How do you find new post ideas?

Will · 02-08-2008, 01:46 AM

One of the most stressful things about blogging is having to come up with new ideas every week. Sure, it was kind of easy the first six months, but after a while, I begin to find myself revisiting the same topics.

How do you break out of that rut? Here are a few tips I find helpful.

Actively look for new blogs with fresh voices.

Check Google News for latest news about my blog's topic.

Start challenging "conventional wisdom." For example, many bloggers say Payday loans are evil. It would be fun to write a Devil's Advocate post arguing the opposite.

What do you do to get new ideas for your posts?

Milehimama · 02-08-2008, 08:16 AM

I have a "theme day" in my head, so if I am short on ideas I rely on my theme. My blog is a "mommy blog", so I have Montessori Mondays (education/small children); Fun Fridays, Thoughtful Thursdays...I also blog in advance, often I'll have ten ideas for a post so I'll at least start them and save them until I'm running dry on ideas. That way I can at least post once a day.

Milehimama · 02-08-2008, 08:18 AM

And, I actually don't think payday loans are evil. People get themselves into trouble, because they just reborrow. But I've used them in the past and think they are generally a good idea. Pick my brain on it if you want to.

The Honest Dollar · 02-08-2008, 05:54 PM

I have ... mm, I don't know how many blogs and news sources on my feed reader, but I read about 300 feed articles a day. Somewhere along the way I usually find a topic to write about.

Xin Lu · 02-08-2008, 06:45 PM

I am sort of a news junkie. I don't listen to music radio on the way to work.. instead I listen to news, and so a lot of the topics I write about are sort of "ripped from the headlines". I also write about things I think of when I have lunch with coworkers a lot.

Will · 02-09-2008, 07:26 PM

That's a great tip Xin! I get a lot of good story ideas from listening to NPR too. Last night on Science Fridays they talked about an device that can generate electricity from a person's regular walking movements. You can get something like 10 minutes of cell phone usage worth of electricity from a one minute walk. I almost blogged about it, but decided against it since it is more of a "hey neat" article that probably doesn't offer any practical tips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milehimama

And, I actually don't think payday loans are evil. People get themselves into trouble, because they just reborrow. But I've used them in the past and think they are generally a good idea. Pick my brain on it if you want to.

I was just using that as an example, but you do bring up a really interesting point! If you start a thread about that in the personal finance forum I'll bet you'll get a lot of spirited debate.

Speaking of NPR, I just heard a story about Montessori programs a few weeks ago. It sounds like a really neat system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Honest Dollar

I have ... mm, I don't know how many blogs and news sources on my feed reader, but I read about 300 feed articles a day. Somewhere along the way I usually find a topic to write about.

Wow. How do you keep up with so many articles. That's awesome.

The Honest Dollar · 02-09-2008, 08:08 PM

I have an extensive folder/tag system in Google Reader. The news feeds go into buckets like "Personal Finance," "Taxes," and "Investing." The blog feeds go into "The 20% that Matter" and "The 80% that Don't." I won't say which blog goes in which bucket, but "The 20% that Matter" update relatively frequently (3-4 times per week at least), provide quality content, and are always inspirations for writing better myself. "The 80% that Don't" still matter - I read them every day; but I find these blogs less helpful in developing my own ideas.

Besides extensive reading, I talk with my boyfriend and friends often about money matters. None of them are PF bloggers, so they tend to have ideas that you don't see a lot in the blogosphere.

Jeremy · 02-09-2008, 08:22 PM

I have an idea monkey that sits under my desk and jots down post ideas on a notepad and hands them to me throughout the week.

On a more serious related note, I heard the same segment on Science Friday, Will. That is my favorite show on the radio. At first when I heard about the energy brace, I was a bit skeptical about practical uses, but the more they talked about it, the more ideas and adaptations that I could see it becoming very useful for. It is just a "oh, neat" factor right now, but I can't wait to see what other innovations this technology drives.

