What to Do When You’re Fresh Out of Ideas
Every so often, I seem to lose all motivation to write new posts on my blog. Sometimes it’s because I’ve gotten so busy, I don’t feel I have the time or energy to put into making a post that may actually be useful to someone. However, I have to remind myself every so often that it’s just a blog. If you take it too seriously, that takes all the fun out of it. So what are some resources for when you’re fresh out of ideas? Read along as I lay out a few suggestions.
Look at Photos
Probably one of my favorite things to do when looking for design ideas is to navigate through iStockPhoto or Flickr, and get great ideas for color schemes, etc. The same holds true for posting ideas. The normal way of thinking, is that an illustration photo should be chosen to go along with the subject of your post. But sometimes the opposite holds true. Maybe the way a photo strikes you can give you new ideas for things to write about. Yes, it’s happened to me.
Be a Reader
Exactly. Read just to read, and not just blogs. Read books, magazines, and websites/blogs. All of these things open the mind to new ideas and possibilities. Not only will it give you writing ideas, but you may actually learn something. 
While growing up, I hated reading. It wasn’t the actual act of reading that was so bad, but I’ve established two primary reasons for this. 1)I thought I already knew everything I needed to know(how dumb, huh?) and 2)I would rather be outside doing something rather than reading about doing something. As I’ve grown a little older, I’ve come to love to read. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I wasn’t so smart after-all and I like to learn. Reading can also improve your writing skills when it comes to how you phrase things, so there are multiple benefits. Ok, enough about reading, hehe.
Stop Multi-tasking
Remember me saying how busy I’ve been? Well, truth is, most of the time we get a lot more done when we can actually focus on what we’re doing. In my mind, multi-tasking is the opposite of that. Multi-tasking is like juggling……you don’t have time to think about anything else. I think we can be both more productive and focused if we work by a task list instead. I probably do my best thinking while doing yard work(mowing, raking, etc.). There’s not much multi-tasking you can do while you’re pushing a lawn-mower! Anyway, the more focused you can be on the tasks that you do each day, the more your mind will produce good ideas.
Visit an Online Forum
I think we’ve all probably read information on forums. Heck, we’re probably all members of a couple of them. There’s alway good discussion happening on forums, and that’s a good place to get posting ideas quick. I believe I could easily do nothing but tutorials by reading Wordpress and Web Design forums. There are always people having problems. If you know the solution, write a tutorial. I did this when I started this blog. Most of the tutorials I could find about installing Wordpress didn’t mention a couple of things that were different with the host that I have. While reading the Wordpress forum, I noticed that there were a lot of people who had asked the same questions. Once I found the solution, I wrote a tutorial on my blog, and it has remained one of my most popular posts.
What About You?
I would be interested in learning some of your ideas. We all have dry spells from time to time when it comes to ideas. What are some of the ways you overcome your zombie state and wake your brain?
Anthony,
Good ideas. I enjoy thinking while working with my hands, also. However, if I’ve got something that really needs my attention, I find I do my best thinking with pen and paper. If I don’t take notes on my thoughts, etc. my mind wanders. One thought leads to another leads to another, and before I know it, I’ve forgotten all about the problem I’m trying to solve or the issue I’m trying to think through. Having a pen and paper helps me to focus.
I agree, Chuck. It’s always smart to write down ideas. How many times have you had a “brilliant” idea, only to forget because you didn’t put it on paper? I’ve written down tons of stuff I’ve never used for anything, but I’ve also found things I’ve written previously that have become very useful.
One example of that is my “EZ Access Desktop”. I had this idea sometime before I shared it with others, and then thought it would be perfect to enter into the “Ultimate Guide to Productivity”. I got some great feedback off of that, and judging by the number of downloads I’ve had on these, some have found it helpful.
[...] What to Do When You’re Fresh Out of Ideas [...]
Do a tribute to something such as a movie, a song…
Hey Malachi – good idea. Thanks for the input.
Anthony, this was a good post. My regrets for not having been by sooner. I stay so slammed that if I find some spare time, its not be blogging.
Your post is very good and it made me think about my own blogging. Being still yet a newbie (at least in my own mind), after only six months, it continues to be somewhat of an adventure. I don’t write that much to begin with; perhaps two posts a week if I’m lucky to do that much. What started out as a passing fancy turned in to something I truly do enjoy. When it becomes a drudgery I just don’t blog.
As far as what you do when you lack freshness, I can’t offer anything worthy. I just don’t write. When the motivation, inspiration and opportunity presents themselves as a chorusing group, I write. Otherwise, I just spend time reading other stuff; blogs, books, my magazine subscriptions which are piling up, and a host of other material.
Wish I could offer more. As I take my leave for the moment, you have a nice site. Just wished I had been by sooner! LOL – never enough time, never enough time, never enough time.
I actually run into this quite often and when I think about it I really just started my blog for fun and you’re right it can’t be too serious.
Some of the best posts that I’ve written are from times when I sit down at the computer with no intention to blog at all. I usually end up visiting other sites that ultimately inspire my own creativity about an issue and that persuades me to write. I do also get alot of ideas when I’m away from the computer. I think the bottom line is that you shouldn’t try to hard just let your ideas come when they do, whether thats every 2 days or 2 weeks.
@Hawk – Glad you stopped by……..and hope you come back! I know the feeling about being busy.
@Clarke – Same here. I started the blog for fun, and so there’s really no reason to write something just for the sake of writing something. Being consistent is helpful when you’re trying to build your readership, but hey, I figure writing nothing is better than writing something nobody wants to read.
quite agree, have bloggers block myself (im gonna copywrite that and call it the dreaded “BB” ) look outsided the box is spot on. Inspirational!!!
newman
Blogger’s Block….? hmm, I could see that being a popular term.
Hello
I am new at blogging, and already I understand what you mean, great ideas you gave.