It’s the end of the first month of the year, and while we’ve been bouyed up on the wave of resolutions, plans, and goals, we’re starting to realize that winter has dug in and there just aren’t that many exciting ideas left to write about.
But I’m here to tell you that you can find subject matter all around you, even in the dead and dark of winter when your enthusiasm is at its lowest ebb.
So sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and see if anything here inspires you! In no particular order, you can …
- Find out what anthologies are looking for essay submissions. You don’t have to write the essay, just think about the suggested topics: they can inspire you!
- Set up Google alerts for a whole bunch of subjects. Even if they’re just of peripheral interest to you, they can lead you to content that may end being inspirational.
- Did you keep a journal in school? If so, re-read it now: those emotions were intense, and they’re timeless, too—there has to be a teen publication that would be interested in your take on them!
- Read the newspaper, whether you do it in print or online. Clip and save articles that pique your interest. They may inspire you now … or down the road. (And if you write fiction as well, lots of great stories have been, as the saying goes, “ripped from the headlines.”)
- Check out current nonfiction bestsellers, and search online for nonfiction that’s going to be published in the next year. Can you tie anything that you know about or can research into that book’s release?
- Ask your Aunt Edna what’s on her mind these days. The baby-boomer generation, even in a recession, spends money on magazines, ezines, and the like: whatever is of interest to her is sure to be of interest to others, and she can even help you craft your pitch.
- Think local! Is there a business that’s about to open in town? A celebrity appearing locally? An upcoming talk at the library? All of these can provide you with material.
- Inthe same way, check out what other alumni from your college are up to, and consider writing about them for your alumni publication.
- Do something different. Go for a walk. Take a class. Try a new hobby. Not only will you feel better and more energized, you’ll meet different people who may inspire you, network with you, or becoming sounding-boards for you. And the activity itself might provide a niche article somewhere!
- The adage is, “write what you know.” Okay … but what about stuff you’d like to know about? Have you always wanted to go hang-gliding? Surfing? Find experts now in the off-season and interview them, learn about their sport or hobby …. your submission will be timely for the summer season!
- History isn’t just my passion, it’s an evergreen topic, as long as you don’t just regurgitate the same old information. Writing for the tourist trade is fun and light-hearted and slipping bits of history into your writing can add context and depth.
So there you have it: some ideas to get you thinking about other ideas. Have any you’d care to share? Do it here, and then you’ll be … beyond the elements of style!
