On Blogging Ideas: An Abundance Of Creative Choices…
“Mankind is not a circle with a single center but an ellipse with two focal points of which facts are one and ideas the other.” Victor Hugo
On Blogging Ideas: An Abundance Of Creative Choices… Blogging freedom
A few months ago, Erica, one of our Daily Post coordinators had asked a question in a post; Inspiration that Clicks, Aside from the Daily Post, where do you go to find tips and fodder? I thought about it at the time, and the usual gamut of ideas flashed in my head. As bloggers, we tap into myriad sources for our blog posts; from life experiences to creative outlets and even news reports. But now and again, even the most creative amongst us hits that wall and writer’s block sets in. It is to those moments that prompts can come in handy. As I thought about this, it occurred to me to put together some of the wonderful resources for blogging ideas that have floated by me this year. In addition to the usual ones we are familiar with, like our Weekly Photo Challenge, Plinky, and Soup Pancake, I’ve chosen a few new ones, and I’ve also included some of the blogging prompts created by my fellow bloggers. The list isn’t exhaustive so do suggest any I missed and I’ll add them. Here we go:
Weekly Photo Challenge: – A weekly Photo Challenge with a specific theme assigned usually on Friday. Last week – Friendship
Plinky – Every day a new prompt is given (like a question, or a challenge), and everyone gets a chance to answer. Example What energizes you?
Soul Pancake – Calls itself The place for you to Chew on Life’s Big Questions.
Picture The World Project: Do you have a captivating image that reflects a nation? They would love to showcase one of our photographs on a country of our choice in their gallery. (Madhu shared this one).
Bucket List Publications – Lesley Carter is accepting submissions for articles and bucket lists. She picks winners to experience one of the dreams on their bucket list; they make it happen.
Friday Fictioneers – Madison Woods offers a blog writing challenge – 100 words of flash fiction (short story). The latest is here.
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Julia at Julia’s Place offers a weekly prompt for a short writing exercise – latest is Week 45.
“Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him.” William Ellery Channing
On Blogging Ideas: An Abundance Of Creative Choices… Anonymous blogger, not.
When we are feeling creatively bored, venturing beyond our comfort zone or even our blog niche is not a bad idea. We can be anonymous or public but one thing we all share is our need for creative blog ideas. Recently, my surfing led me to This I Believe: an independent, not-for-profit organization that engages youth and adults from all walks of life in writing, sharing, and discussing brief essays about the core values that guide their daily lives and LOOKBOOK.nu: the largest online community dedicated to showcasing member-uploaded “street style” photography – non-members can draw daily fashion inspiration. What I love about This I Believe is that in addition to submitting our short essay for publication, (see guidelines) we can get blogging prompts/ideas too. Here are some more:
MamaKat’s Writers Workshop: – a weekly opportunity for us to participate in a writing activity and make new friends.
On Problogger.net, Darren Rawse runs a great blog tools/tips site. In a recent post, he offers: The Only Blog Post Idea List You’ll Ever Need – 20 Tips on what to blog about.
A-Z Alphabet Photo Challenge – Frizztext of Flickrcomments offers a Tuesday photo theme where you introduce one photo from your own archive with a letter keyword. The letter X is the most recent.
SUNDAY POST: The Making – Jake at Jakesprinter offers a weekly photo theme for creative inspiration. Latest is Water -H2O
Share Your World – Cee of ceeslifephotographyblog has a weekly challenge where she posts 4 questions and you answer them. The latest is Week 27.
Weekly Image Of Life – Blogger buddy, Island Traveler, started a Wednesday photo of the week prompt and each week he’ll provide a theme on what image to take or share from your previous photo archives. Latest is Happiness.
Where’s My Backpack -Friday Travel Theme – Ailsa of Where’s my backpack? started a Friday Travel Theme photo challenge and her latest is Oceans.
Alphabet Photo Challenge – Anita of anitamacphotos is starting a travel by the alphabet photo challenge . Join in the fun with them!
“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller
On Blogging Ideas: An Abundance Of Creative Choices… Stay curious.
Sometimes, I come to my blog with absolutely nothing to say. Then, I putter around; I look at prompts, old posts, other blogs, and something eventually catches my interest; a poem, a quote, a story, a news report, anything really, and I’m off and running. Some days it flows and on other days it’s slow. Staying curious is important. Some fellow blog friends offer weekly prompts or opportunities to build community through writing and I shared several above. If there are others you’d like to add, feel free to include them on this week’s Thoughtful Thursday/Friday Blog Hop. I’m reviving an old prompt idea I offered last year, and it’s an easy way to connect with other bloggers and read/like their submitted post… or learn about a prompt. This is also terrific for those of us who want to get more Facebook page LIKES. In addition to a submitted blog post, you can also add your Facebook page for more LIKES, your Twitter page for more Follows, and your Networked Blog for more Friends. The key is to reciprocate. Do same for others.
Thoughtful Thursday/Friday Blog Hop
Did you join our new Blog Hop? Read the SIMPLE rules below; ✿♡✿Add any blog post you’d love more Likes or comments on or any post you wish to share on a prompt you run or write!✿♡✿
STEPS/RULES: The rules are easy peasy.
