so good that leading researchers in your field are working on them. Just keep going and you'll find your spot.

Thank you both so much <3 Things finally came together yesterday, and I'm feeling better both about this paper and hopefully my future research as well!

[mamselle]

Myu after-midnight sleepy response on seeing the thread title:

"You take two nails and you wrap them with masking tape.

Then you wrap that will copper wire, and make a stand, and put a magnet around them.

(At least that's what we did for a science fair experiment once.)

It sort-of even worked...

M.