9 Questions to Cure your Blog Writer’s Block

Writer’s block. At some point in our blogging, we all reach a point where we have no idea what to say. And it’s usually when we have little to no time to write the post or email, right?

“Oh my gosh. I have to send my weekly email out in 30 minutes and I have no idea what to write. SOS!”

There are a number of reasons why your brain isn’t coming up with anything to write about right now. It could be stress, anxiety or exhaustion. Maybe it’s all three!

Whatever the cause, your impending deadline is going away and you need tools to help you move through the block and into writing.

These are questions that I use to brainstorm content ideas every single week. And here’s the thing: Different questions spark ideas each week, so I work through the list every time I even have a hint of writer’s block.

So, if you’ve ever caught yourself staring at a blank document on your computer screen for an hour, this is for you.

Questions to ask yourself to overcome writer’s block

What could you write about that relates to your lead magnet?

This is a content marketing strategy that ALL bloggers can benefit from.

You’ve probably created at least one lead magnet or freebie, right? Go through all of your freebies and ask yourself if there is something that your audience might have a question about that could lead to their question getting answered by your lead magnet?

So, if your freebie is a checklist for setting up your blog, what kind of post could lead them to need your freebie?

You could write about the things you need to consider when starting a blog, why you need a self-hosted blog or common mistakes that people make when setting up a blog.

This approach uses your freebie as the answer to their next question or a quick win for them to move forward.

What personal identity blocks does my avatar have about __(niche topic)__?

The thing about personal identity blocks is that most people either don’t know that they have blocks to begin with or are in deep denial that the block exists. So addressing your avatar at a level that is deeply personal is polarizing.

Which is awesome!

When you write posts that are polarizing, you start to repel the wrong people and attract YOUR people.

So, for a mom blogger, a silly example could be, “Why all kids should wear a 3 piece suit before age 2 (even girls!)”

Do you see how that would either really resonate with a certain group of people and why it would repel another?

Something a little more realistic might be, “9 Reasons to never use baby talk with your newborn.” People have opinions. And I guarantee something that really pushes the buttons of your avatar will bring out comments and shares for you!

What is possible for your avatar?

Is there something that your avatar doesn’t feel like they are capable of doing? Show them that it is possible. And that it might be easier than they think.

This is a great approach for bloggers that are conventionally tutorial based.

For example, you could show a DIY audience that tiling a shower is easier than they think and how to do it.

Show them the life that your blog has given you and that it’s possible for them, too.

What could the future look like for your avatar? Paint a picture for them.

This one is powerful. Paint a picture for what the future could look like for your avatar if they do, have or change something in their life.

This method uses the power of storytelling to walk your avatar all the way into their future life. Often, you use personal stories as an anchor to get your avatar from “now” to “the future.”

What mistakes is your avatar making?

You’ve got opinions. You’ve got life experience. And I bet you know more about one specific thing than most people do.

So what are some of the most common mistakes you see newbies make when they are getting started in that topic/niche?

Write about the mistakes and give our audience a way to fix their mistakes. Because a problem without a solution is just complaining. Help them through to the other side either with the blog post itself or by offering freebie or paid product.

Why do they need to know ______?

Why do they need to know how to knit? Why does your avatar need social media marketing? What are they missing out on and why is that thing crucial?

Consumers are savvy these days, but they do need some convincing.

They need to know why and how it will improve their lives.

This question is all about addressing the lifestyle of your topic or niche.

Related: 1 Unexpected Tip for Reaching your Blog Avatar

Why do they need ______?

This is similar to the last question but is more centered around products, courses, etc.

It’s perfect for affiliates!

The key to answering this question is to take the answer beyond the obvious answers. Don’t forget to include the obvious ones, but the less obvious answers are where people can be convinced.

I’ll give ya an example. Let’s talk about why someone needs an ice cream machine.

• It makes beautiful ice cream.
• It’s easy to use and clean.
• It comes with recipes for you to test out.
• You get to create memories with your family on the back porch huddled around a churning cannister of fresh custard.
• It’s perfect for testing out recipes using different types of dairy or dairy replacement.
• Get that fresh from the machine taste you get from going out for ice cream without leaving your house.
• No one is stopping you from eating the whole tub alone. Because no one knows what’s going to happen with the milk, eggs and oreo cookies that you bought at the grocery store.
• Total control over the ingredients. You can even get the milk from the cow in the field behind your house. Her name is Barbara.
• Ice cream is one of the major food groups. Don’t ignore the food pyramid.

See what I mean? Address the lifestyle benefits and give ‘em a little humor whenever you can!

Who do they need to be before they (purchase/subscribe/etc.)?

I like to use this question in a similar way to the last one.

The other approach to this is to answer any questions someone might have about the product before they make the purchase. FAQ page style, but in a blog post and using your personal experience.

What are my analytics telling me?

If you have been blogging for a couple of months, you’ll start to see trends in your analytics. You can find in either Google Analytics or your Pinterest/Tailwind analytics which of your pins or posts is getting the most traffic.

Use these popular posts as a jumping off point for creating content. They loved it once, give the people what they want!

That’s it!

Hopefully, these questions have helped spark ideas to help you move past writer’s block. And if they haven’t, stop beating yourself up for it. Give yourself a little space and a little grace, you won’t always be stuck. This is just temporary, my friend.

What is your favorite technique that has helped you move past blogging writer’s block?

Tell me in the comments!