♥Add your post to Linky #1,
♥Add any other social media page/blog (if you have one),
♥Leave me a comment or question especially if we haven’t already met,
♥Click on the links above your post and visit as many fellow blogger posts as you wish,
♥Check in periodically to connect with new folk or change your submission
♥Like and/or comment on their post, fan their Facebook page or any others listed
♥Feel free to let them know you’re from our Thoughtful Thursday/Friday Blog Hop ~ they will return the love
♥and spread the word.
✿♡✿Thank you All!✿♡✿
Optional: Get the InLinkz code You can create a blog post and add this link to your blog if you’d like to invite others to join in. Again, this is a very simple community building blog hop to do and don’t hesitate to ask questions for clarification. Here are some other blog hops for your perusal. Blog Hop 1, Blog Hop 2, Blog Hop 3, Blog Hop 4, Blog Hop 5, Blog Hop 6, and Blog Hop 7. More below!
“When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.” Woodrow T. Wilson
On Blogging Ideas: An Abundance Of Creative Choices… Furry Fridays
In summary, if you’re looking for ideas to get your creativity or creative choices flowing, some suggestions include; following a prompt, checking out other blogs on a hop, writing guest posts, doing a search on your blog to see what Google sends your way and checking the analytic for insights. I’ve offered several other options for exploration on this post… If all else fails, take a day or two off to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Have a wonderful month of June!
Stay Inspired! What are your thoughts? What blogging ideas can you share? Do you follow any listed and have they helped? Do share! Thank you. 🙂
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Broaden your blogging perspective and let your muse come out and play.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos blog freedom, anonymous, via Wikipedia and/or curiosity, Furry Friday by cobalt123, via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Related articles
- Summer Bucket List (29tolife.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- A little more about me – my bucket list, part II (seamlessstyle.wordpress.com)
- The decision to Blog (outsidetheeveryday.wordpress.com)
- Today’s Plinky Prompt: Your 5 Item Bucket List (annekenstein.typepad.com)
- Plinky: An answer to “blogger’s block” (buzz.blogger.com)
- Writing Advice Series… (catsandchocolate.wordpress.com)
- 6 things to avoid if you want to be creative (bripblap.com)
Useful post Eliza…it must have taken you ages to put together – well done!
Somewhat, it was a helpful way to take another look at what others are doing out there and share their efforts… especially as I’m still catching up. 😉
you are a well of ideas for me, Eliz!
Thank you and best wishes!
I love it! Thanks for sharing so many great ideas. That is how my photo challenges got started – first to push me to develop photo skills, then as an avenue to be creative with my favourite theme (travel!) Anyone who wants to participate is welcome to add a link in the comments section – I love seeing photos from around the world! http://anitamacphotos.wordpress.com – the amazing thing in the blogosphere – the ability to share so much information and learn from others! So inspiring!
Good for you Anita and I hope you get many to participate. I’m catching up still on posts and felt at least I can share the great stuff others are doing. 😉
They are great info for blogging. Interesting. 🙂
Thank you Coco. There is a lot of great stuff out there… Sadly, not enough time to do them all. But we can mention them anyway. 🙂
This is a great post, and now that I have my 10 weeks of grueling coursework behind me, I’ll be checking out some of these sites for ideas. It feels soooo good to be back to the blogging universe! 🙂
Thank you Cecelia! Glad to see you again after so long… I bet, like me, you are catching up too. 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth, for all these ideas 🙂
TY Bluebee for your feedback! I hope you did the CLOSE challenge too. 🙂
So many great ideas…I had no idea there were so many sites out there to support coming up with and enriching ideas…wow!…thanks for so many helpful resources!
You are welcome PP! Thank you for your feedback. 🙂
What a great post! I will refer to it again.
Anytime … no stress! 🙂
A very brilliant idea, you give bloggers to think more critically. How social networks like wordpress- WPC, is not just the exchange of experiences through photographs, but also articles 😛
TY Della! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Great post, Eliza, thanks for sharing all the blogging inspiration out there. I’m having so much fun with the weekly travel theme on http://wheresmybackpack.com – such a wonderful blogging community we have here on WordPress. 🙂
Thank for your feedback… Sometimes I fantasize about having an assistant to help with my hectic schedule, so I can join in on all the wonderful fun things going on. Maybe some day, I’ll jump in and do one or two of your prompts. Keep it up. Kudos! 🙂
Thanks Eliza, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the abundance of opportunities on offer, but it’s such a wonderful way to meet like-minded bloggers when you have time. 🙂
Thanks Ailsa! Yes, it is one of many ways to meet others and that is why I shared the variety above. I’m enjoying the connections we get to make on WordPress. 🙂
Wow…what a useful post. Not only all of the links, but I do love your quotes. I’m a quotes person.
TY and so am I… Glad to connect TBM. I love your 50 year project idea. Welcome to Quotes Village! 😆
A great idea, Elizabeth. I may be checking in every now and then to see if I can post something. Now, I have to catch up on my mails and add some life to my blog.
Glad to see you here C! I know you are on a new plan now so you can continue to take care of the other demands in your life. Those of us with young families, household needs, and other daily demands on our time have to prioritize for sure…. I’m there with you so thanks for checking in. 🙂
Such a useful post for bloggers! I’m always amazed by how prolific you are. 🙂
Actually, I’m still catching up on readings so bear with me. TY!