I've got a question.
But I've always got a question, you say...well that is true, but this one is a blog question.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I know, many of us out here are mommy bloggers and I think kids provide a great source of inspiration (mine, at least, provide LOTS of humerous blog topics, remember broken nuts?) But kids aside where else does it come from and here's the kicker...how do you determine what you want to write about?
I ask, not because I want to steal your ideas, but because I have those days where I seem to be floundering out there in the sea of blog words with nothing to write...at least nothing write worthy. I try to write about things that relate to my life, highs and lows in my life, sometimes the kids, sometimes goofy things at work and sometimes I can't help but mention some of the crazy stuff that happens in the news that has caught my attention. But there are many days where either I've run out of ideas or better yet, I have a bunch of ideas and I can't pick the right one.
Take for example yesterday, I blogged about my alarm clock and how much I hate to hear it go off. Funny thing was that I had spent many hours prior to that trying to decide what I would write about. I just didn't have it, nothing, I was drawing a blank. Then the whole alarm thing went off and I just couldn't get it out of my head...so you, wonderful readers, got to hear about it.
Lucky You! (wink wink)
What I find most fascinating about all of this is the fact that I am rarely ever without anything to say. I've always got something to say on a topic or two, seriously, I chat ALL DAY LONG at work (and yes, I could provide stories for days on that one) but really, it can't possibly be good to talk about co-workers when they know you blog!
So, once again I am back to my original delimma. Where is the inspiration?
How do you find your inspiration for blog topics?
11 comments:
First, THANK YOU for the award--that means so much to me! I just put it up on my blog!!
As for inspiration, my ideas come from all over the place. Often, my posts are about questions I or my friends/family have (what is my purpose in life?) or issues I'm struggling with (disordered eating). I also get inspiration from other people's blogs and websites, from magazines, from the news, from books, from my old posts. I keep a running list of blog post ideas that I can consult when I'm not feeling particularly inspired. It works for me...
Oh yes this is the dilemma I face everyday...sometimes it flows naturally but sometimes what you read is a culmination of DAYS of pondering over the damn topic. Sometimes I do have many good ideas on topics but those aren't write-worthy as you say because I'd probably end up with two sentences and then it's not even worth it. I think this is why lots of people do the weekly thing like wordless wednesdya and stuff.
LOL KEL, are you online right now?? I just got your comment! Thank God you tagged me with the 15 years because it's saving my butt for today's post. I'm just sitting trying to come up with my list :)
I do try to stay away from the daily ins and outs of what "happened" for the day type of posts but they do seem to sneak in if I have been absent for a few days. I just try to look at my day from different perspectives, or an issue that I have been struggling with or trying to deal with as a parent/worker/woman. I know what my readers like and try to stick to certain "type" of posts as well...funny, light, but still where they get a feel for who I am as a person.
You know that I most post about my kids and that is what my site is focused on so that is where I try to get my material from. I sometimes post about other things, but mostly stories around their everyday comments or conversations or something they do that is funny. I listen and watch and when I hear something funny or see something funny or interesting, I jot down what they said or the event on a pad (I keep a pad with me all the time) and then about 3-4 times a week I will go through my notes and see if any of the comments/ideas hit me as something I can write about. Just because the idea sounds good when I hear it the first time, doesn't mean it will be post-worthy and sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for the idea to make its way into a story. Sometimes it never does. I have lots of ideas that never made it into a story yet. I keep lots of stories in draft and have at least 40-50 in draft at any given time. I write the stories as they come and some can come 3-4 in a row. It HELPS to have stories in your drafts and if you can write them and keep them there (I keep a copy of all the draft posts in a file - so I can visually see them and be able to review and choose for posting) - keep them there until you want to post the story. So ... if you have a day where you have a lot of ideas, jot down all the ideas and then sit and write all the posts you can in that one day. You can always edit the drafts over time - but at least you have the story written down.
That's how I do it. I have enjoyed all of your posts - you are doing fine as far as I am concerned. Keep up the great writing and great posts! Take care - Kellan
I'm more of the days in and outs of things going on. It's more of a journal for me that I get to share with friends/family online. It's nothing so exciting or informative, but well... it's there if you want to read it. I get inspired by anything in life, the small things are great ~ especially blogs about what we can relate to, like alarm clocks!
Uggghhh...I was all excited about your email but you sent it to the wrong one. sdiver1973@unitelsd.com.
I am so proud of you though. I knew you would be the first to take the challenge.
I have stuff to write about because I have a lot of stuff always in my head. Plus, I talk sex. There's always something to write about when you talk sex.......
Can't wait. You know what I'm talking about.
Hey Kel - Hope you are having a good weekend. See you - Kellan
It seems like at some point every couple of days, something happens or pops into my head, that I want to blog about. I also have a few saved drafts of ideas that I've thought of, but not completed yet.
I've been blogging for almost six years, so I know what I have to do to keep the creative juices flowing -- I have to ALWAYS BE AWARE.
If something funny happens to me, I make a quick note of it before I forget it (usually in the notepad of my cell phone, or in a drafts file in my Yahoo mail if I'm online). Even if I don't write about it for days, or even weeks, afterward, I have notes and writing prompts all around me to fall back on when I need them.
http://zandria.us/
Usually my vast array of neuroses allow for much blog fodder. If not, I resort to torturing the kids for the sake of the my "art"! (hee-hee)
Seriously, I often feel the nonsense I write about is unworthy...but fluff is what I do and I usually stick to that topic!
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