As some famous person once said the worse type of businessman is someone that aims low and still misses. Worst still is the blogger who vaguely knows the target is over there someone and then makes a half hearted attempt at hitting it – if they knew what it is or what it looks like.
There are five types of new blogger
- those who know what they want to write
- those that are writing to promote their business
- those that are writing to promote a cause or raise an issue.
- those that want to write a blog, but don’t know what to write
- and people like me who like to write, but are unfocused.
This article looks at the problem of many bloggers – I want to write – but I’ve no idea what to write. Help me?
Categorise your thoughts
If you haven’t got a clue what to write on you blog then the first stage is decide on a category, or two, or many.
Techniques you can use to find a category
- Go and surf: You need a pen and pad. Spend a couple of hours surfing and just note down the areas that you are interested in. These are likely topics you be interested in.
- Think about the people you’d like to network with: then decide which categories they’d be interested in
When you socialise:
note what subjects interest you and which ones bore you.
- Sunday supplements: what you end up reading are likely to be good topics.
- Sex, drugs and rock and roll: read the tabloids and try and get an idea or to – to write about – not do.
- Want to make money: business, technology and high value products are all worthwhile areas for you
- All else fails: then write about the internet.
Generate post ideas
Mind Mapping: This time you need a large piece of paper. Turn it so that it is landscape. Write you category name in the centre.
Use lines to generate sub-categories and related topics. Then break down the sub-categories further. This should give you a good number of potential post subjects.
Mind Map (wikipedia)
If you must be technical then here’s a link to free mind-mapping software. I personally reckon a pad and a few coloured, fine line pens works best.
Category profile listing
List all the characteristics of the category.
Look up definitions of the category and the terms making up the characteristics of category.
Look up words at random and trip and link them with some of the terms. This should then generate some post headings.
Start write
‘We were talking about kippers’ (smoked fish). This was a writing technique taught to me by my father. When going into an English exam and you know that you’re going to write a strange first line – you know you’re going to get a good grade.
So if you have a write on ‘My summer holiday’ or ‘My best day ever’ then starting with the line ‘We were talking about kippers…’ gives you a great advantage over the other kids who will mostly start – ‘My summer holiday was…’
Generate your own unusual phrases and see if that will link into a post.
Alternatively get an old book of famous saying – pick a saying at random and see if you can generate a post from the saying.
With some practice this will work.
Links
Watchout 4 snakes: Creativity tools
Chris Brogan: 100 ideas for posts
Smart Boy: 93 ways to beat writer’s block
How to Make My Blog: Inspirational Blogging – what should I write about
Beginning to Blog: Unfocused Writers
Beginning to Blog: Using Comments to generate posts
Over to You
Well do you think? Any tricks for generating posts? We all want to know.
About Kenneth Byrd
Some good tips here. I know the mind mapping technique but didn’t think of using it with regard to my blog.
Hi Sarah
I always carry a notebook and mind mapping is the way I take notes. It’s really useful in all sorts of techniques.
Another techniques is comments in other blogs. Try and write slightly longer posts than normal and you’ll soon have your first part of your blog.
Happy Blogging
Paul Odtaa
I would also like to write but am unsure where to start…Thanks for the great tips! I also like your mapping technique…I will try that.
Thanks Vanessa
Mind mapping is great for taking notes, making decisions and coming up with ideas. You’ll alsp find that it information easier to remember.
I’ll work up some more articles on what to write in the near future.
Happy Blogging
Paul Odtaa
Great thoughts regarding the blog startup. Many are confused over what to write about; although most have a great knowledge on a lot of different topics. Write away I say!
While reading your blog on writing, I remembered a series of travel agent classes that I took. All that I had to do was find a travel agenda that got me excited, and I would get another “A.”
So, sit and jot down a list of the things that make you feel your real “PASSION.” For me, that could include Seattle’s Sea Fair and the tall ships in Puget Sound, the Daffodil Parade, and the downtown Farmers Market where I grew up in the 1950′s.
But the secret for me is to relax and let the thoughts flow. I can’t do this if I am struggling.
And then, I typed, “So, I want to write a blog” into my Google bar, and lo, there appeared this enlightening post. Heartfelt thanks from another member of the unfocused.
I want to write blogs on programing, how i will????
nice post.i want to write but fully confused how to start..
Good Post… So inspirational…
Remember that writing a post is only hard if you make it hard. You can post about anything: what your doing, how your day has been, new ideas, and stuff like that. I’m not trying to sound like a hippie or some peace maniac, I’m just trying to give some good advice. But don’t post anything that might embaress you or you might regret. Have a good day.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this
amazing site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the info!