What to Do When You Run Out of Ideas

I’ve recently found that I have been running out of ideas for writing – on many different topics! Some come and go but others I’ve gotten to a dead end and have no idea what to move onto next. So, what should you do if you come to a dead end and run out of thing to write about? Here are some tips that have helped me.

What Do You Need Help With?

When you think about your topic of expertise, what information would you like to know? What did you need help with when you first started out? There is bound to be something that you haven’t covered or could offer a unique view on it. Make a list of everything that you have ever thought about, wondered or researched into your topic and how they could become articles or blog posts.

What Are Others Writing About?

Research into the type of posts others are writing about within your field. You can gain ideas from them. If you run a weight loss blog, can you write about similar topics to others from a different point of view? Maybe you can add your personal experience on a weight loss programme. Do not copy someone else’s work; use it for inspiration.

Reading others sites will also help you see why others write about what they do and the type of material they offer. It will help you stay interested in your subject while you suffer a writer’s block.

Take a Day Off

Just because you are self-employed doesn’t mean that you can’t have a day off. I spent a few months thinking that if I didn’t work, I didn’t get paid so I had to write. My husband soon pointed out that he had two days off a week and didn’t get paid on those days so having a day off wasn’t the end of the world. I took a day off and have the chance to do nothing apart from relax, refresh my mind and body and do the things that I’d been wanting to do for months.

Take some time off when you start running out of ideas. Your blog will survive and your clients can wait an extra day – as long as you haven’t agreed a deadline on that day. If you regularly take a day off, switch it one week to another day to give your mind the chance to recover.

Go Somewhere Different

You may find that you just need a change of scenery to gain some inspiration. Go somewhere that you wouldn’t usually and have a rest. You may find that ideas come straight to you while you try to take in the beautiful sights. I often took a drive out to a local beach before I moved to where I am now. I could sit and watch the waves and just let the thoughts come to me; now I tend to take a walk down the high street with the buggy and watch the people around me!