As a blogger you’re constantly having to think up new post topics. Blogging should be something you enjoy, and not a black cloud that follows you from the bedroom to the bathroom to the computer. When I wake up I’m usually excited to start a new blogging day.
By the time I’ve rubbed my eyes clear, drank a big jug of water (I like my water) and flipped through my favourite blogs, I’ve usually got some post ideas humming around my head. All you astute readers will have noted that I’ve utilized the word “usually” twice now. Well even I’m not perfect.
For those not-so-keen days, I have a few tricks up my pajama sleeve.
1. I surf wherever the e-wind takes me. This includes sites and blogs that are totally irrelevant to my blog’s topic; in fact, the more out there the better. I find unsticks my mind and loosens up the creativity. Who knows where your next inspired post will originate from? Plus, thinking about anything but what you’re supposed to be thinking about is a great way to be struck with an idea as if by lightening. You can even shout “Eureka!” for effect.
2. Step away from the computer. This may sound like a sickness, but I like to clean. And not because I particularly enjoy dust in my eyes or toilet brushes, but because I do my best thinking while I’m cleaning. Then when I’m finished I can sit down at my cleared-off workspace and begin as if it’s a new day. Other things that help me refresh are taking a walk, going for groceries or calling a friend. Friends are also inadvertently also great resources for ideas.
3. Do a simple writing exercise. You must remember these exercises from school. The most common was the “stream of consciousness” one where you just write, write, write for, say, 3-5 minutes to start. If you get stuck just keep repeating the last word until a new one comes. I used to allot those minutes to drawing clouds and writing my friends’ names inside of hearts, but now I see what those teachers were trying to learn me.
4. Chat on a forum relevant to your blog’s niche, or at least blogging. Two heads are better than one, as they say, and even more can create quite the thoughtful discussion or heated controversy. Just be sure to spread the love and link back to the source thread if you choose this route. Then you can go back the thread and mention your spinoff post and bask in a new readership!
5. Ask your readers what they’d like to see on your blog. Use your soapbox to prompt questions and comments, and/or add a poll. This will definitely spark discussion on your blog as well as provide you with very useful topic material for your next flat day.
What do you do when you’ve hit that wall of uncreativity? Do you just not post that day, or do you find ways to overcome it?
*You can check out all of Amanda’s thoughts on writing for the web at From Ink to Ether.
Great information.
3rd one is so true. We used to have “quick notes” sessions (Eng. Lit.) when we would be required to write for 5 minutes whatever comes to our minds. It was on a predetermined subject though. That’s when the mind really got free from its restrictions.
@Alex
The “quick notes” sessions really do help with the writing. I took a journalism class last year and we wrote for 3 minutes about a picture. It was always some mountain vista or other nature piece. That class really helped with my blogging skills.
@Alex – I didn’t actually understand how this exercise could help with getting the creative juices flowing until I took creative writing courses in college, and then I found it very effective.
Thanks for your input, Alex!
We used to get punished if we couldn’t write a page on anything that came to our minds! It had to be a page’s length at least.This really had the students thinking about something and then writing it down. It was a great exercise for the brain and really sharpened our writing skills.
Chatting on a forum can be really healthy. I am the moderator at BlogEngage Forums and I really recommend you to join there. I am getting a decent amount of traffic by submitting my posts to Blog Engage Social Network and then a lot of feedback from the members at the forums.
Good stuff, Abinav! I use Scribefire Firefox Extension and just create a note everytime a blog post idea comes to my mind and leter work on it to expand it into a full post. So anytime i sit down to write I already have a dozen topics to choose from.
All of your suggestions are excellent. I used to write a column in a local newspaper and have been using your suggestions forever.
Great blog you have!
Thanks Lillian, this kind of appreciation is such an Inspirit for us to keep working and roll out more of such resourceful and informative stuff. Hope to see you around. Don’t forget to subscribe to our RSS feed.
Solid suggestions, Amanda Nicole! And about that second point… if you’re really stuck some day, you’ve got an open invitation to come clean my house to get the creative juices flowing again!
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Great information.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.