Well, I write about hundred effects that I know and want to perform on a piece of paper and spend a couple of hours editing it till I have more or less memorized every on the paper. Then I figure come bounds between some of them, and through in some linking tricks to transfer from one part to another. For example, I am currently working on a routine based around fire. So I start with a candle production, then go to using flash paper to assist in a production of cards. Do a quick card routine, then onto better things using the same fire on the candle. My patter is based on the mythology and mystery behind fire (because I take the spot of a teacher in my "stage" character). I have a rule of one card routine, one coin routine, per act. Though you will shape that with time and experience. The main thing is just trying to find a bound between the things you already know, and then researching what you would like to add to it. The developing the character that pull it off (which my secret to that is just use one of the parts of yourself that you already love). I know this post is scatter brained, but the truth is, the best way to find out is just to experiment and find out for yourself. Do the exact things that teach in English Class for the writing process. Brain Storm, Outline, rough draft, final draft.