Ideas for Creative Blogging
Mon, May 2, 2011 at 06:21PM Sometimes we run out of ideas.
We so want to write, but can't come up with anything juicy.
j. herbin rouge opera ink, a red
❖ Start a series of posts on a topic, or rejuvinate an old series with a twist. ❖ Interview someone, or interview a bunch of people using the same questions for comparison. ❖ Start a brainstorming session with a question in a post... ask people to add their ideas in the comments. ❖ Think of something artsy or craftsy you bought recently (i.e, scissors, thread, easel, craft organizing stuff) and describe how you made your decision and if it works as you expected, and what you wish you had known before the purchase. ❖ Think about jobs you’ve had... are there some unique tips/insights that you learned? Why do airlines charge extra fuel surcharges rather than increase fares? What does a valet really do with your Jaguar? How do you clean an espresso machine? What’s in frozen yogurt? ❖ I bet there’s something that you know how to do, something that you could share... something that you don't even realize is a skill... like how to choose or read a sewing pattern? How to match yarn to a knitting project? What pattern to quilt a quilt? How to test fountain pen inks? How to produce an e-course? What should you not buy at a farmer's market? How to plan a trip to Turkey? Strategies for thrift shopping? How to manage 3 year old watercolor artists? ❖ Take a little field trip to part of your city that you love and do a photo tour. ❖ Share photos of your art area or garden. ❖ Show behind-the-scenes photos of creative chaos; a studio redesign, sewing project, art project, baking bread. ❖ Plan a creative challenge or swap. ❖ Organize a group art project for charity. ❖
I personally love the idea of a series, and they seem to get better as they go, because you think of more and more twists and turns and tangents to your topic.
Here's your chance, give some feedback to the creative bloggers of the galaxy! [my responses in brackets]
- What would you like to see more of in creative, arts and crafts blogs? [i'd like to see reality - behind the scenes stuff, work in progress, experiments that didn't work, how people fit art into their day-to-day lives]
- What wouldn't you miss? [horoscopes, cat photos, forgive me]
- What draws you to continue reading a blog? [the "voice" of the blogger, creativity, humour, quality photography, intelligent writing]
- What would make you stop reading a blog? [unexpected NOISE (including music) when going to the blog, lack of recent posts, a focus on what has been posted to etsy, distracting ads, pop-ups]
Reader Comments (9)
Great information, thank you for sharing! :]
Interesting ideas in there. I need to start planning my posts in advance as I did last year. It was so much easier to know what to do then.
1. What would you like to see more of in creative, arts and crafts blogs? I love to see the process, step-by-step of other artists. Behind the scenes too. And I think I should start doing it myself on my blog.
2. What wouldn't you miss? "text only" posts or "image only" posts
3. What draws you to continue reading a blog? the blogger's personality, good photography, well written text
4. What would make you stop reading a blog? like you, noise/music on the blog's page. Also, too many spelling mistakes (unless the blogger is not writing in their original language), too many posts without images
By answering these questions, I realized that, even though I blog 5 days per week, I am becoming a somewhat lazy blogger. Your post opened my eyes and I'm thankful for that.
Hugs,
Sophie
Thanks for posting this! I get in these ruts and it's great that you're reminding us that they happen to everyone.
Thank you for the ideas! I keep a little notebook and file folder with ideas for blog posts...ideas I get from other blog sites, articles I read that I want to share and comment on, that sort of thing. Here are my responses to your great questions:
1.What would you like to see more of in creative, arts and crafts blogs? I like pictures of works-in-progress, finished pieces, and studio workspaces. I like tutorials. I like fast-motion videos of artists creating their works. I like seeing into people's art journals. I like posts about artists fitting art into their daily lives, especially where young children are involved (as is my situation).
2.What wouldn't you miss? I don't like blogs to have music that immediately starts when I come by, or lots of ads in between posts.
3.What draws you to continue reading a blog? Photographs of their work, frequent posts, interesting commentary.
4.What would make you stop reading a blog? Infrequent posts, mainly.
Awesome post! I've been struggling lately with my blog - sometimes it feels like I must have said everything I know by now, but you remind me that there are always new depths to mine. I appreciate all the ideas (love the series notion).
1.What would you like to see more of in creative, arts and crafts blogs? I love photos - beautiful composition, bright colors (like yours :D), good lighting; work in progress and completed work; I love glimpses into an artists thought processes - what inspires them, what do they surround themselves with; adore good/succinct writing.
2.What wouldn't you miss? I'm with everybody here on musical blogs - usually won't stay long if I enter to music; really don't like blogs that are out purely to sell me something - if it's all about their workshops or sponsors and very little about their life, I won't stick around.
3.What draws you to continue reading a blog? Good photos, interesting (but not long-winded) stories and writing, glimpses into the artist's world, blogs that share and inspire!
4.What would make you stop reading a blog? Infrequent posts, loooooong posts, blogs that post mainly about the blogger's family (no disrespect intended), blogs that mostly rant and complain.
Thanks again Tammy!!
Thank you for this post. I've bookmarked it so I could refer back to it when I'm in a bind on what to write.
2. What wouldn't you miss? [horoscopes, cat photos, forgive me]
*Gasp* Cat photos? What's wrong with cat photos? Lol.
As you can tell, I'm a cat person, but I personally haven't posted any of my cat's pics on my blog. Perhaps I should start... XD
I love this POST and I just piggy-backed on it here:
http://geeden.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-feedback-with-giveaway.html
I would have to agree with many of the above Comments! Love your Blog Tammy and you take very interesting pictures!! You've got a great eye for detail and composition!! I adore anything you doodle especially when you add some color because you are the QUEEN of Mandalas. Your city-scape series is one that I won't miss. I wish I knew more about painting, like I don't even know how to prep a canvas with GESSO....guess I really should get out of my comfort zone. You are also the MASTER of LINK LOVE, I love to check out what's inspiring you.
Your BLOG has been such a good resource for so much knowledge and inspiration and I know it's not easy! Thanks for taking the time to present this blog with such BEAUTIFUL pictures and well-written articles.
Sorry, but the cat photos are staying ;) They are my little muses, in a way. And they inspire me with their randomness and the way they look at the world with curiosity and wonder and stillness.
Excellent ideas for keeping a blog going - thanks.
Your questions...
1. Want more of - I agree with the behinds the scenes stuff. I do a Sunday Studio shots on my blog. I just shoot whatever the studio looks like that day, projects on the desk, clutter on the floor, whatever, and I love seeing that sort of thing, other peoples' work spaces.
Also like to see more art-supplies-I-like posts. Why they work well, examples of use, where to get best deal, particular colors you use a lot.
2. Wouldn't miss - I actually like cat pictures, any animal pictures lol. I totally wouldn't miss music. If I want music, I'll play my own, thanks, but I don't mind someone's playlist posted so I can check it out.
3. Keeps me reading - Definitely the voice of the blogger. Good writers are a joy. Good quality pics of the art keep me coming back, closeups where I can see the layers on the background or whatever. I'm fairly new at this and photos are a huge help and also provide inspiration. The occasional freebie instruction vid or download. I don't expect you to give away all your secrets but a hot tip now and then keeps me hooked. Even just videos of the artist at work, a la Julie Balzer.
4. Makes me stop - Music (see #2). Too much religious stuff. Too frequent diversions into cutesy kid stories or car repair woes or MIL complaints. We all have problems but that's not what I'm looking for in an art blog. Pushing sales of their items every other post. Having books, classes, etc listed in the side bar is great.