We started out this little three-day series of posts by comparing column-writing to blogging. As a columnist or a blogger you must fulfill your obligation to your audience by writing at a regular pace. Your newspaper, newsletter or magazine editor might require that you submit your column daily, weekly or monthly. I believe that you should post new blogs at least every few days, if not daily. <\/p>\n
I sometimes visit blog sites where the most recent posts are weeks or even months old. You won\u2019t get regular traffic to your blog site when you don\u2019t consistently present new material. But how does one come up with years\u2019 worth of ideas for a blog site or a column? How do you manage to satisfy your audience with fresh posts or columns? <\/p>\n
Some of you know me as the \u201cidea person.\u201d I have a lengthy section on how to come up with article ideas in my little book, A Writer\u2019s Guide to Magazine Articles<\/em>. I sometimes blog about article and blog ideas. I teach on this subject in my online article-writing course. Most columns have a theme. Probably those with the most leeway in the area of topic ideas are those who write opinion or editorial columns. You can pretty much choose your theme; write off the top of your head. You can share your thoughts on practically any subject whether it relates to a local or world issue, seasonal theme, your family\/friends\/pets\/neighbors or whatever. And if you didn\u2019t have a knack for recognizing topics, thinking deeply about them and spinning them, you wouldn\u2019t have this job for every long.<\/p>\n Those of us with columns (or blog sites) focusing on a more concrete theme\u2014pet care and safety, issues around local teens, vegetarianism, public speaking, writing fiction, publishing, photography, cats, narrow gauge trains, etc.\u2014have a greater obligation to stay on the subject. <\/p>\n Anyone with even minimal brain power and creativity can come up with good ideas for the first few columns\/posts. But what will you be writing about a year from now, in three years? When you think about that does it absolutely stop your ability to think? Do you experience columnist\u2019s block? For some reason, I have never had this problem. I have, somehow, trained myself to see potential articles, columns, blog posts in some of the strangest places. Well, I think you see the proof in my pudding with this publishing blog (this is post number 659 since November of 2005), in the fact that I\u2019ve published 29 books (number 30 is in the works) and the fact that I\u2019ve had hundreds (maybe thousands) of articles published over the years.<\/p>\n How easily do you come up with ideas to write about? Do you see column\/blog ideas practically everywhere? Can you dissect those ideas into many? Can you approach each of those dissections from several different angles? Can you develop several meaningful articles\/columns\/posts from each mini-idea? This is what it takes to be a successful columnist, blogger or article-writer.<\/p>\n Tomorrow, I\u2019ll give specific tips and techniques for coming up with ideas. Until then, you might consider signing up for one of my online courses. I\u2019m starting two classes in January:<\/p>\n Patricia Fry to Teach Two Online Courses<\/strong> On January 12, 2010, my online Book Promotion Workshop begins. This workshop runs $200 for 6 weeks. Learn more about what it involves at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_bookpromotion<\/a> <\/p>\n Let me know if you\u2019re interested in my article-writing course, PLFry620@yahoo.com
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n
\nJanuary 5, 2010, Successful Book Proposal Course. This course runs 8 weeks (or work through the course faster, if you like). Learn more about what to expect here:
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_bookproposal.htm<\/a> For $200 you get one-on-one guidance through the process of writing a complete book proposal during the 8 weeks, only.<\/p>\n
\nSPAWN members get $25 off each course.<\/p>\n