I know Project Blogger is over, although the voting is not (don't forget to vote).....and yes that is shameless self promotion (as Jay would put it). But I promised some people that I would post about this subject because it was one of the most useful coaching sessions I had with Paul. (take a look at his original article - What To Do When the Well Runs Dry)
We've all been there; we sit in front of our computer screens twiddling our thumbs and have no idea what to write about. Our minds are blank and we don't know what to do. Even Active Rain's own TLW has gone through this.
So what to do?
Paul compares this process to pump priming - as much as I like the analogy, we'll have to ask him to define
that one because I am a city girl and have never even seen one of those - ok, ok maybe once. The concept is that you need to prime the pump several times before any water comes out, or better yet, put water into the pump to prime it, so here's how:
- occasionally take time off blogging - AFK (away from keyboard)
- read other blogs
- see the world with blog colored glasses (I loved that one) - you know the time you are doing something and a little bell goes off inside your head and you think "I can blog about that!" - the most trivial subjects usually make the best posts.
- blogging is a craft - you need to practice to get better - sit down and start writing and it will come to you.
- Posting schedule - I know this may seem weird, but setting a schedule on what types of posts to write may really help you:
- Monday it may be Real Estate related, Tuesday community related, Friday about real estate news - (having a schedule stimulates thinking - you don't need to stick to it, but the guidelines may help you with research and it also helps to mix up the subjects)
- set aside a designated time to blog - just as you go to the gym or do routine tasks - you can even write posts ahead of time and time stamp them (Active Rain does not have this feature yet.....HINT HINT)
- Read news, Inman, Google (I personally get a kick out of Perez Hilton....would that be considered news?)
- Paul even mentioned that Active Rain acts like a pump because of all the comments and involvement. You have to admit that by reading other blogs and comments you may feel inspired (don't forget to give credit to the inspiration!).
- And lastly - a list of blogs about writer's block with some great ideas! (I don't even know why most of these are member's only...go figure)
- Jason Price's Writer's Block Contest #2: Favorite Hang Outs (A Localism Post)
- Sarah Cooper's Writer's Block? Noooooo!! and No Writer's Block Allowed Here!
- Barry Hurd's Writing Tips: I’ve got Writer’s Block, Now What?
- Ann Cummings' OK, I Admit It - I Need HELP!!!
- Justin Smith's Blogging Ideas — How to Start a Local Real Estate Blog #7
- Colleen Kullikowski's Active Rain Fruit Challenge
- Rich Jacobson's "Have You ever Lost Your Voice?"
***NOTE: If all else fails.....write about having WRITER'S BLOCK!! ***
okay someone is speaking too me... because in my head i know i have bloggin block... and its seems i've just read about 5 posts just about that and what to do about it.......... :::pickin' up my big girl shoes:::
Tomorrow I will succeed over the block... thanks for the continued posts and inspiration
I guess I talk too much not a lot of Bloggers Block here... I could blog about the weather LOL!
(reverting to the fruit challenge link above) Recently, I DID look up JACKFRUIT... on my blog about the crazy "What does the graphic say"
So here is the Jsckfruit.. FYI (craziness) [great post ines]
Great idea about setting a schedule to help organize your time to post. So many times I sit down, log into AR, and before I know it 3 hours have gone by when all I wanted to do was post something to my own blog. Scheduling different topics on different days of the week is great for ensuring a nice mix of content to your blog. I'll definitely take this to heart....
Great resource post for when it rears its ugly head.
Desiree - glad to be of help - feel free to add any other "writer's block" posts to the list
Katrina - you are so funny - I'll have to go check out your jackfruit
Kim - the schedule thing helped me write a variety of posts - in addition, since we were being judged weekly - we had to make sure that the judge would see a variety for that week - and after 14 weeks of doing it....it becomes a habit!
Kevin - you mean to tell me you haven't been there yet?
Cyndee - you are so sweet - you know I put my heart out there and sometimes it wasn't pretty, but the experience is priceless and I now I have a great friend in Louisiana (that's Paul).
