When you first start a blog you have loads of ideas for new posts and the words seem to flow like water.
You have so many things to write about that you can’t get those thoughts from your brain to the keyboard fast enough.
But then the day comes that you sit down to plan your content and everything goes blank.
What do you do when you run out of ideas for your blog?
While there’s no hard and fast rule to get your creative juices flowing, there are several ways to refocus your mind and find new ideas.
Sometimes you just need to switch gears to tap into your passion from a new angle, and that’s what this guide offers.
The next time your ideas run dry, use these tips and tricks to spark your creativity.
Before you know it, you’ll have plenty of things to write about again.
Contents
Figuring Out What to Write About
Maybe you haven’t quite made it to a full-blown blog yet.
Perhaps your idea is a small nugget and a URL backed by immense passion.
How do you find inspiration for what to write about?
The number one tip for finding blog topics is to research current trends and what interests people.
While it might sound exciting to be the one person to create a brand new topic, that’s a fast track to failure.
That said, you can frame your passion to fit a current need.
- Look within your niche and add your personal spin to popular topics.
- Check out related hashtags on social media platforms and follow people with interests similar to yours.
- Watch the discussions to see what topics gain the most interaction and use that to mold your blog.
What Are Good Writing Topics?
A good writing topic for a blog is something that hits on a current trend. That leaves you with a wider range of options than you might think.
As you head through the next several sections, keep a few things in mind.
- You don’t have to be an expert to join the conversation, but back your claims with facts and link to reputable sources.
- Solving problems is an excellent way to build a following, especially when it’s a pain point for many in your niche.
- Share your life experience and be genuine so that people can relate to you.
Keep in mind that good writing topics might push you outside your comfort zone at times.
Focus on your passion and your voice to ease you through the tough points and deliver an outstanding post.
Things to Write About When You’re Fresh Out of Ideas
Writer’s block? No, you haven’t even gotten to the writing part.
This pit you’re feeling is far worse because you have nothing to work with.
When you are fresh out of ideas it can feel like you’re better off giving up and scrapping the whole project.
Don’t do it.
Take a deep breath, go for a walk, take a hot shower, or do something to get the creative juices flowing again.
While you do any or all of those things let your mind wander.
That’s right – when your ideas run dry, it’s time to daydream.
Daydreaming is essential to creativity. It’s the best way to work out the bugs and encourage your creative processes to take over.
Daydreaming allows us to explore new connections between ideas and concepts.
Okay, so you take a long, hot shower and daydream about what?
Don’t ruminate on your piece and your stunning lack of ideas. Instead, consider other aspects of your life and the world around you.
Where to Find Ideas When You’re Tapped Out
While a long, hot shower is nice, it’s not always practical.
It also doesn’t open your eyes to the world around you, which can limit your inspiration.
There are many alternatives, as long as you remember to let your mind wander a bit.
- Head to your favorite local cafe, grab a drink, and people-watch. If it makes you feel less creepy, open a journal or laptop and make like you’re working.
- Go for a walk and take in the sights along the way. Pay special attention to signs and conversations you might overhear.
- Grab a bench at a park.
- Stop in at your local library or favorite bookstore. You have people to watch and plenty of research materials at your fingertips.
- Take a drive and listen to your favorite tunes, public talk radio, or that podcast you love.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do to find ideas is to let go.
Focusing too hard on creating something typically leads to more frustration than stepping away to regroup.
You can also check out our 200+ blog ideas to get your brain engaged and thinking in the right direction.
Things to Write About for Blog Posts and Articles
The above tips work for anyone who needs writing inspiration, it’s all about tapping into creativity.
However, learning how to write a blog post or article is like a specialty niche that might require a little direction.
Things You Can Write About When Writing a Blog Post or Article
You can always rework prior articles when you hit a wall, but with content marketing, you eventually need something new.
Consider some of these crowd-pleasing topics.
- Interview somebody. Bonus points for starting a series where you interview somebody new every week or month.
- Create a listicle.
- Fill in the gaps you notice in your niche. What is nobody writing about but everyone talking about?
- Write up a tutorial.
- Share industry or niche-related jokes.
- Open up about past experiences and reflect on how things could have been better (or worse).
Remember, answering questions and solving problems are excellent ways to garner attention for your blog posts and articles.
What We Write About When We Write About Food
Are you a food blogger struggling with what to write beyond sharing recipes?
It’s a good bet that your audience is almost entirely foodie-based, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up.
- Do a restaurant review.
- Tell your story and how you got to where you are.
- Discuss the food culture where you live. If possible, compare and contrast with other places you’ve visited or lived.
