Bloggers Writer’s Block

Today’s topic is a little bit of a cheat but not really. In celebration of the upcoming release of my newest novel, Future Goals, on February 2, 2022, I am posting daily to my blog. I had said that each post would be related to something that happened in or related to the story. Well, today’s topic is vaguely related in that I’m writing daily posts.

When creating content regularly, a blogger may stall for ideas. I know bloggers who post daily, and wow, do I admire them. I understand how much effort must go into being that prolific. I post weekly, and that can be a challenge, let alone making daily posts. And since I have challenged myself to make daily post until my release date, I am really feeling that pressure in developing content. As I made my list of topics, I began asking myself why was it such a struggle for me to think of appropriate topics. Turn out, there are several reasons that bloggers (not just myself) may struggle for content.

One common issue bloggers face is that they’ve s already written about the topic. However, there are a couple of solutions to this dilemma.

If a subject is quite large, instead of tackling it all in one post, divide it into several posts. One could even make a series out of it.Update the existing post with new information. I call this my Big Chill Updates. This is not an official name but one I invented because I’m a fan of the 1983 movie The Big Chill. Not only did this movie have an incredible plot, but it also had terrific actors (e.g., Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, and Tom Berenger to name a few). To me, this movie hits all the right beats of comedy, drama, and angst. Watching it is a very satisfying emotional experience. However, due to today’s advanced technology, the movie is extremely dated and difficult to relate to on some levels. For example, the stigmas on single motherhood and seeking professional counseling have decreased since the movie’s release. If the movie was released today in its current form and said to be set in 2022, I do not believe it would fair very well. Today’s audience would find simple solutions to many of the character’s dilemmas. This doesn’t lessen the value of the movie. People still face those same issues. What it means is that the way those issues are addressed and the potential solutions would need to reflect what is happening in the world currently. And this would be the same with a blog. The material becomes dated. A blogger may want to revisit a post to update it with more current information.Expand on previous topics. Sometimes a subject doesn’t need to be updated, but rather, needs to be expanded. I’ve written posts that have received many questions or been requested for more information. This lets me know that I should do a more in-depth post to provide clarity.Listen to feedback. Along the same lines as the previous point, bloggers should pay close attention to the feedback that they receive from readers. Often, this feedback can spark new writing ideas or convey to the blogger the types of posts the readers are interested in reading. Sometimes, this may mean expanding an existing topic while other times it may lead to developing a new but related topic. Or it even may lead to an unrelated topic being discussed.Branch out. Now, this may be tricky as most marketing experts will encourage their clients to remain on brand. After all, that is why an audience returns. I believe it is fair to say that Jim Carrey is known for his comedic chops. However, the first movie I saw Jim Carrey in when he was towards the beginning of his acting career, and it was a dramatic role. He did an amazing job which shows that he has versatility. Since then, he has taken on other dramatic roles. However, when he does take on dramatic roles it’s not uncommon to hear people comment that he’s “breaking away from his usual.” Doing something different isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, in some instances, it could be good. How many actors have been type-cast and had their careers end as soon as the role ended? A blogger, every now and then, may wish to step away from his/her “normal” to show his/her audience what else he/she is capable of.Too many self-imposed rules. I have fallen victim to this in the past. It began when I read an article that gave tips for writing a successful blog. I felt compelled to follow each suggestion to the letter, and that created an issue. For example, one suggestion indicated that posts needed to be of a certain length to be recognized by the Google algorithm. What wasn’t mentioned is that this algorithm changes, and not everyone knows exactly what the algorithm is. It is kept secret to prevent people from manipulating it. So, my trying to meet that standard may or may not have been in vain. Second, and more importantly, word counts in my opinion are garbage most times. A story or blog is finished when it’s finished. If I have a completed story at 30,000 but someone says it needs to be 50,000 in length, unless I can add 20,000 words of quality, any additional words would just be fluff and not improve my story. In fact, it could possibly weaken it. Well, no one instructed that I had to do this. I read the article and took it upon myself to self-impose the tips as rules. It’s fine for bloggers (and other writers) to have rules. But it’s equally as important to ensure that these rules are functional, durable, and improve one craft. If not, dump them. And having too many may remove the focus from the writing to being sure to follow rules.Take a break. Sometimes it is necessary to step away from writing to allow the creative juices to regenerate. When authors finish a manuscript draft, they are often encouraged to put it away for several days (weeks or months) before beginning the editing process. This is because when a writer reads what he/she has written, they know what it is supposed to say or convey. Therefore, they may read things that aren’t really there or not errors that are. The braining is automatically editing. By taking a break, the writer can better see mistakes or flaws once he/she returns to the script. Bloggers may need to take a break to discover what topics are missing from his/her blog.

So, that wraps up this post. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.