This is a guest post by Tara Alley who is a freelance writer and spends her time promoting CoffeeHomeDirect. Tara, through this post is sharing tips that will help us to face the situation when you really want to blog something but aren’t able to do so due to writers block. I am sure these tips will be helpful for you.
We’ve all been there. Your last post was 12 days ago. Your e-mail inbox is flooded, and your readers are getting anxious. But you, you’ve got zero inspiration and no motivation. Excellent combo!
No, not really. Okay, but the good news is that sometimes, sometimes some of the most awesome blogs stem from a mind that’s running on empty.
It sounds crazy, right? Sure. But, if you think about it, if you don’t have an idea, then that means that whatever you do manage to come up with is going to be entirely, completely new. Forget the repetitive nature that so often accompanies well established blogs.
You may be a tad bit off topic, maybe just bizarre, but chances are, if you’ve got a good set of readers, they’re going to, at the very least, enjoy seeing this new side of you. So, stop running from the computer and hiding from WordPress. You’ve got a blog to write! With or without inspiration! That’s coming, trust me.
In case you’re dreading something super painful, I’ve got some step-by-steps to walk you through this.
1. Go For A New Topic
Obviously, you’re burnt out. If you just can’t blog about another way to make eco-friendly-whole-wheat banana-bread cookies or the latest way to increase your business productivity by ten-fold, then this is your golden opportunity to make a little side step. It doesn’t have to be drastic, but it does have to be different.
You can go for something in the same field, but perhaps change up your tone. This can make for something really fun and exciting. Post it as a guest blogger and adopt an entirely new voice if that makes it easier. Or, go for a new topic completely. If you blog about real-estate trends four days a week, surprise your readers with your latest favorite restaurant or the newest coffee shop that got you excited. You will probably discover that a break from the norm is not only refreshing for you, but for your readers too.
2. Get Out And Write Somewhere New
Chances are good that you have a place you usually post from. Whether that’s at your home desk, your office, or a laptop on the couch, you may just need a change of scenery. Head for somewhere where there’s some life happening. Go hit up a trendy gathering spot or maybe an outside park if you’re living where the weather permits.
3. Do An Interview
Convinced you’ll never be able to come up with something on your own? Find someone else in your field and do a low-key interview. You’ll likely be excited about what they have to say and often, you’ll find renewed inspiration to once again dig a little deeper into your particular subject. It’s invigorating to be around others with similar passions, so don’t let the opportunity pass you by.
4. Seek Out Real-Time Options
Go type your subject (food, technology, writing, etc.) into Twitter and see what’s the buzz. You should be able to find something that gives you a new perspective, or maybe even irritates you enough you come up with an argument. Take every advantage of the new real-time searches available. You’ll be current and you’ll keep your readers current.
5. Put Yourself In Your Readers’ Shoes
What do you imagine they enjoy seeing the most from you? If you were them, what would you want to read next? You can also be totally honest with them and write an entire blog post on your admitted lack of inspiration. Ask them what they’re excited or perplexed about lately. I’d be willing to bet that their comments will be enough to get you going on the next post around.
6. When All Else Fails, TAKE A BREAK
If you try everything you can think of and everything everyone else can think of with no success, then you should definitely take a break. Posting uninspired post after uninspired post will do little more than upset you and possibly drive away some readers. Write a post saying “Stay Tuned” and then escape into a world where blogging doesn’t exist and your mind has a chance to restore a little bit. Then get back at it with a vengeance when the next moment of brilliance comes upon you!
I am sure that these tips will really help you out from the situation when your mind is stuck at a point and is not spitting any new ideas. If you’ve got something more to add or say then do comment below. I would love to hear you.
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Sometimes when you are hell bent to write a creative blog, you are suddenly hit by a bolt of NOTHING! Nothing seems to fit, no topic is alluring enough, nothing flows and everything sucks. These are the times when it becomes practically impossible to write. The ideas/suggestions mentioned in your blog will surely pep me up and encourage me. Thanks for an interesting read!
I have read a blog before that says ‘Nothing.’ That was the title, but after reading it I can say that it was from nothing to something. It really happens to all of us I believe, where we wanted to write something but nothing pops up to our mind. We tend to search the Internet for the latest topics and the interesting ones that we can talk about but most of the time all we just need is a quite little time to unwind and feel our minds. I’m sure that would definitely help. 🙂
I think that’s mainly the problem of most bloggers, “What to write when nothing’s left to write about”. Aside from that, most of them would want what can arise public attention among their readers. Thus, sometimes leaving them with nothing left to write. I agree with all that you’ve mentioned. Those things are really important and necessary when one seeks what to write about, stuffs that are fresh and enticing for others to read and then comment about. Great article.
The main issue with such situations is that we try to focus heavily on content that would be a rage. But normally it isn’t so, the common topics are the read by most. Your intrinsic writing style gives it a flavor. But the author is right here, when she says taking a break always helps!
Thank you Tara for the 2 and 6 points of the read, they are very practical advises. Frequently one gets bogged down while trying to write something new. A change of place/ambiance would instill new thoughts and ideas which would be great for writing. Also I feel a small break would do the same.
this thing happens for me when im out of ideas . the best thing to tackle it is , keep some posts/ideas as drafts . also in the spare time comments and read other blogs for ideas …
Great tips, writer’s block can be darn annoying sometimes. I personally like to use your first tip the most whenever stuck for writing. It allows you to write about something a little different and ultimately brings fresh content to visitors.
I don’t blog about blogging, I blog about health that is why I have a lot of things to blog about. Blog topic is a rare problem to me. Reading other blogs is an effective way to get topics to write for but just dont rewrite others’ blog posts. be creative.
There are many topics but it is also completely true that bloggers run out of ideas. I love to read most about health, real estates and the market. I think immersing into creativity can bubble new innovative ideas to blog about.
I almost give up when I got nothing in a few months blogging. But now I know that all need a process…Many of us only see the result, both good result, amazing result or bad result, than we make any conclusion. I am realized it’s not right way in blogging or any business activities. The process is an important factor….