Diary of an ExSloth

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Frustrated Blogger: 5 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

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Hey Friends! How’s it goin?

Recently I’ve been having a little trouble putting pen to paper fingers to keyboard when writing my posts. I love blogging and I honestly feel like it’s what I’m meant to be doing right now. But sometimes, like with all other things in life, I have off days. Sometimes, I feel like I have absolutely nothing of consequence to say, and it makes it really hard to get a post with quality content published.  

5 Tips to help Blogggers Overcome Writer's Block via @ExSloth | ExSloth.com

Last night, I started Googling tips for overcoming writer’s block but quickly realised that nothing was really specific to bloggers. Sure, brainstorming, keeping a post idea list and coming up with themes is useful, but those are just arbitrary tips in my opinion. I couldn’t find a real guide for bloggers wanting to get out of a writing slump. So, I decided to cure my writer’s block by writing about writer’s block. Ironic, I know.

[Tweet “5 tips to help you overcome writer’s block #thebloglife #fitfluential”]

5 Tips for Bloggers Dealing with Writer’s Block

1. Check Linkups

Many of the linkups in the blogging world have optional topics for the current week’s post. When I can’t figure out what to write about, I look at some of the topics for those linkups and write a post about one that interests me. Removing brainstorming from the equation and makes it a lot easier to produce content since the content is all you have to focus on. Plus, linkups are a great way to get free exposure for your blog and interact with other bloggers. Two birds, one stone. 

2. Do a Roundup

Roundups are great because they can be about anything, from things on your Fall bucket list to a collection of your favourite granola recipes. You can limit the roundup to your own posts or include links to other blogs and sites, but once everything you’re listing goes together, you can make it work. Yes, you’ll still have to write a couple paragraphs for the post, but you’re not starting from scratch, which makes writing easier.

3. Share some Link Love

Link love type posts are pretty popular in the blogging community. They’re similar to roundups but the topics can be varied and you don’t need as many words. It’s basically just a list of links to interesting articles from around the web, with an optional one-liner of your thoughts tacked on. Some of my favourites are Link Love on Running with Spoons, Bean Bytes on The Lean Green Bean and Sunday Funday on Skinny Fitalicious.

4. Think out Loud

Another great idea from Amanda of Running with Spoons is her Thinking out Loud Thursday series, which I’ve actually never done on a Thursday 😳 It’s where I got the inspiration for my Wednesday rant a couple months ago and my brain dump on Monday. What I love about thinking out loud is that I don’t have to make everything too coherent. Each of my points will make sense (theoretically), but the post in it’s entirety doesn’t have to be about one thing. May sound strange, but it works.

5. Update old posts

I have a lot of posts I plan to update in the near future. Some of them are recipes that need picture updates, some are nutrition or fitness tips that can have some tips added. Sift through your old posts and see if there’s any you want to update or maybe expand in another post or series of some posts. Your archives are a treasure trove of inspiration for future posts and you shouldn’t neglect them. 

Bonus Tips:

  • Hit the gym for inspiration. You may come up with a new workout to share or randomly think of a fitness related topic to talk about
  • Spend some time experimenting in the kitchen. You might just create something amazing, and then you’ll have a recipe to share
  • Scour magazines in your niche. Magazines are also a great place to get topic ideas. Just the article titles can spark some creativity.

Plus, don’t forget to sign up for the FREE Blog Well Summit (affiliate link) for even more blogging tips from the experts.

Want more posts about blogging? Try these:

What about you?

How do you deal with writer’s block? Any other tips for bloggers with writer’s block? 

Share in the comments below!
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This post was included in the following linkups: Friday Favorites, #FFavorites, Fitness Friday, Friday Five, Weekly Wrap Up, FYI Friday

Comments

  4. Amanda @ .running with spoons.com says

    Oh girl… I feel ya on the dratted writer’s block — I seem to have come down with a severe case of it myself. These are all really, really grey tips, and another thing I’d add to the list is to step away from the computer for a few hours and go out there and LIVE. I find that that, more than anything else, helps inspire me and clear my head enough to get the words flowing.
    Amanda @ .running with spoons.com recently posted…. soft and chewy pumpkin granola bars .

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  14. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says

    I feel the same way at times! I just try not to force it. Sometimes I sit down and I write a super long post without even thinking. So when I sit down and can’t think of a thing, I just walk away, and come back after doing something else. Usually a walk, or cooking something, or a yoga class, will allow time for thoughts to come back!
    Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Muscle Building Non-Dairy Chocolate Milk + Easy Ways to Increase Protein Intake

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  17. MB says

    Definitely trying some of these tips — I’m going to bookmark this post. One thing I really think helps me is doing writing prompts and also the 5-minute writing in regard to a word or just stream-of-consciousness. I’ve discovered that by timing them, every other thought disappears, and I’m basically forced to concentrate on that one thing.
    MB recently posted…Caring Too Much

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  19. Ray says

    Ooooo, love it and saving this for when it hits me. I took time off this summer and wrote in my idea book. This is what will get me through winter I hope. I lost a dear friend, and could not write no matter what. Then I wrote about her, that got me back to the table….

    Thanks for sharing, visiting from SitsGirls.
    Ray recently posted…10 Quotes

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  20. Matilda says

    I’m so glad you put ‘update old posts” i thought I was the only crazy that did that. I do it because wow some of them are badly written or have no pictures.
    But that’s the great thing about blogging, the more you do it the more you learn and you can share with others out there.
    Matilda recently posted…Running is my Triumph

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  21. Chris says

    Definitely like Tip #3! I’ve done that a couple times now. I love paying it forward to bloggers and startups that I like and want to share with others. I know they appreciate it and maybe it buys me some good karma in case I ever need some love thrown my way! =) Plus… hey it gets a post published and hopefuly generates fresh ideas to beat writer’s block!
    Chris recently posted…Celebrate The Grind

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  33. Farrah says

    Great tips! 😀 I actually have issues with having wayyy too many ideas and wanting to write/post them all at once because I’d love to have a discussion on em’, but on the plus side, I guess I can space the non-time-sensitive ones out! 😛
    Farrah recently posted…How your past shapes your future

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  36. Elisabeth says

    Each of us has a period when you don’t know what to write next. You don’t know how to put your thoughts together and tell a memorable story. It’s especially frustrating when you’re faced with writing an essay. However, I was very helped with this https://cheappaperwriting.com/. I couldn’t have done better

    Reply

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