Use Topic, Tone & Format to Bypass Writer's Block

When my kids leave the chip bag open, its contents start to taste old and nasty, and there's no amount of shaking that will make that bag fresh again. However, when things start to feel stale in your bloggy realm, sometimes the answer is to mix things up a little and step outside of your comfort zone.

I like to think of my blog being held up by three pillars – Topic, Tone, and Format. Keeping these three pillars consistent helps my readers feel safe and keeps them coming back for more. When they click over to DropsofAwesome.com, they know what they're gonna get.

This is Blogging 101.

Know your audience.

Feed your audience.

The problem comes when you've fed your audience the same mac and cheese for the past ten years and, although it's your favorite meal, you find yourself sick of preparing it. Good news! Your audience might welcome a few drops of sriracha if added correctly.

To add a little spice to your blog, consider messing with Topic, Tone, or Format on your next post. Just don't mess with all three at once if you want to bring your fan base along for the ride. You might even energize your audience and attract new readers.

On my personal blog I steer clear of highly charged topics like violence, politics or religion. My readers don't come to my site to read about mass shootings or my feelings about Jesus.

However, some of my most popular posts have delved into these and other areas outside my comfort zone. I've been able to do this by keeping my format and tone consistent and showing sincere enthusiasm for the new topics I was test-driving.

Would you like to try blogging about a topic outside your wheel house? Generate a list of things you're even a little bit passionate about, whether or not you think they have any relevance to your blog audience. Then go through the list and write down how you could make that topic resonate with your readers.

You're a business blogger but you also adore fashion? Your readers might love reading your tips for dressing well in the workplace.

What feeling do you generally set with your writing? Are you typically serious? Passionate? Whimsical? All business?

Consistency is good, but when you hit a bout of writer's block, consider crafting a post in a different tone than you normally would. If you're generally whimsical and funny, let go of the pressure to always be hilarious and write a more serious and heartfelt post. You will surprise your readers with your deep side.

If you need inspiration to change up your tone, create a playlist that captures the mood you're going for and listen to your new tunes before or even as you write. You'll be surprised how much your personal soundtrack affects the tone of your writing.

Your readers may not hear what you're hearing, but they will see it in your writing, just like the person in the next car over can feel my jam when I'm like dancing to '80s Michael Jackson at a stoplight.

Write a screenplay. Tell a fiction story related to your subject matter. If you normally write lengthy paragraphs, type out your thoughts in bullet points or write your next recipe post in iambic pentameter.

Playing around with format can be one of most fun ways to get your creativity flowing again. It challenges your brain to focus on writing in a totally new way and helps you stop obsessing over content.

Generally, I've found that writer's block has less to do with a lack of ideas and more to do with boredom or lack of confidence. Boldly going where you've never gone before could be just the thing you need to make your blogging fresh again and help you get out of your head and into the process.

Kathryn is the author of 523 Ways to Be Awesome and the creator of DropsofAwesome.com.

Source: Use Topic, Tone & Format to Bypass Writer's Block