This second week of The Blog Improvement Project has Kim asking us to do a little brainstorming:People start blogs with lots of content ideas, but as the weeks go by sometimes we start to lose steam (at least, I know I do). That’s why this week’s BIP project is about brainstorming.
Kim then adds some good links where we can find ideas for brainstorming, topics to blog about etc. I have read through most of the articles by now and feel rather inspired. Read some of it here.
One of the things which are mentioned as a way of brainstorming is mind-mapping. I have done a lot of mind-mapping at university and feel quite comfortable with it. However, it so reminds me of a "chore" one needed to do when writing an essay, that I am not sure I will use it as a way of blog-brainstorming. Other things are freewriting and listing. Listing is a bit like mind-mapping, I think, but to me it doesn't feel quite as "academic". I already did some listing (without knowing it though) when I made clear to myself, that this blog was going to be about books and bookrelated topics. Yes I have stepped out of that box from time to time, but it is still my goal to keep posts book-related - in one way or the other. And for that, listing is a great idea.
I discovered that there are many more things I can blog about and still keep it book-related. So I am doing some listing right now ;o)
Freewriting is probably one of the best tools if you are lost for words or topics. I use freewriting a lot in my professional work, but have never used it as a blogger. Freewritten pages or papers are not supposed to be seen by any other person than yourself, but in 9 out of 10 times it really makes the creative blood run and more often than not, you can actually use some of the stuff you freewrote. I am not sure I will use free writing as a tool for blogging, but for brainstorming it is an excellent idea.
I will be back later with some of my brainstorming ideas.
12 comments:
I don't like mindmapping either - I've been forced to do it so many times that it's a chore, like you said.
I can't wait to see what you come up with. I'm usually not very good at mind-mapping and other "fancy" brainstorming techniques. I'm good at making lists!
I write tons and tons of lists. I have post-it notes and pads of paper all over my desk with my various lists on the. I have quite a few lists of stuff for the BIP too, so many lists I'm afraid I might lose one :)
I hope you come up with some more book-related posts for your blog :)
Kim
I am officially tagging you - sorry!
http://strumpetslife.blogspot.com/2009/01/these-books-were-made-for-walking-new.html
Alessandra, Beth & Kim: I am still working on my ideas and will make a post about them very soon. I am still thinking about pros and cons but perhaps it is better to just post them and see what you all thing about it.
Strumpet: Don't be sorry, I am excited to see what it is all about! Thanks a lot :o)
Wowsers! Dual language! I saw your parallel blog in Danish (?) at least I was assuming that was the language since your profile says you're living in Denmark.
Kuddos to you! What was your first language?
Look forward to more to come!
Thanks :-) My first language is Danish, so yes, it was Danish you saw on the other blog. I blog ALMOST all posts both places, although there are some I only blog here and some I only blog there.
I'm a big list-maker! Lists help me stay focused on my tasks.
My blog is "all books," too, but like you, I've found I can stretch that if there's something else I want to write about. Somehow I can make it fit :)
I haven't yet written my BIP post for this week's task ... must still be brainstorming about it!
Dawn, I also need to get my post about my brain-storm written. But somehow I think I am still brain-storming a little.
Hi Louise.
If you want to see a really interesting crime fiction room (lots of discussion & links to cool crime fiction blogs), you should visit my favourite: http://friendfeed.com/rooms/crime-and-mystery-fiction.
You are hereby invited to join us.
Can't wait to see what you come up with! This will be fun. :)
Mind-mapping...don't think we do much of that out here, way across the ocean...
It sounds completely fascinating to me.
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