The Muses dancing with Apollo, by Baldassare Peruzzi (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Suffering with writer’s block? Battling the winter doldrums? Seeking desperately for content for that next post? MadSilence offers 7 tips to help you to find your muse.
First you should…
Get Back to Basics. Center yourself, go back to the source, and answer these questions: What is my blog about? What am I trying to accomplish? Who is my audience? A recent survey revealed that for most bloggers, “the main reasons for keeping a blog are creative expression and sharing personal experiences.” Now that’s all well and good, but it also helps to narrow your focus and clarify your subject matter. So review those old posts and check those categories and tags. Look for common themes and trends. And remind yourself of the reason you started blogging in the first place.
And while you’re at it…
Get On a Roll. Writing a series of posts on a single subject helps direct your thoughts, plan your work, and get on a roll. CAB started the ever-popular Engrish series, while TAB has animal art. MadSilence’s camouflage series has also proven popular. A series keeps your audience coming back for more. And don’t forget those pingbacks.
Of course, to get rolling, it helps to…
Open Yourself to New Ideas. Be open to new subjects. TAB had never considered quilts as an art form before visiting the Shelburne Museum, which led to a post on the barn quilt movement, which introduced us to crafty bloggers and Cindy’s thriftathon where we had fun, made a bunch of new friends, and built readership. So view the world with new eyes. To quote CAB: “Those yukidaruma are there staring you in the face, waiting to get your creative juices flowing, so get writing!”
“Those yukidaruma are there staring you in the face, waiting to get your creative juices flowing, so get writing!”
And a good way to broaden the field is to…
Check Your Sources. There are many outstanding online news sources and news aggregators. Look at our blogroll to your right: several excellent sites are listed. TAB is a fan of SyndicatePig.com – Arts & Culture News. Make visiting these sites part of your weekly routine. You need to keep track of the world around you!
And while you’re surfing the net…
Keep A Journal. Ideas are great, they’re the blogger’s bread and butter, but until you write them down, they don’t exist! TAB types notes in Notepad, carefully labeling each text file with the date and subject. CAB keeps a small notebook with her wherever she goes, writing down ideas when they come out of the blue. “I often get strokes of inspiration when I’m in bed falling asleep. If I forget to write them down, in the morning they’re poof! Gone!” Also, when reading your latest book, scribble in the margins your feelings and reactions. It’s difficult to recapture them after the muse departs. Bye bye, muse!
Ideas are great, they’re the blogger’s bread and butter, but until you write them down, they don’t exist!
You should also remember to…
Read Your Comments. Often. And visit the blogs of people who comment. Read their posts. And if their posts or comments inspire a post on your blog, share the credit. Not only is this honest thing to do, but it shows the blogosphere what a wonderful blogger you are, and encourages more comments.
…it shows the blogosphere what a wonderful blogger you are…
Finally, if you’re still suffering from a paucity of inspiration…
Talk to Someone. MadSilence has two authors, and with two authors, we can nag inspire each other, generating aggravation energy and fresh ideas. And rely on each other to post when the creative juices run dry. Even if you don’t have a co-author, you can talk to other bloggers, and family and friends. Discussion and feedback is grist for the creative mill. Your muse will respond favorably. Go muse!
Clear blogging! That’s right, our final bit of advice is to read this book: Clear Blogging: How People Blogging Are Changing the World and How You Can Join Them by Bob Walsh. You’ll be glad you did.
Need more inspiration? Visit the Japanese snowmen at Pink Tentacle’s Happy fun snow creatures. Fantastic!
~MadSilence
4 Comments
February 29, 2008 at 12:11 am
I like how you crossed out nag and aggravation LOL! These a great tips. I can’t say that I have had too much of a problem with not knowing what to write about , but I think that is because I LOVE the subject.
Love your blog, you have some GREAT links and subjects.
March 2, 2008 at 3:18 am
Great post! Great suggestions! I feel the creative juices flowing right now—-thanks for all the great suggestions!
March 7, 2008 at 7:47 am
My main issue is time. Also, I sit in front of a computer everyday at work; therefore, I’d rather sit in front of that other glowing box in the evening. Yet, once I start posting, I get into it. I usually have to stop by my friends blogs too. Hey, that’s why I’m here now. You guys do a great job of providing interesting material. You’re one of the best sites ever, and I’m not just blowing smoke up your skirt.
December 20, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for leading me here. I like the series Idea, both for helping to lead your mind and focusing it, and for readership benefits.