HOW I WRITE BLOG POSTS (& TIPS TO FIND INSPIRATION)

March 19, 2018

Happy Monday, ladies! How was your St. Patty’s Day? Today’s post is for the bloggers – although, the tips I’m sharing can be used by any creative. But specifically, I wanted to share a post for my blogging friends. I’ve been blogging for almost five years, about many different topics, and on and off through many phases and trials in life. So I’ve learned a thing or two about coming up with and writing blog posts regularly. Even though my style and the topics I cover has changed a bit, how I write blog posts hasn’t changed as much! It’s a method that works for the way I think, and it just might work for you too.

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HOW I WRITE BLOG POSTS

I’m a stream of consciousness writer. Well, sort of. I’m also the outline queen. I could write my essays so quickly in college because I did two things: One, I outlined every single point I wanted to get across as a paragraph. That way I always knew what point I needed to get across and when I would be finished. And Two, I briefed myself on the subject before so when I sat down to write, I could just let the words flow from my fingers. Building out the outline and sources was the most time-consuming (and it’s a lot like what I cover in the next heading, how I plan for larger posts), but once that background exists, I just wrote.

Seriously. This post started with the topic: How I Write My Posts. Now, it’s a little more in depth than why I’m loving embroidered details, so I needed to think about it a bit more. But I know how I write, so I don’t need to research my own methods. I just need to think of a way to convey them to you. So, thinking about it, there were three major topics to cover: how I write blog posts, how I write big-daddy blog posts, and how I come up with post ideas. After I had those ideas in place, and turned them into headings, I just started writing.

Sometimes I bounce around between headings, sometimes I write from the bottom up, and sometimes I write the post in the order it’s read. Wherever my brain and inspiration take me. The goal is first to get the words down, and I can go back and edit, add, or reduce as needed to create a cohesive piece. Remember, no one can read it until you hit publish, so write your heart out. Just remember to proofread and edit later, so someone visiting your blog can follow your thoughts.

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HOW I PLAN FOR LARGER POSTS

When it comes to larger posts, I like to build them out on paper first. Like I said, I usually sit at the computer and just let the words flow. But every now and then, a post requires more research and planning. Gift guides and more scientific topics come to mind, but there’s plenty of other subjects that require more thought as well.

For those posts, my notebook is my best friend. I divide the page into sections covering: headings, photos needed, ideas/sentences I want to include, important links to remember, sources, etc. This varies a tiny bit between posts (sometimes I don’t need sources, sometimes I need a bigger shot list, and so on.). But the overall goal is just to break down the post and spread my ideas out visually, so I can put them back together in a way that makes sense for you, the reader.

This is also very helpful for wordy posts – it’s a lot to go back and proofread and stream of conscious post. So if I know I have a lot to say, I like to write down, or a least mentally, categorize my ideas so I know where I’m heading when I sit down to write. Basically, I throw it back to college and construct the post how I would an essay. It’s just more of a short essay. Because I don’t think you want a six page paper on why I’m obsessed with retinol.

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HOW I STAY INSPIRED AND PLAN NEW POST IDEAS

I’m constantly looking for post ideas. Every time I walk into a store, or participate in a conversation, I let my mind really digest the subject and think about other applications. If it’s something I think I could elaborate on in a post, I’ll make a note on my phone. Sometimes the note is a very general idea, like “Ways to Cope with Anxiety,” and from there I can make that a post, or extend it into a deep dive, like “What is A Me-First Kit.”

Another one of my favorite tricks is to start with a title. You can find tons of lists on Pinterest, but I’m particularly fond of “How to Wear…” or “X Items You Need.” Check out my blogging Pinterest board for a few good lists. Typically, when I think of posts this way, I try to have an outfit or piece in mind that I want to feature. In that case, I need to reverse engineer a topic or subject that I feel is suitable for the product.

Another trick is to look at your old blog posts (if you have them) and other blogs and magazines. Not to copy others or to repeat yourself, but to follow the thought train. Perhaps you touched on something you think you could go over more in depth now? Or you see someone mention off-hand an item or thought you are an expert on. Deliberately get on the idea train and think of one word or topic based on post you saw or wrote, then think about a thought or topic related to that one, and go on and on and on until you find your post or post ideas.

Here’s an example:

“…recently I’ve been feeling more anxious about planning my wedding…” (a sentence from a fake blog post you might read) >> anxiety; wedding planning; staying organized >> “How to Cope with Anxiety;” “How I’m Planning my Wedding + Staying Sane;” “The Ultimate Tips for Keeping Big Projects Organized” >> “What is a Me-First Kit;” “How to Deal with the Social Stress of Wedding Seating Charts;” “The One Technique You Need to Stay Organized”

So with one sentence, I managed to find about six different post ideas. When I’m brainstorming posts, I’ll flow through this thought process until I come to a dead end, or feel satisfied with my list. I try to hang on to all the ideas I have in a note on my phone, though, because I can always try to take the thoughts further later.