Ines... the last one, gee, thanks. Not only do we see countless blogs each day about points, comments, how to blog... now we will see blogs about writer's block.... lol
You do make some good points, so many that I don't follow. Out of my 200 + blogs, rarely was one planned or written a day ahead and saved. I just go with the flow. I have been trying to think of more mortgage blogs, to not only help the client, but the realtor and sometimes the loan officer.
Now... I will reiterate what you said... if you get inspired, yes, give credit..... good post and good luck.
Z Z Z zz z z z Zz zZ z Ines... what's funny was that I did have writers block the first 3 to 4 months that I was on AR,.... I was stressing to write to get those gold stars and for comments.... but after putting this behind me, and just opening up my mind.... and digging more into blogs about lending... and the fun stuff, ideas came a lot easier.
But you are right, read other blogs... read comments. Ideas can come from here. And yes, reading other blogs sources like Inman is good and can help some. nite
Jeff, aren't you still stressing to write to get gold stars? LOL
Ines, DO NOT flip this switch!
This is an awesome post!
I'll add my number one secret for keeping the pump primed: get several different news sources into your feed reader and scan them daily. When you see something of interest, whether you can use it now or not, copy and paste the url of the article into it's own post, and give it a title, maybe draft a few quick thoughts. Someday, something else will happen to spark a full post, or if not, you can just delete it without a second thought.
I discovered that "secret" about 4 weeks into PB, now I put at least one minimal-URL draft post into my home blog per day. Currently I have about 20 posts in drafts. They won't all get used, but I'm never without an idea. Often multiple URLs are blended into one post.
Funny and off-the-wall ideas come from FARK.com; BBC news is awesome and easy to scan. Easy cheesey, huh?
Good Morning Ines...
Well I have to thank you for this. I enjoyed seeing all the writer's block posts put together.
And just so you know sometimes we get writer's block because something no so great is happening in our lives.
It's times like those that stepping away from the keyboard is an excellent idea :)
TLW...ROAR!
Jeff - I think it's important to point out to new comers that once you cross a certain number of points, the stress level goes away.
Chris - I don't know if I want to do it - let me correct that statement.....I am really curious but I AM AFRAID!!!
Teri - I do something similar - I paste the article and write around it and eventually they do turn into posts - I also have Google Alerts for subjects I like to write about and keep those handy.
Sarah - I think that is absolutely normal - I am sure that blogging, like everything else has its ups and downs, but I can definitely tell you that your writing does not reflect boringn or uninspired.
Missy - the passionate posts are obviously the ones that get more response and the ones you ultimately feel proud of - but I can tell you that during the competition we had to keep those posts coming with or without passion and trying to find the spark when you are under pressure is not easy.
Jeff - I'm up....I hate when work gets in the way of blogging!
TLW - I know exactly what you mean....so AFK for sanity's sake!
Dena - for you there is the Betty Ford Clinic for Blog Addiction....that's all I have to say! : )
Dena - you think 2 OCD personalities can room together?
Chris- I really would love to know....are you finding blogless members around the rain? you are sooo funny and I am soooo gullible - BAKUPARI to you!
that's part of why I started the DATE NIGHT group...
Ines- Great ideas! Of course, I tend to just write about whatever strikes my fancy at the moment, but you're absolutely right about reading other blogs. That always seems to spark new ideas for me =)
Ines. as someone who has never experienced writers block (want to buy some swamp land) I have never had to prime one of them there pumps. I am one of them there endless streams of blogs ..... LOL
So how much swamp land can I sell you.
Bob - you are too much - RELEASE THE DARN KEYBOARD I SAY!!!!
George - not to bust your chops....but remember I have the EVERGLADES right around the corner : )
Thanks for these suggestions, Ines. There are thoses moments when the well seems dry, or I am not inspired by my ideas for what to write about. The posting schedule might be a toughie, although I do sorta plan my writing on my different blogs on a schedule.
Jeff
Dave - if a new agent can make it in this market - they will have passed the most difficult test. You don't have to be careful about what you post....your articles are always right on.
David - correction: first person I kicked in the tush from Active Rain