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Every blogger experiences "writer's block," and many have written about it. Often the work-around is to find inspiration in unlikely places. Take a break, sing a song, think of something else to free your mind – it will return refreshed. This process involves some serendipity.
"Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated." - Wikipedia
You've probably heard of the Greek Muses who inspired artists and scientists. The original three female muses are a popular reference in Western culture. Their visits were random, and you just had to be open-minded when graced by their presence.
Considering our busy lives, who has time to wait for inspiration? We need a Blogger's Muse to serve as our guiding spirit or source of inspiration. Let's call him Serendipity. Unlike the original muses, our Blogger Muse will be available within this post anytime you need inspiration.
How does Blogger's Serendipity work?
It's mostly about priming the pump, since creativity is part of being human:
- Go outside your normal blogging mentality.
Find a niche that's completely unrelated to yours. Read a few of those blogs. Sign up for a couple of them via email (which guarantees you see it each day when you least expect it). Look at the post title, imagine the content, then go to the blog to read it. Make a comment – yes, you can comment on a technical SEO blog or a mommy-blog. - Use any raw material you come across.
Take a title you see in a magazine or on a Google reader list – any title. Write a post using that title. Then change the title to fit your blogging style.
- Find a quote that rings true.
If your blog is rarely humorous, find a quote under "comedy." Work with it. Try the Great Quotes site, which shows quite a few inspirational tidbits. This one is under Anger: "It takes two flints to make a fire." You could write an article about responding to angry comments. - Walk in your reader's shoes.
Pretend you are reading your homepage for the first time. Search some keywords. Comment on a post; add value by clarifying or updating something. Write about what you felt. Look at your first posts and try to find that inner spark that led you to blogging in the first place. - Paraphrase the title of a movie, book or TV series.
Take a favorite character, "Sherlock Holmes" for example, and compose a post title from a memorable quote like "Elementary, my dear Watson!" Mine might be titled: 'CSS is elementary, my dear Reader." Just start writing, and see where it goes.
These methods tweak creativity using inspiration triggers. Given the same outline or mind-map, we come up with completely different and creative posts. Your personal style makes it unique.
Do you have a favorite place to go for inspiration? If not, why not start right here? Feel free to add some random thoughts for others to pick up and create a stockpile of creative blogger content.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s odd that you posted this today. I’ve been feeling very overwhelmed by a serious case of writer’s block. In fact, it’s made me question whether I should really be doing this at all – that maybe I’ve already given my best and the well has run dry.
It will be interesting to read everyone’s comments and see what they suggest as well.
What about a guest post or review a commentator’s blog — puts the focus on someone else’s blog, for awhile … ?
Hi,
I actually generate most of my ideas and content while at the gym. There’s something about working out that clears my head and allows me to think more clearly. Believe it or not, it always seems to happen while on the treadmill. I always use a notebook to track my workouts anyway so I usually just write the ideas down on the notepad while I am walking or climbing. They are a little tough to read after the fact because I am actually moving while I am writing. But I can usually make them out. In fact, this weekend, while at the gym, I put together an idea for a guest post on another blog which I just found was accepted this morning.
I’m interested to hear what others will say.
Best,
Bob
Great way to free your blogging stress. Now if only they could put a pc on the treadmill panel… maybe not…
It may be better if you can’t make out some of your notes, you’re forced to improvise and think outside your normal box.
You could also tape-record your notes since we’re used to people talking to themselves (cellphones) in public.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
I waste my maximum time because of writer’s block . I always try to give my readers best and what exactly they want . I really liked the Idea of using quotes. I surely try all these points. Nice points .
As always Ruchi thanks for leaving your thoughts and the compliment. I’d really like to know when you try these or any other tips you’ve left comments on. It’s interesting to see how you add your own twist and what happens. Thanks
For my part, I try to find inspiration by maintaining a blog under blogger for which I just write anything that comes up to my mind without the pressure of what will my readers say and all. It is relaxing for me then, and gives me additional source of focus and inspiration when I go back to my main blog.
Very unusual strategy – using Blogger as a pressure valve. Curious, do you have readers or it it private only? But, whatever works!
Just a couple of notes on your blog design: 1)width of 1024 forces horizontal scrolling on many visitors’ screens 2)content/posts have no left margin or padding, so first letter is chopped off on my screen. There’s too much padding for the sidebar, so you might want to adjust and give some to the post. Also some commentator names don’t fit in comments (maybe smaller fonts?.) padding may help that last problem.
Your first point works every well for me. I read many blogs in many different niches and they do provide an inspiration for posts. Recording potential “blog fodder” I experience in everyday life events in conversation, and by reading books, newsletters, ebooks, ezines, viewing videos unrelated to blogging works well. I have always carried a small notebook with me when whenever I see “blog fodder” I make a brief note of it. Lastly, now and then I find that the personal “private” blog I have been keeping for years can be a source of “blog fodder” too.
I keep hearing about the notebook idea — guess I should turn in my scraps of paper and scribble on the back of business cards.
But I do have a notebook at my pc for jotting things while surfing. Just looking at the list when I need inspiration is energizing. Thanks for sharing your methods.
Those sound like good ways to get out of the box with your thinking. One blog I read just uses news stories for the day and gives them a twist by telling what is really behind them or gives his opinion. This makes it more interesting and original than just reading a newpaper. I always try to come up with original content that I think will be interesting but it is hard sometimes.
We all feel your pain, but you seem to work through it. Your reader poll seems to be giving good feedback and pointing to some out of the box content possibilities. There is a ‘view comments’ but I don’t see ‘add comment’ except when you go to the view link — maybe you can adjust that and then get more specific input…
I like tip number 5. Just might give that a try one of these days. What’s good about it is it’s instant recall with the readers. It’s something easily recognizable and if the reworking of the title is great just might give the readers the extra push to be interested in reading the post. That tip about quotes and finding ways how it relates to the blog is also very valuable.