As I’ve mentioned before, when I tell people I blog, they tell me they’d like to blog. That’s the same reaction as when I used to tell people I write books. They would say they’d like to write a book, too. That TELLS ME that people WANT TO BE HEARD. I know I do…
The other comment following, “I’d like to blog” is “But I don’t know what to blog about.” I think to myself, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! But instead I say, “Everything.”
Blog folders from my writing room at home. So many topics...so little time...
Here’s my method: I collect blog topics by the gazillions. I keep folders on individual topics, like “Smound: The Brain Combining Smell and Sound.” Or folders with a bunch of articles from newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.
I’ve also mentioned that at the beginning of each month I write out a monthly schedule of topics based on the categories I have on my site. I try to write at least one blog to fall into each category per month.
Blog folders from my office at work.
This month I will also be adding two more categories: Politics and Business, for a total of 12. The easiest ones to write are for the categories Live and Relate—as these are based on my life and are written off the top of my head. I like to write the Learn category because I get to do research and it’s like a homework assignment. (I used to like homework!)
I dislike writing the Read, Watch, and Listen categories because it requires critical thinking skills and lots of time. However, the Watch category is BY FAR the most popular category on my site, so you can bet I’ll keep writing those reviews.
My blogs tend to be too wordy. From what I’ve heard, the “ideal blog length” is 300-500 words. So when I get to 600 words, I try to wrap it up in a hurry—OR I continue with another blog as Part 2 of that topic.
Which is what happened to me on Saturday with my review of Eat Pray Love the movie. I was all set to discuss the EPL Effect (the chord it struck with women) in that blog. But I had already approached the 800-word mark.
In addition to the monthly schedule, I map out a weekly schedule. I usually write six blogs per week. It is much easier to keep that production level going when I have planned in advance what I’m going to write about.
I don’t like to get up in the morning and wonder what my blog will be about. I’m too busy trying to get my brain in gear that I don’t want to add any more activities that require functioning neurons.
The monthly schedule and the weekly schedule are only outlines. They change more frequently than I change underwear. (I’ll let you figure out the math.)
Lastly, before I fall asleep at night, I run past a mini-list of blog topics in my mind. I mull those over a “Top Three Choices” for about a minute. Then I go to sleep and let my subconscious gnaw on the topics overnight.
BTW, your subconscious never sleeps. It is always working. May as well take advantage of it. (I believe your subconscious mind is out to help you MORE than your regular mind.)
How do you get your subconscious to work for you? Just tell it! “Hey, Connie, ponder this subject (dilemma, problem, topic list, situation, etc.) and get back to me in the morning.” [Note #1: You can name your subconscious if you like, to be on more personal terms!]
(Note #2: I am at the 600-word mark here. See what I mean?)
Last night in bed I had my top three blog topics on my mind. They were:
A. Finish Eat Pray Love. Discuss the “chord of connection” for women—and how it applies–even to Michelle Obama.
B. Write about the cover article of Newsweek about Mark Twain. Besides being a HUGE Twainophile, Newsweek has recently been purchased by Sidney Harman of Harman Kardon International. I used to work for one of his divisions and I met SH a couple times. And boy do I have stories!
C. Compose a letter to the CEO and President of Sentry/21st Century Insurance Companies inquiring about their “culture of cheating, obfuscating, and hoodwinking claimants” (as identified by me). Again, more good stories.
Fast forward to morning. I checked my email and read the Writer’s Almanac for today. There was a blurb about Charles Bukowski. He said:
“This is very important—to take leisure time. Pace is the essence. Without stopping entirely and doing nothing at all for great periods, you’re gonna lose everything…whether you’re an actor or a housewife…”
This sentiment is similar to what I’ve identified about the popularity of Eat Pray Love. So, I took it as a sign and decided to go with #A for today.
Except, I got carried away explaining my blog method. And at 800+ words now—gotta run!
See ya next time…
I hope I can figure out how to follow your blogs and continue reading them as I am not totally computer literate or blogger inclined, so to speak. But I find your observations/thoughts quite interesting and am amazed at all your different topic files.