Today, Zachary Adam Cohen brings up an interesting point of view on how post ideas are formed. If you would like to guest post on Blogussion, read here for more information.
I’ve been blogging regularly for five months now and have learned a lot about the art and science of regular blogging. Some of my posts are journalistic where I have an idea, do some research, reach out to sources for expert opinions, and then produce my article.
But other posts are more like think pieces, where the idea isn’t quite fully established. It’s more like delicately handling an un-germinated seed. I know there is something there, but I can’t force the writing to sprout.
Blogging can be more demanding than most people make it out to be. Regularly producing quality content can be both intellectually and physically demanding. A day of writing posts exhausts me as much as the 8-mile runs I am accustomed to taking in Central Park.
So when should committed bloggers blog? Should we force ourselves to write even when the muse isn’t with us? Should we follow our ideas as soon as we happen upon them, bang out the posts in a mechanical fashion in order to satisfy our obligations to produce? Or should we let the thoughts marinate for awhile while we go about our other tasks in life?
The answer is both. There is no telling when the best writing is done. So you’ve got to open yourself to the opportunity to produce quality content in a variety of situations. Discipline is an important skill when it comes to writing, but it is not the only skill.
Forcing Yourself to Blog
This is an important part of learning about your skills and moods. When you aren’t in the mood to be creative, and yet it’s time you’ve previously set aside to blog, it is essential that you find a way to create the space produce.
In those cases when you’re not “feeling it,” it’s best to have help. Look to other bloggers, check your RSS feeds, and peruse Twitter for relevant links. With all the information and inspiration available to us on a daily basis, no matter your niche, punching out a post may seem difficult at first, but once you’ve allowed that one way or another it is going to happen, the words flow.
Save for the most talented among us, for instance those who have blogged for years, blogging is work. It is fun work that we’ve elected to do, but it is still work. The majority of your blog posts will follow this path. Nothing worth doing is ever easy.
More on Inspiration
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- Conquering those days where you don’t “feel” like writing by facing these 5 realizations
- 10 ways to find post inspiration without leaving your blog
Letting Posts Marinate
The second kind of blog post is the rarer kind. They are usually breakthrough posts: pieces that show us what we are capable of. Our readers usually recognize them as well. But they arrive less frequently and when they do, the worst thing we can do to them is to force them out.
These posts are signals of a shift in our thinking and writing abilities. When these ideas arrive we have to nurture them. We have to perform all those tasks that make our other posts so valuable, the research, the web browsing, the contemplation, but we have to recognize that we may not be ready to write them. We risk losing them if we force them out.
So let those posts marinate. Stow them away. It is tempting to want to get them out as soon as you can in order to post something, anything! But identifying when you have something truly special on your hands is part of writing. I think every blogger, no matter their specialty, has these moments.
The truth is we blog because we are on the cutting edge. We blog because we think we have something special and unique to say. We blog because we feel that we can offer something that no one out there in the vast echo chamber that is our media saturated-world is offering. When these occasions occur, we’ve got to nurture them. Getting out of the way is a big part of this.
I promise if given enough breathing room the idea won’t leave you. In fact, like wine, it will only refine itself with age. And when the time comes to write it, it will be the easiest thing you ever did.
38 Discussions
Thanks for this post. I let somethings marinate! It’s hard to but at times my theory or message isnt complete by either time constraints or by me still learning the lesson myself. Writers block comes at times, especially when I want to write a few post a day. I use a few things… Read through others blogs in my feed, others twitter post, local news, another great tool is the Google wonder wheel! If that doesnt work for me Ill push out something to educate my reader. This post is great, and I love this site. Thanks for all the tips!
Jennifer ´s last blog ..Saturday Freebies
Jennifer thanks for the reply! your suggestions are really helpful, and i definitely have to check out the google wonder wheel
Zachary Cohen´s last blog ..Beggars Can’t Be Choosers, Tom Philpott Responds…
I’d love to let ideas marinate. Could be I’d never get to writing then. Inspiration seems to come “from” writing, not before writing. Can’t count the number of posts that have produced the next idea. Just keep plugging away at writing, I’m bound to strike gold once in a while.
