Blog Ideas When You Have Writer’s Block
Every blogger eventually hits a wall and runs out of ideas. You know there are endless great postings inside you, but what do you have to offer that people might be interested in?Those are actually two questions.
What do you have to offer?
What do people want to read?
If you have something to offer, people will want to read it. No matter what the focus of your blog is, you should never limit your scope. Provided your posts are properly categorized, most readers won’t mind some tangents, and many will probably appreciate it. A few off-topic posts help enrich even the most focused blogs. If your readers are interested in what you have to say about one topic, most of them will want to read your thoughts on other topics as well.
Everyone has something to offer. My interests are wildly varied, which is exactly how my blog reads. There’s something for everyone on here, and that’s precisely what I want. I do have a central focus of personal improvement and awareness, but I never hesitate crossing over into wide tangents.
It wasn’t always so easy. When I blogged for a different site a couple years ago, I had numerous instances of writers block. “What do I write about today?” became my dreaded mantra.
One day I recalled the 1993 Michael Keaton movie My Life. It’s the tale of a man who discovers he’s dying not long before his son is born. Knowing he’ll miss out on his son’s life, he begins video taping himself giving his son advice about things he knows his son would ask at different stages in life. From how to shake hands to shaving to dribbling a basketball, he’s determined to share his unique wisdom.
No that wasn’t one of my wild tangents. This is actually a good way to approach your blog for ideas. What kinds of things would your child (or nephew, friend, grandchild, etc.) ask over the years? Think of the advice you’ve sought out. Think of the advice you’ve given. What are some areas you feel you have more experience than most people? Do you have a unique way of doing things? What do you have to offer?
Such introspections are what yielded some of my more personal and popular posts, such as Warcraft Addiction, Myspace Addiction, Signs You Live With A Meth User, How to Shave Your Head, If Your Zune Won’t Turn On, and 7 Steps to Debt Reduction.
Each of these posts came from personal experience. At some point I addressed these issues, I learned about them, and I dealt with them. I didn’t have to research these topics when writing these posts because I lived them. My experiences have allowed me to impart a unique perspective on these topics.
In the big picture, everything is related in some way. If your site is about gadgets, don’t you feel that your unique experiences in life can help to enrich these posts? Don’t be afraid to enhance your posts with personal anecdotes.
The blogosphere is being inundated with copy-cat articles, repostings, and relentless clutter. The best way to give your blog a unique voice is by injecting it with your own experiences and perspective.
Further reading
Visitor Grid Concept
Blog Ideas