12 Ruminations on Writing Daily
Intellectually I understand the value of creating daily blog posts. Successful people I admire post daily. Each of these people has told me to my face that posting a daily blog has been the difference-maker in growing their business and booking increasing amount of speaking gigs. And yet, I resist.
This year I started doing a daily creation exercise, posting an original quote (almost always my own work, occasionally something inspired by another) every single day by writing in black Sharpie on a yellow Post-It note, I haven’t missed one yet and you can view the growing collection over atwww.bigyellowsticky.com.
Still, this isn’t the daily articles of value like Anthony Iannarino publishes or the pithy-yet-deep wisdom of Seth Godin or the inspirational morning mentoring by Darren Hardy in his DarrenDaily series.
So today I wanted to explore concepts that might enable me to more reliably publish daily blog posts, and simplify the path to hitting the PUBLISH button… Every. Single. Day.
1. Create a content calendar
I’ve told myself this before and used it as another point of procrastination, but I do believe that if I took the time to map out even the briefest of content calendars I could more consistently plan to publish posts. Some of the remaining ideas below may center around content calendar concepts.
2. Share an article that inspired me
I read a lot of other people’s content. Pick a day to share some of the best 3-5 articles I’ve read and build a post out of it. Start a Draft posts and paste the links into it as I go. Perhaps it’s best as a post for the beginning or end of week (maybe the weekend?) to share these recommended articles with my audience.
3. Listicles
Something as simple as a list of 10 ideas fits my content perfectly and can be quickly executed. The only stall has been subjects of the list. I can easily repurpose the lists I’m writing for the Idea Machine group on Facebook or build out topics from the articles I’m reading. What other sort of list-based articles could I publish? (Fodder for a future 10 Ideas list…)
4. Reviews
Apps, books, movies, music, audio books, podcasts, art, museums, etc. Reviews of any sort – in regard to the creativity they inspire – would be appropriate. I’m constantly testing out new apps, reading books and magazines, and I’ve become hooked on podcasts. Simply typing a few lines out dedicated to my opinions on these items should easily result in a blog post.
5. Audio clips
I’m stuck in the car for a daily commute, perhaps I could be talking to myself behind the wheel? I could recording some thoughts on a topic on my way into the office and then posting the audio as the post for that day. There are a variety of audio recording apps (AudioBoom, Spreaker, and the default recording app). Might podcasting be the way to blog more consistently?
6. Photos/Artwork
Perhaps something from Pinterest?
A piece of fine art like a painting or sculpture I could comment on?
For awhile I was including an image in my email newsletters that functioned as a visual tat matched the editorial AND it was an affiliate link to Posters.com.
7. Infographic
I could share an existing image and add my comments. I also bought an infographic creation tool. About time I put it to use…!
8. Video
I could simply hit record while I’m behind the wheel during the commute, like recording the audio in #5 (I see Grant Cardone do it all the time). I could also set Periscope or Meercat to live broadcast the commute. I think it would be a hazard to try and star at a camera instead of the road. Plus, trying to read all those little comments popping-up in the Periscope screen would make it even worse. (Plus, Cardone always seems on the verge of running someone off the road anyway…) A better alternative might be to make a super-short video while my K-cup is brewing every morning.
9. Is it worse to write in verse?
Perhaps something written in rhyme would take a little less time?
A daily limerick might do the trick, and a simple Haiku could be scribbled out quick.
10. A good start
Since the quickest part of my creation process is the initial nugget of the idea and the part that seems to take a deep dive into the time-suck tunnel is when I start building on the concept and back-story in order to flesh out the idea, tie it into one of my experiences or connect it to a reader’s experience (where the narrative just seems to take on a very extended life of its own), perhaps I need to simply stop when I find the nugget. Give the post a good start and leave it alone to take root. I can always come back to it later.
11. Cut out all the Bull-Schmitt
I really like what Amy Schmittauer does over at SavvySexySocial.com during April and August when she facilitates the efforts of her tribe in creating a daily video for the entire month. Amy has cut out all the bull and created a super-simple content calendar using Google Calendar. The simplicity appeals to me, I love the fact I can add this calendar right into my existing Google Calendar, and it automatically becomes part of the daily routine.
12. Just start
There’s no waiting for a perfect day to start a continuous stream of daily postings. I had intended to launch this yesterday (a Monday) because that seemed a nice round day to start on, but I know I wrote too much text for each individual number, then I got stuck at #9, procrastinated, and here it is Tuesday morning and I missed another day.
But no more, I say!
I’m going to stop writing right now and simply hit the PUBLISH button.
(See you tomorrow!)
