Office work

Strategies For Finding Topics To Write About

John Wieber By · · 3 min read

Strategies For Finding Topics To Write About
What possibly could I have to write about? I never was good at it anyway. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I just sit and stare and stare at a blank screen.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry. We all have gone through this. It happens to me periodically. If you experience this at any point, it is a good signal that you need a change in creative direction. Here are a few tips to help you find topics to write about and get your creative juices flowing.

I personally like to write with pen and paper. For one, I can take it anywhere. Well, o.k. with a laptop you can take it almost where ever you wish as well. But, when the battery is gone and there is not a single electrical outlet in sight, I will still be sitting there writing until I get my fill.

You periodically need to change your scenery. This always helps me. If I am at a block, I get up, take pen and paper and head out of the house. I frequent outdoor cafes when I can. The openness and fresh air helps me think. You can also just try a different part of your house.

I try to at least keep a notebook, or sticky notes somewhere within reach at every point in the day. Why? Ideas usually come to me when I am not at my desk. One of the best ways I have developed to find new topics is to spend what I call “routine task time” thinking about recent articles I have read. Routine task time is the time you spend washing dishes, cleaning, driving home(of course pay attention to the road here as well!), etc. Make use of this time if you can.

Write down any idea that comes to mind. Don’t worry about whether is seems reasonable at the moment. You will edit and refine later if need be. More than likely you will throw away half of the ideas you come up with. You’ll find however that these ideas bring out other topics that you may never have thought about.

Go to the web. I can’t stress this enough. Need new topics? See what other people are writing about. Try www.CNet.com, or any other internet / technology or business website to find the new hot topics. Are you writing about hobbies? Check out the top hobby sites. Don’t hesitate to use the internet and what others are doing to keep your writing up to par.

Writing articles for your own E-Zine or to be published elsewhere for advertising is the most powerful resource for promoting your online business. Practice it, develop it, prune it. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. This is the most prized resource that you can pull from to succeed online.

Author Bio:
Dan J. Fry is an independent researcher and owner of e-Kinetic.com, a site devoted to providing resources for small budget home businesses. He has a PhD in Physics, two daughters and two cats. Subscribe to his free E-Zine on home business resources at [email protected] or by visiting his site at http://www.e-kinetic.com. He can be reached at mailto:[email protected].

Mar 23, 2004 · 3 min read All articles
// Free audit

Where is your traffic leaking?

We'll pull your data and show you the three biggest opportunities on your site.

Get a Free Analysis
John Wieber
Written by

John Wieber

Partner

With over 20 years of experience in web development, e-commerce, and digital marketing, John has managed hundreds of websites and led strategies for businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and major trade publications. John brings a unique blend of technical expertise and marketing…
// Keep reading

Related articles

20+ years · SEO · Web Development · Paid Media · Talk to a strategist