10 Things I Do to Get Ideas for My Blogs

The truth no one likes to admit out loud is that even seasoned writers, the ones with decades of content under their belts, multiple books in the rear-view mirror, and a Google Drive full of drafts, occasionally stare at a blank screen with a silent scream in their throat. (Mmm, sounds like me.)

I write for a living, and still have “I-got-nothing” days.

Lucky for me (and for you), I’ve built a trusty little arsenal of idea-generating methods. Ten of them, in fact. And because sharing is caring, especially when it stops you from spiraling into writer’s block, here’s exactly how I stockpile ideas for my blogs.

1. I Eavesdrop Shamelessly.

Not in a creepy way. People say the most fascinating things when they’re not trying to be fascinating. Coffee shop chatter, overheard snippets on the LIRR, networking-lunch banter, all of it goes into my mental idea vault. Humans are endlessly inspiring.

2. I Steal From My Own Life

Travel mishaps, grandkid hilarity, walks around NYC, and client conversations that spark a “wait, that would be a GREAT post.” If I’ve lived it, I can write it, and so can you.

3. I Revisit Old Content

Past newsletters, half-written drafts, a random paragraph I scribbled in 2013, there’s gold in old material. Sometimes an idea just needs to marinate for a decade. Who among us hasn’t aged like fine wine?

4. I Ask Better Questions

Not “What should I write about?” Nope. Too big and too vague.

I ask:

• What did someone ask me this week?

• What did I solve for a client?

• What annoyed me?

• What delighted me?

  
  

Questions unlock stories.

5. I Go for a Walk

Movement = clarity.Sidewalk, beach, park, airport terminal, it doesn’t matter. Every step shakes loose an idea. I’ve dictated entire posts while walking.

6. I Scroll Intentionally

Yes, I scroll. Don’t act surprised, but I scroll to observe patterns, spark thoughts, and see what’s missing. Not to copy but to respond and add something new to the conversation.

7. I Talk to People

As in old-fashioned conversation. Networking groups, clients, friends, and family.People’s stories are idea engines.

8. I Keep a Running Notes File

My Notes app is chaos, but it's organized chaos. When a phrase hits me, I write it down. When a random thought jogs something loose, I capture it.

9. I Follow My Curiosity

If something makes me pause, an article, a statistic, a moment on the subway, I lean in. Curiosity feeds my content development.

10. I Give Myself Permission to Write Badly

This is probably my biggest secret. Not everything I write starts good. Some of it is cringeworthy. But getting words down, even messy ones, breaks the seal. Bad writing becomes good writing and blank pages stay blank.

Ideas aren’t magical unicorns. They’re everywhere, swirling around your daily life, just waiting for you to notice them. The trick is to stay awake to the world, keep your radar on, and trust that your real life and not perfection or polished moments holds more content than you think.

If you want help turning those sparks into polished, personality-driven posts, you know where to find me.