How to Generate Ideas for Your Writing Blog

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I always enjoy checking out the blogs of other writers, and I think they are a great way to show off your creativity while helping build a platform. When I interview contestants in the writing contests for WOW!, I always make sure to visit their blog or website, as I can get some great ideas for interview questions there. I understand that sometimes coming up with the content for your blog can leave you drawing a blank, though, so I’ve come up with a few ideas to help get your juices flowing. 

Writing clips. Have you had an article or essay published recently? Share a link to it or the full text entirely, along with the story of how you landed the assignment or came up with the idea. I edit a regional magazine and often share my "letters from the editor" on my blog each month.

Five-minute memoir. There’s a trade magazine in the writing industry I read that accepts submissions on this. Take a specific topic (for example, I have an idea of writing about what first sparked my interest in true crime) and write down your thoughts. It’s a great way to practice creative nonfiction and covering a topic succinctly that your readers can connect with. This is one I wrote for my blog a few years ago. 

Book reviews. I’m pretty sure I’m in good company in that most of us writers also enjoy a good book, too! I have a list of books sitting on my desk that I need to write reviews for, and the plus side is that you can take any review you write and then help the author out by cross posting on Goodreads and Amazon. If you’d like access to even more books to review, inquire with one of our blog tour managers about supporting the writers as they promote their upcoming books. Here is a review Margo Dill wrote and shared on her blog. 

Round-ups. I love a good round-up of podcast and book recommendations, office supplies, gift ideas, quick and easy healthy recipes, etc. You can easily pull old content to be a part of these short blog posts. See how Cathy Hall shared a round-up of posts she wrote for The Muffin. I also do this on my blog and it’s a great idea if you are a regular contributor somewhere else, link the posts back to your own blog in one fell swoop. 

How-to posts. Do you have advice or tips for poets, novelists, short story writers, memoirists, etc. Share two or three tips on how other writers can strengthen their craft for an engaging blog post. Here is a post Sue Bradford Edwards wrote about the revision process. 

For me, personally, I created different categories on my blog to help keep things organized. I primarily focus on true crime stories, writing clips, book reviews, travel stories, and anything that falls under the general “writing life.” 

And remember, you don’t just have to share your writing on a blog. Are you also a visual artist, enjoy taking photography or other another crafting medium? Feel free to share that in your blog, too! I host my website with a blog integrated in on a simple WordPress site that’s easy to use and navigate. Don’t let overwhelm and frustration with technology prevent you from sharing your writing with others. 

Do you have a writing blog? What do you like to share on it? We’d love to hear about it! 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer and magazine editor who also hosts a true crime podcast. Visit her website at FinishedPages.com.