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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

When You Don’t Know What to Blog About…

The internet can seem like a scary place for bloggers who are experiencing a bit of writer’s block. After all, you have followers who visit regularly to read the latest pondering on your topic of choice. Who knows what’s going to happen if they arrive and there’s nothing new on the horizon? Do you even really want to find that out? Here are a few ways to get through those periods when your creativity engine has halted and you don’t know what to blog about.

Post a picture because images are nice to look at. It’s an easy way to deliver one thousand words to your blog readers without having to write a single sentence.

Tell a story because people relate to each other through shared experiences and intrigue. You’ll probably get return visitors if it’s funny, empathy from readers if it’s sad or hate mail if it’s controversial enough to make someone uncomfortable.

Ask a question because you’ve been dying to know something. Maybe you want to know if it’s just you who does that unspeakable thing sometimes in the middle of the night. Maybe you’re curious to find out where other people stand on a particular subject. Maybe you want options to troubleshoot a problem you’re having. Or maybe…just maybe…you want to outsource the need for having to come up with blogging ideas on your own. Whatever the reason for asking is…just ask.

Link to someone else’s blog because he or she has already done the work and beat you to it. Ugh. Don’t those prolific bastards just make you sick?! Yeah. They’re blogging it up while you’re staring at the keyboard and a blank page on the computer screen. Don’t hate them. Congratulate these bloggers instead by telling your readers to go check out the good blog post they recently put up. It will make you look good to your blog visitors because you’re helping them find other cool blogs to read and it will also save you from having to put up your own post…at least for now.

Respond to a current event because everybody has an opinion about the latest stories being reported on by the media. Whether it’s Dunkin Donuts’ new Cronut, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay,” Ebola, Immigration, Olivia Pope’s outfits on the last episode of ABC’s “Scandal,” Martha Stewart’s recipe for pumpkin soup, there’s something in the news that you surely can comment on in 400-500 words or more. Do that.

Review a product, service or event because that new thingamajig you recently bought or ate or participated in has exceeded your expectations. That is, unless it fell short of what you thought you were getting into, for one reason or another. Either way, blog about whether you are happy with your purchase or experience. The information could possibly be very helpful to another person who is considering buying/reading/eating/using/doing the very thing you already bought/read/ate/used/did.

What do YOU do when you don’t know what to blog about?


A-to-Z Challenge Co-Host Nicole Ayers blogs at The Madlab Post and she is an official ambassador of the 2014 Couch Fest Films Festival. Connect with her @MadlabPost on Twitter.  

10 comments:

  1. Great ideas. I generally never post on political topics but industry news is always a good topic. Telling a story works or inviting a guest to tell a story.

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  2. Hi Nicole - I'm just very thankful it's not something I need to worry about - though when I first started I worried ... now I just get on with whatever's in my in-brain box to post about .. eclectic tastes float out ...

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone .. cheers Hilary

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  3. I simply apologize for not writing for a long time.
    Happy Thanks giving to you and yours. God bless all.

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  4. Ha! I need this! thank you so much and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  5. When all else fails I always fall back on poetry. . . . OK I am rubbish at poetry but you have to enjoy your own blog or you are doomed.

    Rob Z Tobor

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  6. Usually when I don't know what to blog about, I don't blog, at least on my main blog. Less stress and less aggravation. I have a Tumblr blog in which I post a weekly picture plus a short caption.

    Father Nature's Corner

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  7. Thanks Nicole, great post and enormously encouraging. And great comments too!
    Happy Thanksgiving! To all bloggers!

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  8. The Daily Post on Wordpress carries blogging prompts every day. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/ If you're stuck, it's a place to start with and turn the topic into your own.

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  9. Susan Gourley/Kelley,
    Thanks and we're in the same boat as I usually refrain from posting on any political topics. You brought up a very effective way to cure writer's block...guest posting, which is always helpful.

    Hilary Melton-Butcher,
    Spontaneous blogging makes for some of the most interesting posts, indeed. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

    Munir,
    Sometimes taking a break from writing is the best thing to do for recharching your creative juices. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Superlux,
    Thanks and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.

    Rob Z Tobor,
    Poetry is a great backup plan and cheers to you for having one in place! I also like what you said...."You have to enjoy your own blog or you are doomed," as I couldn't agree with you more on that front. It is so important for us bloggers to enjoy what we put out into the world. Thanks for your comment.

    G.B. Miller
    Good call! It's nice that you have an alternate blog to play with during times when your main blog isn't being updated for a brief moment. I'm all for less stress and aggravation, so keep up what's working for you and thanks for your comment!

    Susan Scott,
    Thanks for enjoing this post and I'm glad that it has brought some encouragement into your blogging world. May you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

    Linda Maye Adams,
    Yes those daily writing prompts that Wordpress provides is one of the best things that I liked about that particular blogging platform. I've visited that site even when I was using Blogger or looking for general writing or journaling ideas to jumpstart my brainstorming sessions. The writing prompts are a very helpful feature in the Wordpress family. Thanks for sharing the information about "The Daily Post."

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  10. Great suggestions. I don't blog daily, but am trying to maintain a 2-3 posts weekly.Thanks for this post.

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