Write a list of topic ideas, jotting down as many as possible in a limited time span of about five minutes. Ideas do not have to coincide. Steven and Susan Beebe, authors of "Public Speaking: An Audience Centered Approach," suggest writing whatever ideas you can think of, without concentrating or careful consideration.
Recast your table topics ideas into open-ended questions. The questions should be something that the speaker would not answer by simply saying "yes" or "no." If the topic does not require an elaborate answer, then the presentation will be too short. A good table topics question should allow for the speaker to expound on her answer within the allotted time frame.
Construct topics that are common, meaning that the presenter should be familiar with the topic or subject matter. Resort to topics to which the speaker and audience can relate. Current events can be a beneficial tool for generating topic ideas.
Research topic ideas by skimming through magazines or newspapers. These sources provide a variety of issues that could be used to devise topics.
Create a theme for the meeting. Many Toastmasters clubs follow a meeting theme. For example, a theme could entail something seasonal, fictitious characters or holidays. Every question should be focused and centered around the specified theme.