Fresh Angles Are Key to New Blog Content

Probably the number one reason people say they don’t want to blog is because they think they have nothing to write about. And we all know the key to a successful blog is to have consistently updated content. I myself sometimes find it hard to come up with an interesting topic, and I’m only responsible for writing one blog a week! So while I was struggling to come up with a topic for this week’s post, I found myself wondering, “If I could write the most awesome blog ever what would it look like?”

My mind immediately went to a book I just finished reading, one that was truly inspiring in a very unexpected way. When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris is a “realish” (Sedaris is quoted as referring to it as “97% true”) compilation of essays Sedaris wrote about his own life. The essays are witty, clever and sometimes a little inappropriate, but what really caught my attention was how Sedaris was able to turn the mundane, everyday events of his life into this fantastic work of literature.

Somehow he creates an entire chapter on his attempt to make coffee while the water is shut off, another about having a lozenge fall from his mouth into the lap of a fellow plane passenger, and yet another about how his short legs prevent him from keeping up with his partner when touring foreign cities causing him to be perpetually lost - all the while bringing a new understanding of love, fear and relationships to the reader.

Now I by no means consider myself an exciting person, so this book really inspired me to take a different look at my everyday life. Going to the grocery store, dinner with friends, a regular day at the office – all have the potential to teach a lesson on life, work and relationships, if only I could come up with the proper segue. If I could do that, just think of all the blog posts I would have ready to go!

So this is my challenge to you and to myself – instead of taking everyday events at face value, try to figure out how many different ways you could tell the story of your day. Look for a different angle, pretend you are telling it to a different audience, and try to tell it in a humorous manner and then a serious one. Who knows, you may begin to see your average day as the inspiration for your next blog post (or best selling book, fingers crossed).

And if you are still looking for a little more inspiration, I recommend any of Sedaris’s books!

http://literati.net/Sedaris/david-sedaris-books.htm

Tags: Blog, Blog Ideas, Blogging, David Sedaris, storyteller, StoryTeller Media & Communications

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