One of the biggest challenges many writers face is coming up with fresh ideas for their projects. No matter what your niche is, it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself banging your head against the wall when the idea machine in your head decides to take a breather. For those who run into this problem all too often, the challenge can become quite frustrating. Since sitting at the keyboard and willing the ideas into existence rarely works, finding some reliable sources of inspiration is probably a better bet. Lucky for us, inspiration is all around us. Instead of waiting for it to find you, you can give it a helping hand and find it yourself.
Google Alerts
Google Alerts is just another useful service from Google that can provide you with regular e-mail notifications of what’s happening in your particular areas of interest. The news notifications and related commentary and conversations that often accompany them are great ways to not only inspire your own creativity, but keep yourself up to date on what’s trending right now. All over the web there are similar services offered, from e-mail updates to newsfeeds. Chances are, your preferred outlets have one. Best of all, they’re usually free.
Other Blogs
Well “duh” right? Of course, I am not talking about swiping content here. What I mean when I suggest using other blogs for creating content is allowing your own personality and style to make the best use of their content. How? Well, rather than adding comments to their blog when the inspiration takes you, why not take the time to put your desire to respond into a post on your own blog? Think of all those comments you’ve posted, and now think of the potential many of them had. Capitalize on that potential. Disagree, analyze, editorialize, just keep it tactful and respectful. The blogosphere thrives on controversy and discussion. Use it. And don’t forget those link-backs.
Involve Yourself
So you’ve got your niche nailed down. You’ve built your blog, secured some followers, and even a few advertisers. Without fresh ideas, how do you keep it going and growing? One of the best ways to work with a subject, is to be a part of it. It doesn’t matter if its environmentalism, crafting, politics, or building ships in bottles from Popsicle sticks. More than likely, there are groups, newsletters, events, and discussion forums dedicated to the subject. Even something as simple as regularly reading the topics and replies on a message board can provide you with an endless supply of ideas as well as help you to establish yourself as an authority in your chosen niche’. If you really want to know about something, be a part of it.
Be Flexible
Painted yourself into a corner? Written every possible variation on a theme you can think of? Who says you have to write about one thing and one thing only? The great thing about blogging is that you decide what you write about. Covering the same thing day after day can not only burn you out, it can bore the begeezus out of your visitors as well. Take some advantage of your freedom and go off the beaten path now and then. Explore something only peripherally related, or even better, not related at all. Off topic posts are a great way to build on the human element of your blogs character and draw readers into discussion. If readers enjoy your blog and visit often but rarely comment, writing about less formal subjects like personal issues or events can often be a good way to bring them out of their shells.
Take Notes, A Lot of Them
Chances are, that as you surf the web, read the paper, or talk to people, you recognize all sorts of great ideas. Half an hour later, you’ve already forgotten them. How many times have you had an inspiration, and because you were not at your keyboard, it ended up forgotten and unused? Make a habit of carrying a pen and notepad with you when you’re out and about. When those brief flashes of brilliance present themselves, write them down before they can get away. You’ll be surprised after a week or two of doing this just how easy finding inspiration can be.
Let Others Write
A great way to keep the words flowing on your pages, and build some good web Karma at the same time, is to invite a few guest writers in now and then. With no more effort than it takes to set some guidelines, a guest writer can provide you with a much needed break now and then. There are scores of writers out there who would love to have their work featured somewhere besides their own unnoticed corner of the web. Go out and find em, and don’t forget to mention how great writing a piece or two for you will be for them.
These are just a few of the possible ideas that can help you keep the original content flowing onto your pages. Contrary to popular beliefs and marketing spiels, writing isn’t easy. It’s work. But with some forethought and planning, you can improve your consistency with very little effort. While it pays to have good content, even the best writers aren’t walking repositories of brilliant ideas who churn out masterpieces every time they put fingers to the keys. But they are consistent, and the more they write, the better they get. So will you. They key is to just write, and write often.
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