- Share a “day in the life,” including your meals and snacks.
- Try something new and review it.
- Write up a tutorial on something basic or share a special technique.
Of course, if recipes are your game, it’s a good idea to stick to your brand.
You can still get creative by revamping recipes or sharing an alternative, like making something nut-free or dairy-free.
Things to Write About for an Essay
Essay writing is one of the more challenging assignments, especially when you don’t know where to start.
Typically, you have a broad topic or area of study that you need to narrow into a cohesive essay.
Sometimes, you can find your way with a little research in your niche.
Listen to popular podcasts, read recent articles, and scope out your local library or bookstore for related literature.
You might want to try rephrasing the broader essay topic as a series of questions to find an interesting angle.
Consider the people, places, and events tied to that topic and find connections between them to explore.
A Note About College Admissions Essays
College admissions essays can make or break applications.
When you are up against dozens of other high school students whose transcripts and test scores rival your own, an outstanding essay could set you apart.
The most surprising thing is that the topic doesn’t matter as much as what you have to say and how you say it.
That said, common topics include:
- An important lesson that helped you grow as a person.
- The accomplishment you are most proud of and why.
- Something you look forward to trying in college.
- Talk about somebody you look up to and why you admire them.
- Discuss a belief you once held and what changed it for you.
Whatever you choose, make sure you can write passionately about it and show introspection.
Remember that humor tends to get lost in translation.
What to Write About in Your Personal Statement
Personal statements should reflect who you are as a person, including your life goals and interests.
While that sounds easy enough, it’s not as simple as jotting down your favorite color and dream job.
Whether you need to write a personal statement for college or a new job, you should cover the same general guidelines.
It’s your chance to share who you are beyond your resume, and that means letting your personality shine.
Keep it positive and simple with a unique spin that reflects your voice.
How to Write a Personal Statement
Your personal statement doesn’t have to be your magnum opus.
It should have a few basic components, starting with an introduction that explains your interest in the school or job.
Next, highlight skills that apply to the situation that may not be listed on your resume.
Additionally, you could highlight or explain especially relevant bits from your application, like a special award or personal experience.
Include something about how you can help the institution or company. This is your chance to explain why you are the perfect person for the role.
Make sure you wrap things up with a crafty conclusion that leaves an impression. Summarize the main points and tie them back to your personal introduction.
Don’t forget to edit and have at least one other person look it over.
Things to Write About for a Story
Writing a story might be the format that requires the most experience with daydreaming.
It often takes more research than an essay and still relies on the author to use their own voice.
But, that all comes after you choose a topic and painstakingly craft characters, setting, and plot.
You can find inspiration for a story almost anywhere. Many writers carry around notebooks or record voice memos on their phones to track notes and ideas that strike them.
Some keep journals near their beds to jot down dreams when they wake.
Perhaps you see a story take shape around a person you pass in the park or on the subway.
Maybe you string that together with an interaction you overhear in the grocery store, then tie it all in with a current event.
Whatever you do, if you want to write stories, listen to one of the most prolific writers of our time, Stephen King.
He famously stated that writers must do two things, read and write a lot.
Pro Tip: You can use an AI story generator to help you when you get stuck. This type of software helps produce content automatically, helping you quickly work through writer’s block.
Pros of Writing Prompts
Writing prompts might make you groan as you recall the dreaded “what I did last summer” essays for middle school.
Push aside those fears and embrace a new age of writing prompts because they could change your life.
When you feel uninspired and can’t seem to think of things to write about, creative writing prompts can help.
- They make you write something, meaning you still get some practice.
- You can find free inspiration with several free online generators or AI writing software that fit various parameters.
- The right prompt could spark new ideas and end your dry spell.
- Writing prompts encourage you to look at things from different perspectives.
Writing prompts can boost creativity as you try to bring seemingly unrelated threads together to form a story.
What Are the Ways To Level Up Your Writing?
Writing takes practice and a lot of it.
If you need help getting a skill boost, there are several steps you can take.
- Pick up a few grammar books and add Merriam Webster.com to your browser’s favorites.
- Write a little every day, even if it’s in a gratitude journal or dream diary.
- Read anything and everything you can find.
- Take workshops and classes on writing.
- When you find a writer you like, study what they do and how they do it.
Of course, you might also want to hire a legitimate editor to help you pare things down and clean things up.
Wrapping Up
Finding things to write about isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have tools at your disposal.
Remember to daydream to get those creative juices flowing and pull out some writing prompts if you need a boost.
Are you looking for more tips to boost your blog writing skills?
