Where do you find inspiration for your content?

General conversation

If you’re a seasoned writer, you’ll know that inspiration can strike you when you’re not looking for it. So many times, I’ve had/heard a conversation and it’s triggered an idea for an article. I may be carrying out research for another project/job, but stumble across a content idea for ITK; in those instances, I save/bookmark the webpage or I’ll email myself a prompt, ready for when I’m next writing for the magazine. I have to forward/record the prompt as it appears, or it would flee from my brain the moment I blink.

Human life and interaction with others are the biggest and richest sources of content ideas—but only if you’re tuned in to listen for them or you’re curious enough to spot them as they happen. I can sometimes be in a world of my own when immersed in a project and I find content ideas don’t pop up when I’m this focused; however, when I’m mentally idling, my mind seems to open itself up to suggestions from every angle.

The harder you think about ideas, the less they’ll come to you. Prompts help, but they don’t just make themselves known during working hours. This is the reason authors keep notebooks by their bed or in their bag, as they too know that inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime. It doesn’t matter if you write about astrophysics or sewage control, you can still find insight and influence all around you.

Read content by others

Another way to furnish yourself with ideas is to see what other people think of a topic. This doesn’t mean ripping off someone else’s article/information (plagiarism is a definite no-no if you’re a content writer), but you can use it for inspiration.

It’s unlikely you’ll be the first person to have ever written about a particular subject, so it’s unavoidable that you’ll feature a topic that’s been covered before…BUT you should have your own opinion or angle on it. It’s not just unethical and something you could be sued for, to steal someone’s words, it’s also really boring for readers to digest copied or heavily recycled content. By all means, quote statistics or even repeat a phrase from someone’s content on the net if it supports your explanation/argument, but always remember to cite your source and link back to the original article wherever possible.

Not every article you write will be an instant hit with hundreds or thousands of readers, but each piece you produce will potentially have its own niche readership. The real struggle is getting your content to its audience…but that’s another story.