This week, I’ve been having a hard time coming up with a blog topic that interests me enough to want to write about it. I’m sure if I’m not interested, no one else will be. I started a few, but the posts weren’t turning out to be interesting or useful. It’s been an exhausting week, which could be part of my problem. The temptation to skip a week was strong. I resisted, and thought about why I blog. In doing so, I came up with five tips for blogging when you just don’t feel like it.
1. Remember why you started in the first place
For me, the main idea is to serve my readers, whether with some information that will help them as either writers or readers, or simply be entertaining. I’m also trying to generate some interest in my books, whether already published or in process. If I want people to follow my blog, I owe to them to blog regularly.
2. Consider what being professional means
I’m also trying to make a living as a writer, which means that I intend to make writing my profession. Amateurs and hobbyists can write whenever they feel like it. Professionals write, day in and day out, forcing the words out and doing the work it takes to make them entertaining or informative. If I truly want to be a professional writer, I can’t give myself the option of skipping a week for any old reason.
3. Use the feeling to reassess the topics you usually blog about
Maybe the sense of not wanting to blog is because you’re in a blogging rut, stuck rehashing the same old topics. If so, come up with a new list of topics you can get excited about.
4. Take a break from the routine
Along the same lines, maybe all you need is a little variety from your blogging format. If you just can’t summon up the will to actually type out a post, try making a video blog instead. Or a collection of photos with captions, or book covers, or images that relate to your book.
5. Stop thinking and get writing already
I got over my malaise by sitting down and writing about it. All day I was stuck thinking about it; only when I took action was I able to get past it.
I hope this helps you next time you are stuck on a post. Anyone have any other helpful tips?
I keep a “scribblings” folder where I write a few thoughts all during the week. When it’s time to write a blog, I usually pull up something from it.
That’s a great idea, Ann. It’s so easy to lose those random thoughts unless they are written down, and as you say, they can be excellent prompts for blog posts.