Will · 02-11-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Honest Dollar

Besides extensive reading, I talk with my boyfriend and friends often about money matters. None of them are PF bloggers, so they tend to have ideas that you don't see a lot in the blogosphere.

That's a great tip.

I spend so much time reading blogs and forums that sometimes I forget to hang out with real people to get their non-blogger take on things. I have to give this "social life" thing a try. It comes highly recommended.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

...the more ideas and adaptations that I could see it becoming very useful for. It is just a "oh, neat" factor right now, but I can't wait to see what other innovations this technology drives.

Me too Jeremy. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Milehimama · 02-12-2008, 06:18 PM

I do Montessori at home. It is a neat "system"!

02-08-2008, 01:46 AM	#1
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 381 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (23)	How do you find new post ideas? One of the most stressful things about blogging is having to come up with new ideas every week. Sure, it was kind of easy the first six months, but after a while, I begin to find myself revisiting the same topics. How do you break out of that rut? Here are a few tips I find helpful. Actively look for new blogs with fresh voices. Check Google News for latest news about my blog's topic. Start challenging "conventional wisdom." For example, many bloggers say Payday loans are evil. It would be fun to write a Devil's Advocate post arguing the opposite. What do you do to get new ideas for your posts?

02-08-2008, 06:45 PM	#5
Xin Lu Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 441 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (92)	I am sort of a news junkie. I don't listen to music radio on the way to work.. instead I listen to news, and so a lot of the topics I write about are sort of "ripped from the headlines". I also write about things I think of when I have lunch with coworkers a lot. __________________ The Baglady @ http://baglady.dreamhosters.com Wise Bread @ http://wisebread.com/xin-lu Following me @XinLuDJ

02-09-2008, 08:22 PM	#8
Jeremy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	I have an idea monkey that sits under my desk and jots down post ideas on a notepad and hands them to me throughout the week. On a more serious related note, I heard the same segment on Science Friday, Will. That is my favorite show on the radio. At first when I heard about the energy brace, I was a bit skeptical about practical uses, but the more they talked about it, the more ideas and adaptations that I could see it becoming very useful for. It is just a "oh, neat" factor right now, but I can't wait to see what other innovations this technology drives. __________________ Generation X Finance - Helping a unique generation achieve financial independence. Financial Planning at About.com

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02-08-2008, 08:16 AM	#2
Milehimama Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (13)	I have a "theme day" in my head, so if I am short on ideas I rely on my theme. My blog is a "mommy blog", so I have Montessori Mondays (education/small children); Fun Fridays, Thoughtful Thursdays...I also blog in advance, often I'll have ten ideas for a post so I'll at least start them and save them until I'm running dry on ideas. That way I can at least post once a day.

02-08-2008, 08:18 AM	#3
Milehimama Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (13)	And, I actually don't think payday loans are evil. People get themselves into trouble, because they just reborrow. But I've used them in the past and think they are generally a good idea. Pick my brain on it if you want to.

02-08-2008, 05:54 PM	#4
The Honest Dollar Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (64)	I have ... mm, I don't know how many blogs and news sources on my feed reader, but I read about 300 feed articles a day. Somewhere along the way I usually find a topic to write about.

02-09-2008, 08:08 PM	#7
The Honest Dollar Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (64)	I have an extensive folder/tag system in Google Reader. The news feeds go into buckets like "Personal Finance," "Taxes," and "Investing." The blog feeds go into "The 20% that Matter" and "The 80% that Don't." I won't say which blog goes in which bucket, but "The 20% that Matter" update relatively frequently (3-4 times per week at least), provide quality content, and are always inspirations for writing better myself. "The 80% that Don't" still matter - I read them every day; but I find these blogs less helpful in developing my own ideas. Besides extensive reading, I talk with my boyfriend and friends often about money matters. None of them are PF bloggers, so they tend to have ideas that you don't see a lot in the blogosphere.

02-12-2008, 06:18 PM	#10
Milehimama Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (13)	I do Montessori at home. It is a neat "system"!