Postaday problem?

I thought I had hit a snag with my Postaday post for today. Try as I might to think of something different to add for today’s post, I just couldn’t. I have covered imagination, reality and parallel universes in the two other posts I have added today – which are my normal posts, not my Postaday ones – and they pretty much cover, well, everything really, so in reality that leaves nothing. And I’m not prepared to write another post on nothing at this present time.

Then it struck me. A quick moment of A-ha!

Write a list of ways to overcome what I like to refer to as ‘Blogger’s Block’! A quick cure to resolve any posting problems!

Listed below are ten suggestions that I use whenever I have a problem posting. Most of the time I just type away and see what turns up, but sometimes I have to use one of these…

1. Don’t panic!

Panicking causes your mind not to function as well as it can do. Move away from the computer, and relax. Read a book, watch a little TV, listen to some music, eat something, drink something… just do not think about your post. After a break away, return to the computer and try again. Repeat if necessary.

2. Have a list of topics to hand.

Write five or six topics onto an index card, piece of paper, or anything else that you can get your hands on, and keep it somewhere close to the computer. When inspiration strikes, you may be able to write about more than one of the topics, but if your mind is not opening up to any kind of inspiration at all, write a list of random words onto another piece of paper. These words will become key words, or triggers, and you should be able to expand on them. If still nothing, move onto another topic and try again. Add another topic to the list when you have used one, so you have a full list again for next time.

(I wasn’t sure whether number two should have been number one and vice versa, which made me panic a little, so number one won. I don’t think the order matters anyway…)

3. Type random words into a search engine.

Leave things up to the universe! What random things can you come across that will inspire you to write your post?

4. Look at yourself in the mirror.

Unless you are a vampire and have no reflection, look at yourself. Think about the great things you have acheived today, last week, last year or over the last few years. Smile as the memories start to fill your mind. And get typing! (Or adding things to your paper list for the future!)

5. Look at your clothes.

Really look at your clothes. The colours, the fabrics, the designs. What do they make you think of? Do you remember when you bought them? Or do you remember what you were thinking when you bought them?

6. Take yourself to another place.

Imagine yourself in your own place of peace and tranquility, or time that you enjoyed, or dream holiday destination. Think of the good feelings you are having while you are there, the things you are experiencing, and any other thoughts you may have.

7. Create something new.

Write a story, or the first part of a story. Introduce a character, a place, a situation. Make it as vivid as possible – imagine yourself in the story and see how the events unfold around you. Are you the hero? The storyteller? Or part of the crowd?

8. Make a list.

List anything you can think of. Your top ten favourite films. Your top fifty favourite books. Your top one hundred favourite movies. Your top one thousand favourite people. This is a list of items, and is different to the list of topics that I suggested in number two.

9. Read other blogs.

There are one or two other blogs that you can read and get inspiration from. You may find that you get engrossed in the blog though, so make sure you have plenty of time.

10. Analyse something.

A news event. A certain local, national or international event that simply needs your take on it. Your own opinion. Or analyse the number of times you see your favourite colour, and produce a chart showing how many times you see something of that colour over the week. OK, that last one was silly, but there is always something to analyse.

And that’s it really. You could always look at the WordPress help section, or type blogging tips into a search engine for other ideas. I do that from time to time too, but mostly I write about myself! I think I get it right…