Mike
thats a great tip mike, sometimes we just have to trudge through, writing things that dont necessarily have the pizzaz that we want, but we have to do it anyway, cause that blogging pot of gold is right at the end of the rainbow isn’t it
Zachary Cohen´s last blog ..Beggars Can’t Be Choosers, Tom Philpott Responds…
Great post and theory about letting ideas “marinate”, I like that word
I also found that it can sometimes be easier to write posts with your monitor turned off. Yep – open up a text editor, turn off the monitor and start typing. That way you’re only focusing on what you want to write and not editing what you write, fixing a spelling error here and there etc – but just writing from your mind.
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..September 2009: Blog Summary & Income Report (My Third Month Of Blogging)
Thanks for stopping by Klaus.
That’s a really unique suggestion, I have never heard of that before! Thanks for sharing, seriously.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
It can be hard finding a balance between posting regularly enough and marinating ideas. Can you share anyways to balance this? Cheers.
Gordie Rogers´s last blog ..Saturday Spew And Shout Out: October 3rd 2009.
gordie, let me think about your question and get back to you
Zachary Cohen´s last blog ..Beggars Can’t Be Choosers, Tom Philpott Responds…
Post marinating, I like the methapor. It takes a truly distinctive blogger to manifest this principle on each of his/her post. Some bloggers do make rush posting that quality is jeopardized. I believe that with unrelenting effort, anything can be achieved.
thanks walter!
Zachary Cohen´s last blog ..Beggars Can’t Be Choosers, Tom Philpott Responds…
I admire how you have chosen your words, unique.
Personally, I find it difficult to start an article. Getting the first few lines to write is the most laborious task to me, be it I’m inspired or not. Yet, I do believe with the idea or marinating. Some post which undergone such process has a distinctive character and impact among others. Time and collective ideas are great assets to produce valuable posts.
Alex Lim ´s last blog ..Before You Purchase A Domain Name Availability
Thanks for stopping by Alex.
I’m totally with you, the first lines are always hard. They’re very crucial too!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Great post and thanks for this information.
About´s last blog ..Disable User Account Control in Windows 7 [How To]
I’ve had this great post idea for a series for two weeks now, but I can’t seem to force myself to finish it.
Last night, at my dance studio’s Saturday night party, I had a bit too much to drink and had a blast on the dance floor. When I sat down at the end of the night, a SURGE of ideas came crashing into my brain out of nowhere!
Hopefully, my love for blogging won’t turn me into a lush
Pete | The Tango Notebook´s last blog ..Chuck Liddell’s Knock Out Tango Performance on Dancing With the Stars
Haha, wow. Creativity does come from the weirdest places I suppose.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
I also find it a bit difficult to start articles, but once you’ve got your first few lines it gets easier and easier. Because of so muc information available it just gets a bit overwhelming on how to start a article.
Nice Post.
Teen Blogger´s last blog ..My 1 Month Old Blog’s Journey So Far
If you map out your post, like write the headlines and just write notes under them, you will find it a lot easier to write. It’s how I do it, and it works great!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
For those days (like today) I find comfort in posting videos that I enjoy or make me laugh. That’s the good thing about having a personal blog
KalibreOnline -Games, Life and Ent´s last blog ..tgs-final-fantasy-xiii-3
Ah, so you do videos? How does that work for you?
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Good, my blog is very small and it fits my time schedule. Plus who doesn’t like games ? ;p
KalibreOnline -Games, Life and Ent´s last blog ..vs
Personally, I have trouble forcing myself to blog. I try to stay regular, but sometimes I just don’t have the inspiration. I just worry that by forcing it, I’ll be diluting the quality of my post’s content, which is something I don’t want to compromise.
Yeah, it’s hard to force yourself. That’s why you should usually take some time to map out a list of ideas to blog about. Works for me, and it may take some time at first, but it will actually save you time on the day where you have to write!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
For some people, blogging is just a way to express yourself, to write your thoughts and comments about things.But other claim more from blogs. More meaning money.
rsiclaims´s last blog ..Hello world!
Exactly. Which do you want to be?
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
That was a cool Post that can really inspire people, well written !
Enk.´s last blog ..11 Awesome Typographic Posters
Thanks for dropping by Enk! I think Zachary has a great writing style, this turned out to be a really great post.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Good stuff, I actually do this quite often. I’ll think of an idea and want to immediately publish it, but then I stop myself so I can think about it a bit more. I then try and think of the different angles and aspects to take with a topic to arrive at something that is suited for a post.
