What do you do when you can't think of a topic for your writing blog?
This is my current dilemma. And I’m sure every writer who maintains a blog eventually hits the same wall: I need to post something… but I have no idea what to write about. I feel like I’ve already written about everything.
Writing isn’t like marketing, where things are changing all the time. Writing is steady. The fundamentals are always there. Writing elements are steady. A comes before B. B comes before C...
Because of this steadiness, the blank screen feels heavier than usual, and the pressure to “be helpful,” “be original,” or “be brilliant” makes your mind go completely silent.
The good news? A lack of ideas usually doesn’t mean you have nothing to say. It means you’ve already covered most topics, or you’re looking in the wrong place.
Here are 8 tips if you find yourself stuck and feel tapped out.
1. Start With the Problems You’ve Already Solved
One of the most reliable sources of blog topics is your own experience. I usually use this source based on my own or a client’s particular problem.
If you’re a writer, you’ve struggled with plot, motivation, revision, rejection, time management, self-doubt, or craft.
Don’t think of these struggles as weaknesses—they’re not. They’re content.
Ask yourself: • What confused me when I was starting out? • What mistake did I make that I wouldn’t repeat? • What did I have the most difficulty overcoming? • What lesson did it take me too long to learn?
For example: -If you used to overwrite your openings, that’s a post. -If you struggled with writing dialogue for children, that’s a post. -If you burned out trying to publish too fast, that’s a post. -If you had trouble showing rather than telling, that’s a post. -If your endings were flat, that’s a post.
Writers want practical guidance from someone who’s been there.
2. Answer Questions You Hear Over and Over
If you belong to writing groups, teach classes, coach writers, have ghostwriting or editing clients, or even interact on social media, pay attention to recurring questions. When multiple writers ask the same thing, you’ve found a blog topic.
Questions like: • How long should a chapter be for a particular children’s category? • Do I really need an outline? • How do I know if my story idea is good enough? • Should I revise or start over? • How do I know when my manuscript is ready for submission? • Is it necessary to hire a professional editor? • Should I edit a professional edit? • Do I need an author website? • Should I submit to publishers or self-publish?
Each question can become a focused, helpful article. Better yet, readers searching online are often typing those exact questions into search engines.
3. Revisit and Expand Older Posts
If your blog has been around for a while, you already have content gold sitting in your archives. Look at older posts and ask: • Can I update this with new insights? • Can I go deeper into one section? • Can I turn a short post into a more detailed article?
For example, if you once wrote “5 Tips for Writing Strong Openings,” you could later write an entire post on just one of those tips. Repurposing doesn’t mean repeating—it means refining.
I’ll be working on this one soon. I’ve had a blog for almost 20 years, and I have lots of older posts that can use updating.
4. Write About What You’re Working on Right Now
You don’t have to be an expert who’s already crossed the finish line. Writing blogs thrive on honesty and process.
Are you revising a manuscript? Querying agents? Drafting a new story? Trying to figure out self-publishing? Wrestling with time constraints? Write about it.
Posts like: • What I’m learning during revision. • How bad or good was my first draft? • How easy or difficult was it to go from idea to manuscript? • How I’m balancing writing with real life. • Why I decided to self-publish.
These articles resonate because they’re real. Readers appreciate transparency, especially when it’s paired with reflection and takeaways.
5. Use Lists When Your Brain Feels Tired
When creativity is low, structure is your friend. List-based posts give your brain a framework to work within.
Examples include: • 7 Ways to Get Back Into Writing Mode • How to Pick Up a Draft Where You Left Off • 10 Common Mistakes New Writers Make • 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing • 10 Reasons I Decided to Traditionally Publish
You don’t need groundbreaking ideas, just clear, useful ones. Lists also make posts easier to read and easier to write.
6. Look Outside the Writing World
Sometimes, the best writing blog topics come from other areas of life. Parenting, teaching, business, health, and even hobbies often parallel writing challenges.
For instance: • What fitness taught me about writing discipline • What parenting taught me about storytelling • What running a business taught me about persistence • What my accounting background taught me about writing focus.
These cross-topic posts stand out because they connect writing to real life.
7. Keep an Idea Bank—Even When You Don’t Need It
One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is only looking for ideas when they’re desperate. Instead, keep a running list of potential topics. Jot ideas down when they come—during reading, conversations, or moments of frustration.
I’ve had a blog post idea bank for years. And usually, I’m not starting from zero. But every now and then, I think of something and feel like I’ve covered it already.
8. Think About Using a Guest Post
When I'm short on time or ideas, I use guest posts. Typically, these come from members of my writing and marketing blog, Writers on the Move, who allow their articles to be reprinted by other members. Occasionally, I also receive requests from authors or services to contribute to my site. If the article meets my site's guest protocol, I'm happy to allow it.
If you don't have a source of guest posts, another option is to ask writers in your groups or those you know if you can reprint one of their articles.
Summing It Up
Not knowing what to write about doesn’t mean you should stop blogging. It usually means you need to shift your perspective. Your experience, questions, mistakes, and daily writing life are all valuable.
Writing blogs succeed because they’re helpful, honest, and consistent.
When in doubt, write the post you would have needed a year ago. Chances are, someone else needs it today. Or pay attention to social media or your writing groups. What’s being questioned or discussed? What are other blogs writing about? Add to the conversation or put your spin on it. And don't forget about guest contributions.
Worse scenario, if you’re running out of steam and blog weekly as I do, take the pressure off and consider moving to every other week. Consistency matters, but so does quality and being able to keep it going.
Remember, every writer faces dry spells. Try these strategies and keep showing up for your audience. Fresh ideas are sure to follow.
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be the author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.
