avatarPatricia Haddock

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i>Do you want to feel more satisfied with your work? Here are 3 ways to help you discover what lights your fire.</li><li>Do you want to feel more confident when you make presentations to clients? Here are 3 ways to help you quickly rev up your self-confidence.</li></ul><h2 id="b407">5: Do you sometimes [fill in]? Here’s how to [fill in].</h2><ul><li>Do you sometimes regret committing to something you would rather not do? Here’s how to say no in the right way.</li><li>Do you sometimes wish people would take you more seriously? Here’s how to get your message across with more confidence and assuredness.</li></ul><h2 id="73d5">6. What to do when [fill in] happens. Advice from 3 [fill in] experts.</h2><ul><li>What to do when you disagree with your physician about their recommendations/diagnosis Advice from 3 medical experts.</li><li>What to do when your manager/client asks you to do something that violates your ethics/values? Advice from 3 management consultants.</li></ul><h2 id="cc1d">7. What happens to [fill in] if /when you [fill in].</h2><ul><li>What happens to your peace of mind when you dwell on your past mistakes?</li><li>What happens to your brain when you don’t get enough sleep?</li></ul><h2 id="ea7c">8. What to do if you discover [fill in].</h2><ul><li>What to do if you discover that a friend is gossiping about you.</li><li>What to do if you underpay your taxes.</li></ul><h2 id="43cc">9. Want to jumpstart your [fill in]? Here are 5 easy ways to [fill in].</h2><ul><li>Want to jumpstart your nonfiction book/novel? Here are 5 easy ways to get going.</li><li>Want to jumpstart your vacation savings? Here are 5 easy ways to gain momentum.</li></ul><h2 id="3244">10. It only takes [fill in] to [fill in}.</h2><ul><li>It only takes 10 minutes in the morning to start your day on a high note.</li><li>It only takes 3 things to turn a mediocre article into a showpiece.</li></ul><p id="3b54">Sometimes, I use these as t

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he actual title for the article, but often I let the title come as I’m researching and writing. Here are 4 very different articles by my fellow Medium writers to help you can see how this plays out.</p><p id="d3cd"><a href="https://readmedium.com/are-you-tired-of-procrastinating-here-are-4-tips-to-overcome-it-44839b0d445c"><i>Are You Tired of Procrastinating? Here Are 4 Tips to Overcome It</i> </a>by @<a href="https://medium.com/@regainwellness?source=post_page-----44839b0d445c-----------------------------------">Jamie Logie</a></p><p id="2752"><a href="https://readmedium.com/what-will-it-take-for-you-to-claim-your-power-again-37fc06c0357f"><i>What will it take for you to gain your power again?</i> by </a><a href="undefined">Jenny Weigle</a></p><p id="a808"><a href="https://readmedium.com/what-happens-if-you-publish-only-five-articles-in-a-month-e1b92827339d"><i>What Happens if You Publish Only Five Articles in a Month?</i></a><i> </i>by @<a href="https://medium.com/@renjunge?source=post_page-----e1b92827339d-----------------------------------">RenéJunge</a></p><p id="dd9c"><a href="https://humanparts.medium.com/it-only-takes-one-success-to-erase-1-000-failures-f7082a268802"><i>It Only Takes One Success To Erase 1,000 Failures </i>by Tyler Tervooren</a></p><p id="666e">Thanks for reading, <a href="https://patriciahaddock1.medium.com/">Patricia</a></p><p id="10ba">If you enjoyed this article, consider <a href="https://patriciahaddock1.medium.com/membership">becoming a member</a> of the Medium community. <a href="https://patriciahaddock1.medium.com/membership">Membership</a> gives you full access to every story here, lets you interact with writers by sharing your comments and responses to their work. It also directly supports me and the other writers you find here. Why not <a href="https://patriciahaddock1.medium.com/membership">join </a>now to avoid missing stories that inform and inspire.</p></article></body>

Fill-in-the-Blanks Game for Coming Up with Article Ideas

Quick ways to kickstart your creativity

Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash

I used to write newsletters for various organizations and had to come up with lots of ideas for topics, so I turned it into a game. I had 10 fill-in-the-blank idea templates that I rotated among clients and newsletters, completing each to fit the client’s audience. I still use this game today when I’m struggling to get motivated to write or can’t find a topic that interests me. Here’s how it works with examples.

1: Are you tired of [fill in]? Here are [number] ways to [fill in]

  • Are you tired of running out of money before the month runs out? Here are 5 painless ways to stretch your income.
  • Are you tired of yo-yo dieting? Here are 3 eating strategies that can take off the weight without the need to diet.

2: Do you feel [blank]? Try these science-back remedies for [fill in].

  • Do you feel frustrated with your coworkers? Try these science-backed remedies for handling workplace stress.
  • Do you feel unmotivated? Try these science-backed remedies for rekindling your enthusiasm.

3: What will it take for you to [fill in]? These 5 strategies can help.

  • What will it take for you to gain more readers? These 5 strategies can help.
  • What will it take for you to find the right partner? These 5 strategies can help.

4: Do you want to feel [fill in]? Here are 3 ways to help you [fill in].

  • Do you want to feel more satisfied with your work? Here are 3 ways to help you discover what lights your fire.
  • Do you want to feel more confident when you make presentations to clients? Here are 3 ways to help you quickly rev up your self-confidence.

5: Do you sometimes [fill in]? Here’s how to [fill in].

  • Do you sometimes regret committing to something you would rather not do? Here’s how to say no in the right way.
  • Do you sometimes wish people would take you more seriously? Here’s how to get your message across with more confidence and assuredness.

6. What to do when [fill in] happens. Advice from 3 [fill in] experts.

  • What to do when you disagree with your physician about their recommendations/diagnosis Advice from 3 medical experts.
  • What to do when your manager/client asks you to do something that violates your ethics/values? Advice from 3 management consultants.

7. What happens to [fill in] if /when you [fill in].

  • What happens to your peace of mind when you dwell on your past mistakes?
  • What happens to your brain when you don’t get enough sleep?

8. What to do if you discover [fill in].

  • What to do if you discover that a friend is gossiping about you.
  • What to do if you underpay your taxes.

9. Want to jumpstart your [fill in]? Here are 5 easy ways to [fill in].

  • Want to jumpstart your nonfiction book/novel? Here are 5 easy ways to get going.
  • Want to jumpstart your vacation savings? Here are 5 easy ways to gain momentum.

10. It only takes [fill in] to [fill in}.

  • It only takes 10 minutes in the morning to start your day on a high note.
  • It only takes 3 things to turn a mediocre article into a showpiece.

Sometimes, I use these as the actual title for the article, but often I let the title come as I’m researching and writing. Here are 4 very different articles by my fellow Medium writers to help you can see how this plays out.

Are You Tired of Procrastinating? Here Are 4 Tips to Overcome It by @Jamie Logie

What will it take for you to gain your power again? by Jenny Weigle

What Happens if You Publish Only Five Articles in a Month? by @RenéJunge

It Only Takes One Success To Erase 1,000 Failures by Tyler Tervooren

Thanks for reading, Patricia

If you enjoyed this article, consider becoming a member of the Medium community. Membership gives you full access to every story here, lets you interact with writers by sharing your comments and responses to their work. It also directly supports me and the other writers you find here. Why not join now to avoid missing stories that inform and inspire.

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