A Bowdoin student recently sent an email to me from Wyoming, where she’s working on an internship, “I want to do more writing this summer. How do you decide what to write about?” Fair question. I’ve never really thought about it. That said, I recall feeling terror as a Bowdoin freshman when I sat down to write an English paper. Getting “F’s” (with nary a word of commentary) on my first three papers didn’t exactly get the creative juices flowing.

The simple answer: I write about what moves or interests me and might move or interest others. An organization that’s doing something good for the community or the world. An inspiring older person who’s left a lasting legacy. An issue facing most older people, such as failing memory or declining physical abilities. A subject in the national news, such as gun control or health care or immigration.

Happily, some readers suggest good ideas. The article on the couple who help place dogs in good homes came from a reader as did the piece on the Pejepscot Historical Society and the piece on the retired football coach who’s a history buff.

Sometimes I write a tribute about someone who’s recently died, kudos for a.life well lived.

My family has provided good fodder, as I have been a son, a father and a grandfather, a brother and a husband. Hopefully, those articles have broader appeal to most readers.

Some ideas emerge by chance. The Growing to Give piece sprang from a chat with the son of the organization’s founders over gelato. When I drove by The Little Free Library box in my neighborhood, I thought, “Hey, that’s neat! There’s an article.” The recent piece about the Bowdoin-laden composition of my MSMT theater group (“One June Night”) came to me the next day while sitting in the dentist chair. On a sadder note, the suicide of my niece’s friend led to a piece on the fragility of life.

I try not to be too political, but some things can’t be ignored. Take Donald Trump … please. Sorry, Trump supporters, but I will continue to call out this shameless bully and question anyone who still supports Trump, given his habit of trampling all over our basic Constitutional principles and values. This is not about pride in party, folks. This is about who we are as Americans. I will not put my head in the sand. (I invite any Trump supporter to write an op-ed justifying their continued support without using the words “Hillary,” “Obama,” “Benghazi” or “socialism.” Extra credit will be given to anyone who can explain why the national debt is exploding given Trump’s promise to reduce it to zero or why Americans should pay for a wall that Trump promised that Mexico would fund or why Trump is so afraid to criticize Vladimir Putin.)

Enough. Back to the question. “Where do you get your ideas for writing?” I might answer it with a question: “How do you decide how to spend your time?” The same principle applies, it seems to me: follow your heart. Meanwhile, If you have a good idea for an article, then please send it on. I promise to respond to every suggestion. In any case, thanks so much for taking the time to read this column. I may be getting a little old, but comments such as, ‘Hey, I read your column.” never do.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].