Blogger’s block: 30 inspiring blog post ideas for writers

Even creative people get stuck when they’re trying to come up with ideas for a blog post. I thought I would put together a list of possible topics to inspire you. These are based on some of our blog posts at Writers Write and others I’ve enjoyed reading on the internet.

Whether you blog daily, three times a week, or once a week, I hope that one of these are just what you need to break your blogger’s block.

1. Who has influenced you as a writer? You can turn this into a collection of quotes from this author, you could write to them (if they are still alive) and ask for an interview, or you could write a post on the 10 things you’ve learnt from them.
2. Publishing snippets. Write about something that is happening in the publishing industry that interests you. What do you think of traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Do you have any brilliant ideas for promoting books?
3. Places you’ve been. Have you been somewhere interesting recently? If you have, what did you learn while you were there? Can you think of a way to turn this into a writing lesson? Or you could write a piece on the experience itself. Make sure that you include photographs.
4. How do you create characters? Perhaps you could blog about where your ideas come from. Are they based on people you know? Do you use character questionnaires?
5. When you were little. Write a post on your five favourite books when you were a child or a teenager.
6. Competitions. If you have a large enough following, you could create a monthly poetry competition. You could give away a gift card for books or one of your own books.
7. The books you love the most. Write a post on your favourite books on writing. Briefly tell us why you love them so much.
8. Ideas. Where did you get the idea for the book you’re currently writing? Tell your followers how the idea turned into a plot filled with characters.
9. Your life as a writer. Write about your children and your pets. Write about what it’s like to be a writer with two small children or three teenagers or five grandchildren.
10. The best advice. What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received? Tell us why you think it’s so valuable.
11. Guest bloggers. Ask other writers to guest blog for you. If you admire someone’s blog, ask them if you can write for them. Once you build a relationship, they may offer to write for you – or you could ask.
12. On the big screen. Have you seen any good, or bad, films recently? This could be great for a post on why you think the story worked and why it didn’t. What did you learn? You could add something about scriptwriting if you’re interested in those techniques.
13. Every three months. Post quarterly blogs of your favourite books for Summer, Spring, Winter and Autumn. Include book reviews of your favourites.
14. Review of the week. You can write a book review on a certain day of every week. You could include a fact about the author and a quote from the book.
15. Infographics. Look for interesting Infographics on writing. You can usually post these on your blog as long as you link it back to the source. Add your own brief introduction about why it is interesting to you.
16. Prompts. Create a list of 30 writing prompts. Challenge your followers to do one every day for a month.
17. Your routine. Write about your writing routine. Tell your followers where you write and what time you like to write. Include daily word counts – if you stick to them. Do you drink tea or coffee when you write? Does your cat distract you? What do you wear when you write? Do you procrastinate?
18. Plotter or Pantster? Write about your writing methods. Do you outline? Do you use any special tools? Tell your followers why this works for you.
19. In my life. Has something unusual or noteworthy happened in your life recently? Maybe you were stranded somewhere? Did you bump into an old friend you haven’t seen in years? Are you renovating your house? Do you finally have your own writing space? Write about the experience.
20. That one book. Write about the book that inspired you to want to be a writer.
21. Research. How do you do your research for a book? If you have any tips for other writers, share them here.
22. What you know. Do you have any advice for other writers? You can break this into blogs about plotting, characterisation, dialogue, revising, etc. It is best to write about what you have learnt from writing.
23. Bookish stuff. Write a post on your favourite literary gifts – perhaps create a wish-list of the five literary accessories you would like to own. This could include things like Jane Austen Teas, a book tote, and tights inspired by literature.
24. Holidays. Use holidays and special days as inspiration for a post. You could write about mothers in literature on Mother’s Day and literary fathers on Father’s Day. Write a post on your five favourite Christmas-themed books.
25. Heroes and Villains. Write a blog on your five favourite heroes or heroines and why you like them. Do the same for your favourite villains and anti-heroes.
26. On the small screen. Write about a new television show that everyone is talking about. Perhaps you want to comment on why it works so well or on how writers could use the characters as inspiration for their own writing. Maybe you could use a favourite television show as the basis for a blog about social media.
27. Coffee corner. If you like going to coffee shops, post photographs on your blog about books that you read when you’re there. Do you write in coffee shops? Tell your followers about it. Or write about literary coffee-lovers.
28. What you’ve learnt. Write about writing conferences or classes you have attended. Do you belong to a writing group or a critique group? What are the pros and cons? Include photographs of these events if possible.
29. How do you live a creative life? Write about things you do to stay inspired. Do you enjoy nature, art, exercise, photography? Write about how they help you become a better writer.
30. Bucket list. Create a writing bucket list. What do you still want to achieve as an author? You could also add thought and ideas on how you plan to achieve these.

Amanda Patterson is the founder of Writers Write. Join Writers Write for The Social Brand, a social media workshop or the Writers Write course in Johannesburg.