These methods can make your job easier not only when producing content but also when finding ideas in general.
I think the difference between producing content and producing content regularly is much bigger than it seems.
Whether you’re at the beginning, in the middle, or further along in your writing process, it’s quite possible to experience writer’s block, or as it’s popularly called writer’s block.
I’ve talked before about how to turn an idea into a piece of content, but this time I’d like to go back a bit earlier in the process and talk about what to do when finding a topic to write about, using my own method.
I think these methods can make your job easier not only when producing content but also when finding ideas in general.
1- The myth of inspiration: Inspiration is a path you need to walk, not a fairy that will come to you.
When it comes to producing content on a regular basis, the expected inspiration doesn’t come as randomly as you might think.
We’ve heard and seen many musicians dream up their signature song and write it down, and we’ve heard and seen novelists tie up that great ending in the shower.
In fact, it’s not a case of random inspiration from the people who create the content. It shows that they regularly wrack their minds on the subject, and then active thinking takes a back seat to the passive synthesis of ideas.
What we need to focus on is not this passive synthesis period, but being active enough to synthesize ideas even in the shower.
In other words, instead of waiting for the topic to come up on its own, we need to accept that we need to stay active.
2- The biggest challenge of startups: Familiarizing your mind with the process.
Startups are undoubtedly one of the most difficult parts of any business. The dozens of things you have to adapt to can be overwhelming.
Yet this rule applies without exception: The more you write, the more you open up.
We could list dozens of articles on how to write better here, and we can find thousands more on the internet. But the personal part of this process is critical.
The more you write, the more you find topics to write about.
We hear it a lot in a conversation: “The topic leads to the topic”. I can guarantee that this can happen in writing too.
On a personal note: The times when I had the most difficulty finding topics to write about were when I returned from vacations or breaks
Therefore, regardless of the level at which you see yourself, writing is an occupation that requires practice. Sometimes you need to think of it as physical exercise and warm up your hands.
3- Let’s name the motivation to write differently: Writing is not just about serving the community.
I think some of the statements made by content creators can be misleading for beginners.
Statements like “My sole purpose is to benefit you”, and “My sole purpose is to add value to your life” are certainly valuable and I don’t accuse anyone of lying about them. But I think they inevitably overshadow the personal side of the production process.
Sometimes a piece of content that you produce to add value or benefit yourself can add value to many people.
Many people are looking for content that will add value to people, get interaction, and gain likes. A different mindset can also be considered here.
What if part of the writing process is to add value to yourself?
Sometimes when you are looking for answers to people’s needs and problems, you may forget to look at yourself.
The content you present to people based on your own problems and needs can often touch on points that people internalize.
Even though we live different lives at the end of the day; it is surprising to see how similar our feelings are on many issues.
For this reason, you can remember to look inward as much as you look outward.
Sometimes the voice inside you that you are afraid to speak out may be on the same frequency as many people.
4- Let’s turn writer’s block into a signal: Could you need something different?
If you feel that you are writing in the same cycle, that the same things keep coming to your mind, this could be a signal that you need something different.
So how can we address this need for variety?
I am not an expert in machine learning, but basically, the most common logic in digital content consumption can be summarized as algorithms presenting content that they think you might be interested in. The content you used to consume plays a big role here.
Especially on platforms like YouTube, it’s hard to find really satisfying content, but once you find one, you can move on to others more easily.
For one sitting, you can try this:
In the incognito mode in your browser or app, start watching a video on a topic you don’t browse much but want to explore. When you open it this way, you’ll be presented with content about the topic you’ve just explored, instead of the suggested content you’ve seen in the past.
This is much more common than you might think. Especially on platforms like Reddit or Quora, you see a lot of people with multiple accounts.
The reason for this is to make sure that different content, whether it’s information-oriented or entertainment-oriented (which can be broken down into economics or psychology as a different binary), doesn’t get mixed up.
Once you are familiar with different fields, you can combine the new details you see with your old knowledge and come up with content from different perspectives.
5- The problem of complacency: Prioritizing the process.
In fact, it is not easy to prioritize writing. No one wants to prioritize a process whose output is not directly visible and can sometimes be painful.
But in order to write regularly and find topics, you need to make it a priority. It is almost impossible to move forward without dedicating a certain part of your day to writing or researching your topic.
If you can say “I’m going to write today” or “I’m going to research my topic today” when you plan your day, you will avoid a potential blockage.
6- No idea is untouchable: Don’t be afraid to say “I can write about that” or “I can rewrite that”.
Probably every topic you have written, will write, or are writing about has been written about before and will continue to be written about.
Therefore, there is no harm in putting your own interpretation on the subject of a piece of content you come across. There is no obligation to create a self-censorship mechanism in this regard.
It is much more practical to address a written topic in an unwritten way than to search for an unwritten topic.
In addition, your thoughts on a topic can be changed, developed, and reinterpreted in light of these details.
It is quite possible to revisit a piece of content you have written, present it with new sources or evaluate it from new perspectives.
In this way, you can reflect different perspectives on the same topic or a gradual development process.
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