14 Great Ways To Find Blog Topics

You’ll never have to say you’re out of ideas.

I write a lot. I’m willing to bet you do as well.

And I am also willing to bet that many of you find yourselves at a loss for what to write about. Hey, I get it. It can be tough to come up with something new or fresh every time you sit down to compose a blog, article, or another piece of writing.

It doesn’t matter if you post daily, weekly, or even monthly. The challenge is still there.

I’ve put together a list of some of the top sources I use for coming up with topics when I feel my well is running dry. I also talk a bit about how to use these strategies.

Give them a try — all or some — and see if they can’t also help you find topics to write about. And, better yet, have fun with.

The List

1. News and web aggregators. Apps like Feedly, Pocket, and Flipboardprovide daily stories and links to articles that might be of interest. Browse their listings to see if any of those offer inspiration.
2. TV news. There is a lot of potential source material here. The only downside is that the stories are often time-sensitive and maybe a bit depressing. Still, some stories can provide good inspiration for a broader approach to a topic.
3. The radio. Particularly public radio. I listen to a lot of NPR while driving. The shows they broadcast on weekends and late afternoons often feature various topics that can serve as the foundation of an engaging blog post.
4. Podcasts. I also listen to podcasts while driving. The ones talking about creativity, business, and freelance life make great jumping-off points for written pieces of your own. Keep a small notebook in the car, so you can write things down as soon as you’ve reached your destination.
5. Other blogs. This isn’t about copying other people’s work. More on that later. This is about looking at the massive number of blogs out there and finding a subject that interests you. From there, you can write your own take and make the topic your own.
6. Local coffee shop or bar. Whether it’s a conversation with friends or conversations overheard — being in a public space where people talk can sometimes yield interesting results.
7. Your social media. (Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Scroll through your feeds for a bit, and you’ll discover dozens of potential topics in no time.
8. Other people’s social media. Pick someone you’re connected to and go to their profile. Start reading through their posts, retweets, and comment threads. This can be a bit more efficient than just scanning feeds at random if you pick someone who has interests similar to yours.
9. Social media tags. One more social media method you can try is harvesting topics by hashtag. Enter a tag on a broad topic (such as comics) and see what comes up. You can often find inspiration from these searches you can convert into a more narrow-focused piece of your own.
10. Bookstores. Visit your local bookshop. You don’t have to buy anything (although you should). Browse the shelves and check out the book titles — especially in the non-fiction areas. Consider — books are on the shelves because they have sales potential. These are the topics people are interested in. Find a book or two, read the back cover copy, and use that as a starting point for some of your writing.
11. History museums. Museums can be deeply inspiring places. Whether it’s a museum devoted to industrial history, local history, baseball, or race relations, you can find something to write about here. You can even check out art museums. You’d be surprised what ideas you’ll walk away with.
12. Supermarket checkout aisle. Don’t go away. Hear me out. In American supermarkets, there are racks of tabloid-style magazines such as The National Enquirer and People. While the headlines and articles may be a bit lurid, they can sometimes inspire fun, less-serious pieces of your own. Does anyone know what Sasquatch and Elvis have been up to lately? The tabloids know.
13. Your job. I’m a freelance writer, so I write a lot about that. If you’re in food service, medicine, law, or public works, you can write about those topics. This is classic “write what you know” advice.
14. The calendar. It’s autumn, so I’m gearing up to write a couple of pieces about preparing for one’s home and car for winter. And the holidays are fast approaching, so there may be a Christmas-themed piece or two in the making. Seasonal topics can be popular.

Tips For Farming Topics

1. Don’t copy other people’s work. Feel free to take inspiration from another person’s blog, article, or piece of art, but try to find an original spin. Don’t just copy them point by point. Be as authentic as you can.
2. Take notes. When you come across an idea you want to expand upon, write it down before you forget. I keep a small notebook with me wherever I go. I also use note-taking apps on my phone. If you’re looking for topics online, be prepared to write down your idea or copy a link into a text document. (I don’t recommend relying on bookmarks. You’ll find your bookmarks will become too unmanageable after a while.)
3. Be okay with some ideas not panning out. Some ideas will be better than others. You will hit dead ends from time to time. Don’t worry about it. Other ideas will come that will work.

Have Fun

I love writing. And I love writing about a lot of different things. I’m rarely bored, and I’m seldom at a loss for what to write about using these ideas.

Look at it as a game. You’ll get better with practice, and you’ll never be able to say you don’t know what to write about.

Cheers!

About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2