Sometimes it makes me focus on a topic more in-depth and sometimes it makes me be more brief, but sleeping on it helps. If you’re afraid of forgetting, simply jot it down on a notepad.
BigManta´s last blog ..The Top 3 Reasons Why People Fail at Making Money Online
Great comment! I usually think of an idea and even the most bizarre ones I will try to mind map. If I can’t get enough good ideas flowing, then it’s probably not that great of a post!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
I don’t like the idea of forcing myself to blog, i usually blog about things that interest me when the insipration comes. Actually, I love that marinating imagry because I think that’s what those ideas are doing, thanks for the post!
Webmaster Forum UK´s last blog ..Online business
I don’t either, but when it comes to keeping consistent content here – it’s just something I have to suck up and do.
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Never gave the idea of marinating much thought. I agree. It’s a good idea and something more bloggers should incorporate.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Alex´s last blog ..8 Funny Things I Learned From Designing That I Apply to Life
Once upon a time, I strived to write at least 3 posts a day but in recent times, I’ve been quite lazy. Most times I’m just not up to the task of working on an idea and writing it out in the most interesting form.
I’ve got a few guest posts on the burner and lack of motivation is the only thing keeping me from not completing them.
So all I do at the moment is browse through other blogs in my niche and out of my niche and of course leave meaningful comments here and there.
So far so good, it’s been rewarding cos’ I’ve gotten quite a number of ideas for some blog posts. The only problem now is how to give them life so they become great blog posts.
Since I’ve got enough content to cover my blog for a month, I’m just going to sit back, relax and take things easy. Hopefully in between the stress here at the hospital, I should be able to churn out 10 blog posts for next month and subsequently complete my guest posts.
Nice post.
Udegbunam Chukwudi´s last blog ..How To Install Google Analytics In Blogger Blogs
Once upon a time, I strived to write at least 3 posts a day but in recent times, I’ve been quite lazy. Most times I’m just not up to the task of working on an idea and writing it out in the most interesting form.
I’ve got a few guest posts on the burner and lack of motivation is the only thing keeping me from not completing them.
So all I do at the moment is browse through other blogs in my niche and out of my niche and of course leave meaningful comments here and there.
So far so good, it’s been rewarding cos’ I’ve gotten quite a number of ideas for some blog posts. The only problem now is how to give them life so they become great blog posts.
Since I’ve got enough content to cover my blog for a month, I’m just going to sit back, relax and take things easy. Hopefully in between the stress here at the hospital, I should be able to churn out 10 blog posts for next month and subsequently complete my guest posts.
Nice post.
Udegbunam Chukwudi´s last blog ..How To Install Google Analytics In Blogger Blogs
I’ve been blogging regularly for five years, three of those as a professional, and I currently write ten blogs. Regularly.
I like your post, and I want to add a couple of things to it. First, when you get one of those ideas that needs a bit of marination, make notes and save them as a draft so you don’t forget what you had in mind. In fact, it’s good to write and save a sentence or two whenever you have any flash of an idea, because you never know when you’ll need one.
Second, if you’re paid, either by people you blog for or by the beneficial marketing aspects of having a regularly posted blog, then don’t let artistic temperament get in the way of doing that post. A lot of it is attitude, research, and — as you say — discipline. We don’t really have to be in the mood to write any more than we have to be in the mood to do any other kind of work.
Personally, it’s so hard for me to write a particular topic if I’m not in the mood. I don’t know where to start and how to start. What I always do is to break that mood by reading and learning from others’ post. I find it very effective than pushing yourself to do something you don’t even like.
Jon McDowell´s last blog ..How to Treat Angular Cheilitis
It also helps if you get on a schedule.
Jon,
Thanks for the comment. I think you are exactly right that a schedule is important, but one cannot just adopt a schedule. What must occur first is that someone must conceive of themselves as a blogger. Blogging is work, it is real writing. It is a job, even though for the most part bloggers work for free. I think the biggest obstacle most bloggers face is a personal one. They must conceive of themselves as bloggers before a schedule is really worth developing.
Zachary Cohen´s last blog ..My Podcast Interview With Our Natural Life
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