Not to toot my own horn, but one of the more common comments that I get from people when I tell them that I write several different articles each and every day is that they are surprised how I can be so prolific. Some of them are amazed that I am able to sit in front of a keyboard all day and let the words pour out from my fingers.
The actual writing process has become second nature to me, since practice is one of the best ways to improve your writing, but finding good subject matter can sometimes be more of a challenge. This isn’t as much of the case when the topics are clearer, as is the case when I receive a specific product in hand to review or I’m assigned a freelance writing project, but what about finding post ideas for a personal blog like Beyond the Rhetoric?
What I learned very early on in my blogging career is that you need to keep an idea pad. This is a simple notepad that you can keep at your desk, but I find it very valuable to keep a notepad at my bedside as well. It doesn’t matter if you go with a paper-based notepad or you use a “notepad” app on your phone; the key is that this list of blog post ideas must be maintained and it cannot live solely on your computer.
The main reason for the latter is that the computer can take time to get started and you may not feel as inclined to make a note of a great post idea if you have to wait for that to happen. The trouble is that if you don’t write down your post idea, there’s a good chance that you’re going to forget about it. Keep a notepad close at hand at all times.
For me, the most powerful blogging tool is not my main computer nor is it one of the numerous free online tools at your disposal. Instead, it’s something as simple as a pen and a pad of paper.
Iuse my iPhone or BB to write notes in. I have either one at all times, except the shower. They sit by my bed and it is just as easy to type into that in the dark than turn on the light.
Yup, having a digital notepad, as it were, is a great way to manage your post ideas too.
As you probably know, I haven’t blogged since the week before my daughters birthday. With testing and other things I unfortunately or fortunately have placed my family and other things at the head of the list.
While I would love to make writing my blog a full time career, that is not going to happen in my current situation. I do have a lot of notes built up, but not the time to write them out into the blog. The one other idea I really like with the digital notepad is that I have the WordPress app on my iPhone so that I can do a quick blog post on a whim.
While it is nice, I again don’t get the time to spare for a quick post. You know that sounds lazy, but I just don’t place a priority on it. Maybe in the next month I will find the energy and will power to post. I have a great rant about Farrah Fawcett not being honored last night, while Michael Jackson was.
Or Bea Arthur, for that matter.
I agree with you, I presume! May this possibly be feasible that will get your blog translated into German? English is actually my second language.
You forgot to mention how cheap a pen is compared to an electronic device and best of all, a pen is not dependent on battery power!