What to write about on Steemit?

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How I wish I had 1 STEEM for each time I’ve been asked what to write about.

It reminds me of the song “Words don’t come easy.”

"Words don't come easy to me
How can I find a way to make you see I love you
Words don't come easy"

Not to worry, I can guarantee you that there are many professional authors, writers, bloggers, and journalists who sit with moments when they don’t know what to write about.
They will also often find themselves in the middle of a “story” when words fail them.

In fact, there is a name for it, “Writer’s block”.

Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown - Wikipedia

In answer to the question of what to write about on Steemit, I have learned four things over the last few months.

1. Look around
2. Listen
3. Dig deep
4. Write it down

1. Look around

So often things we can write about are right under our noses. Let me give you an example.

Yesterday I dedicated a morning to myself, something I hardly get to do these days. Well okay, we are experiencing severe power cuts which contribute to my “me morning”.

As I was walking in one of our shopping malls I noticed that so many shops are currently running specials.

I also noticed that there are no more winter garments on display but summer clothes and shoes.

Title for a post – Is running specials helping businesses?
Title for a post – It is summertime!
Title for a post – Do housewives still have time to shop with their eyes?

2. Listen

Don’t let interesting topics go past your ear!

Believe it or not, there are some wise people around us from which you can pick up interesting topics.

Listen to the radio, what the presenters have to say, and the songs they play. Watching the news on television is also a great source of information.

Fetching my stepson from school during the week I listened to an interview on the radio. The interview was with a professor from one of the universities. The main subject he teaches is economics. He was telling the listeners how he incorporates his traveling experiences into his classes and how it is helping the students.

Title for a post – Michael Jackson would have been 64 today!
Title for a post – How can we make kids listen to us?
Title for a post – Travelling doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money

3. Dig deep

We are all unique with different talents, different dreams, and different goals. All it requires is to think about what makes you “tick”.
Is it your past, the present or is it the future?

After all, you are the one writing the post. You know what you are good at. You know what you like and, only you know what to expect from life.

Writing also depends on your frame of mind so why not use it in a post?

Title for a post – The story of my life
Title for a post – What I like to do in my spare time
Title for a post – Is Blue Monday’s real?

4. Write it down

You have to write your ideas down!

It happened to me on many occasions that I thought about a good topic but when I sit in front of my computer I cannot remember what I wanted to write about.

I have opened a note for myself on my mobile phone. If I think about something I write it down. In the beginning, I forgot to use it but as they say, it takes a minimum of 21 days to form a new habit.

Currently, the list is lloonnggg and I doubt if I will ever get to all the topics but at least I have a list to choose from. Now that makes me think. Maybe I can sell my list.

What to do if you are busy with your post and you hit that “writer's block”

I am one of those who want to finish a task as quickly as possible once I've started it. So often it leads to me feeling frustrated and stressed out. I had to learn that the world doesn’t only consist of me but billions of other people and that I have to accept all those delays coming my way.

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I had to learn that it is the same with writing. You have to be patient and allow yourself to write a post. It is when you rush your post that you start writing just for the sake of writing.

Two things help me when I get stuck with a post;

• I get up, walk away and return a bit later
• I start reading posts of my fellow Steemians

99% of the time a cup of tea and the inspiration I get from reading posts help me to finish my post.

As for the remaining 1%, I delete what I am busy with and choose a new topic. I truly hate doing this but if it is not going to work the second time it is not going to work at all.

Topics from communities

What helps a lot is when you plan your week.

When I joined the various communities at the beginning of the year I looked for guidance on what to write and I set up a schedule for each week according to this.
This allowed me to plan not only for the day but also for the week ahead.

It is a pity that I don’t see guideline posts from communities anymore. Or is it that I am missing them?

Enter contests

If you don’t know what to write about look for contests. I am forever telling Steemians to join the contests on Steemit. Why?

» You learn how to plan your post according to the guidelines
» You learn to follow rules
» You learn from seeing and reading fellow Steemians posts
» You can be a winner
» You can make yourself known to others

Best of all, you don’t even have to search for contest.

Don’t waste your precious time searching the contest every day, Disconnected Rat can smell the contests and rat through everywhere. Follow @disconnect

In closing, we are all different but we all have one thing in common, we are all writing posts on Steemit. Make them count!

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PS: If all things fail, Aunty Google is always there to help you with topic ideas and she will not bill you.

Other posts you can learn from:
The 5 main reasons why posts goes wrong
Make your comments and replies count! Tips to write a good comment
How to write that perfect diary post...