Nora Brown Design

What to Write?

Inspired by a post by Janine Adams, That Stuck Feeling, I thought I would post some ideas I’ve come across for keeping your blog flowing.

Tip jar

Many times an idea for a post will occur to you while you’re out and about, or maybe while you’re at your desk but you don’t have the time or inclination to post at that moment. When this happens, write the idea on a piece of paper and pop it in a jar or bowl. Then when you’re drawing a blank, pick something from the jar and write a short post on that topic.

Bookmarks folder

In your favorite browser, create a bookmarks folder called “Blog Ideas” or “Post Ideas”. When you find an inspiring (or infuriating) post or article while surfing the web, save it to that folder. Then you can refer back to it when you need some inspiration.

Mind map

This idea comes from problogger.com. Set yourself up with a large piece of paper or a whiteboard (there is also fancy mind-mapping software you can use). Then, write down the titles of the last five blog posts you’ve written (or pick 5 at random, or choose the 5 most commented-on, etc.). Then set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, and use your previous post titles to map out new ideas for related posts. Try not to censor yourself at this point, you can always reject ideas later.

Ideas from readers

Reading through recent reader comments may give you ideas for new topics to cover. In Textpattern, you can browse all comments by clicking on the “Comments” tab. You can also seek readers’ input directly by creating a post asking for topic suggestions.

Consider different types of posts

Not every post has to follow the same format. Consider branching out into different types of posts:

• Photo- or video-based post
• Links to resources elsewhere on the web
• Links to previous posts on your own blog
• How-to/tutorial post
• List post (Top 5 ways to…)
• A review post: reviewing a book, product, or service relevant to your audience
• An interview post: interviewing someone whose work may interest your readers

Change your environment

This is actually the solution Janine comes across in her post. By taking 15 minutes to clear some clutter from her workspace, she improved her working environment (and found something to share with her readers!). You may also consider taking your laptop to another room in the house, to the public library, or a cafe with wi-fi. You might even consider leaving your computer behind altogether, and drafting a couple of posts with pencil and paper.