5 Ways to Generate Unique Writing Content Ideas

When you encounter the dreaded writer’s block

In saturated platforms, writing unique content can be like conceptualizing the next big startup idea.

Writing and building a business often start with the humble beginnings of working on a laptop in a coffee shop. Hours and minutes will pass by with you, hoping for the light bulb to turn on. The creative, innovative, and brainstorming sessions take hold and are coupled with the doubt if this idea is feasible or not. Similar roadblocks can occur as well with the constant questions of:

What can I write? What can I build?

How can I make money? Do I quit my job to pursue this venture?

But there are steps we take to succeed with our creativity. Below are the steps I take to approach writing unique content on Medium.

Utilize your personal stories

Portraying snapshots of your personal life in your content produces unique stories.

While life experiences are relatable to others and bear resemblances, the intricate details in your personal stories are never carbon copies of another person’s. Each person’s career, love story, hobbies have a different path.

For example, if I am writing on a work-related topic, I’ll offer insight from an HR professional with a significant influence on a hiring decision. Or I’ll write from the lens of a job-seeker sharing my failure on the interview process or looking to relocate for my career as a recent graduate. My interactions highlight my experience that can parallel with others that are on the other side of the coin or a similar journey.

Search your draft title

A quick Internet search will on Google or Medium provides me with a rapid indicator of my idea’s originality.

Is my next article title a repetitive topic just adding to the noise, or is it an engaging idea that will spark interest?

Generating unique content ideas falls into the repetitive bucket. With numerous content creators on Medium, YouTube, and social media, everyone wants to learn how to create different content that keeps their audience engaged.

It’s not the end of the world if your title or idea isn’t creative. But do you have different support or insight to offer?

Review what others have written

It’s always essential to review the publication that you are planning to submit to.

Look at the recent posts and see if any recent articles match yours. One reason is that if you are writing about a similar topic, the publication will most likely reject it, despite the quality. But the more important reason is that if you are reviewing related topics that bear a resemblance to yours, that original idea may not be so different after all.

Usually, if I have a creative idea that I haven’t found after scrolling for a minute or two, that’s a promising indicator that I’m one step closer to having my work accepted.

Ask your friends and peers

Sometimes your best critics aren’t too far away.

While they may voice their criticism with brutal honesty that some writers do, discussing with your friends on potential writing ideas can be a useful gauge. I’m no statistics expert, but the number of emojis on approving ideas and the success of my Medium articles have a scaringly accurate correlation.

I originally started writing on Medium as a way to share my content and also send Friend Links to my friends on work-related topics. As my friends are in a similar age group with varying interests, it’s helpful to pick their brains to see if an issue I’m considering is something they would read.

Connecting topics

Some of my most successful articles intertwine multiple topics.

For instance, one of my most successful stories, “How My Good Saving Habits Motivated Me to Improve My Fitness,” made a compelling parallel between finance and fitness. Medium curated this work across the Money, Fitness, and Lifestyle topics.

Medium also curated my “4 Ways Having a Supportive Partner Influenced My Career” article in Relationships and Work.

Combining topics allows me to reach a wider audience but also speaks to my unique writing style. I love to compare topics and offer a different viewpoint. Of course, sometimes, I’m attempting to write an informational and straightforward idea on interviews rather than a creative piece.

My future articles would probably include writing about Relationships and Money, which merge my affinity for reading relationships and love stories with personal finance education.

Takeaway

Sometimes I struggle between a topic that I’m truly passionate about but don’t feel I have anything new to contribute, which would make it a yawn-worthy piece. That was my thought of writing anything about saving money. Content surrounding saving money can sound like a broken record in the personal finance space. But adding personal stories give these common topics a unique touch and detail that other writing can’t replicate.

Everyone practices different steps or implementing a structure to provide progress in their writing. Don’t give up when the creative writing juices aren’t flowing. You’re just a few steps away from the next big idea.