September 18, 2013

Sourcing blog post ideas and inspiration from those around you


At the risk of jinxing myself, I generally don't have a hard time coming up with ideas for new blog posts. This isn't to say that I haven't had times when the muse was off taking a generously long coffee break, but rather that, as a whole, post ideas tend to spring into the ol' brain with regular frequency (a subject which I also touched on in this post last March).
 
I keep a Word document on my desktop devoted specifically to the various ideas for blog posts that I come up with, which I add new entries to on very regular basis. Sometimes I'll go through and take stock of these ideas, deleting ones that, for whatever reason, I'm not actually too keen on (for example, they may overly similar to existing posts I've written). I'll also add any new thoughts I might have had to existing entries and frequently pull ideas from the list to use in upcoming blog posts (this is a key part ensuring the blogging schedule I use runs as smoothly as possible).
 
However, just because I'm often able to generate fresh ideas to write about and have a list of future topics to cover waiting in the wings doesn't mean that I'm not open to even more ideas. Goodness, no! In fact, I love and actively welcome them from just about any source you could think of.
 
I'm always on the prowl for things that might trigger my mind to whip up an idea for a blog article, and keep a running list in a notepad app on my phone (which I transfer to my the idea file on laptop when I get home) so that I can be sure to jot down any ideas - or even just the seeds of a well formed idea - once I get home.
 
Over the years, I've had post inspiration ideas come in from sources as diverse as modern magazine articles to vintage product packaging, famous quotes to the plethora of items I enjoy pinning on Pinterest (another of the main places where I house inspiration for future blog posts).
 
I love to get ideas from actual present day people, too, be they members of the vintage community or not. Recently I asked Tony if he happened to have any thoughts pertaining to subjects I might want to blog about in the future.

As one of the smartest (no, I'm not being biased, he's knock-your-socks-off intelligent), most analytical, creative, and well-read people I've ever know - not to mention much more of a left brain oriented person than I tend to be - I always welcome Tony's impute about this site and was eager to hear what he'd come up with off the top of his head.




{My husband, Tony, is a fantastic source of fresh, exciting posts ideas and I love to pick his brain every now and then for just this very reason. He's always game and has come up with several great vintage related thoughts before, some of which have - and will continue to be - converted into actual blog posts here. Image source.}


True to form, the man did not disappoint. In the span of about ninety seconds, he pulled four blog post ideas out of thin air, each of which I thoroughly liked. One I'd already essentially covered before (here), another has been discussed at length in the vintage community (which isn't to say I wouldn't write about my own thoughts on it at some point), and the other two are going to very likely going to become posts in the not-too-distant future.
 
One of his idea was a complete 180 from the way my mind tends to think, and that's precisely why I love - and cannot wait to do – put it into action. Tony doesn't wear vintage and isn't overly consumed by the study of history in the way that I am. He's a computer programmer and technical writer, but also enjoys writing poetry, fishing and watching romantic movies. We share a great deal in common (which certainly helps our marriage of nearly nine years run smoothly), but are also immensely different people in many respects, and it's fantastic to get his impute - which can be so awesomely different from my own - on topics related to blogging and even my vintage outfits from time-to-time.
 
I extend this same principle however to many people in my life and am always open to post idea from my mom, grandparents, siblings, friends, second cousins once removed, dentist, shop clerks I interact with, you name it!
 
Just about anyone can come up with one or more ideas when you give them a broad topic like vintage history and fashion, and it can be so exciting to hear about some of the ideas (and/or questions, which you may be able to answer in-depth in a future post) that those whose impute you readily welcome may come up with.
 
This doesn't mean that you have to run out, pen and notepad in hand, and badger every last neighbor, relative, and acquaintance you encounter, of course not (and few, if any of us, really would, I’m sure), but rather that it doesn't hurt to ask for ideas every now and then, as well as to draw future post ideas from the conversations you have with the people you interact with during the course of your dy.
 
Whether you're burning the midnight oil trying to come up with new topics to write about, having a bevy or ideas in the wings, or just want some fresh thoughts and perspectives relating to vintage, it never hurts to stop and ask those around you what they might like to read about on your blog.

Who knows, you might even do as I did and end up getting a blog post out of this very topic itself! :)


20 comments:

  1. This is so lovely that you have Tony to bounce ideas off of!

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  2. Wow Jessica what a great idea! I have to say one of the many reasons I love your blog so is because of it's creativity and fantastic variety. It must please you greatly that your husband is interested in listening to and coming up with ideas even though he doesn't dress vintage himself. My husband and I have widely differing interests but as long as you agree on the important things (I'm thinking things like morals here!), it can actually make a relationship more interesting. Of course, whenever I think of Tony I think of the wonderful photos he takes with all the special little details for your outfit posts. Hope your holiday was wonderful, and you aren't too tired now! X

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  3. You lucky girl to have such a lovely man next to you! It isn't always easy to find good ideas for the posts. . . but your blog is a source of inspiring thoughts and wonderful photos:I love it!!

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  4. Perfect!
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  5. This is great! You're more on the ball than I am with your running word documents and all, and I've gotten some great ideas from this post on ideas! I'm in the same boat, having a guy that doesn't wear vintage and isn't as into history, but you are right. I should check and see what his thoughts are. He's supportive of my vintage love and I'm sure he won't mind!

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  6. I try to keep a log of my post ideas too. I use Evernote, though. You're lucky you have such a deep well of inspiration... mine tends to dry up rather quickly and I find myself having to spontaneously think of something! I should take your queue, though and start bouncing ideas off of other people.

    Jules of Canines & Couture

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  7. Jessica,
    stellar post, dear!
    (congratulations on picking a husband that is also an idea-man) :)
    Finding ideas may sometimes appear hard, it's a "bloggers block" if I may say. If and when that happens, I tend to remember conversations - it is strange and fascinating how many ideas there actually are in our every day chit-chat with everyone we meet. It's true what they say "Little things make the world".

    I hope you're enjoying your trip.
    Can't wait for you to post about it.

    Marija

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  8. Very lovely that you get ideas from all kinds of different sources :3 I usually just write about things I experience, but this is actually quite a good way to get new ideas :3

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  9. How cute is Tony! Sure you can get more ideas from anyone, it must be interesting to know what everyone want to read here!
    Have a wonderful week dear =)
    Love,

    Paula.


    http://getoffmyclouddarling.blogspot.com.es/

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  10. you always have terrific ideas. My very sweet husband is not into vintage at all, or blogging. He takes camera phone photos of me in my outfits when I ask but he definitely isnt too crazy about hte process so I try not to ask for too much time spent shooting photos. Thankfully I think there are lots of ideas on the internet and in movies and such. I started this blog because I found myself wanting to write about vintage sometimes on my dog blog, urban hounds, and I new that it just didnt fit

    kate the old fashioned way

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  11. "Asking those around you" is good advice for many things in life! You seem always to be brimming with ideas and I know that you and Tony must have some great conversations as you bounce ideas around. He seems to honor and support your blog in so many positive ways!

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  12. Like you, I don't have a hard time coming up with ideas. It's more like how will I write about them. I do, just with everything I write, take care with how I want it all put together. Sometimes it comes easier than others. And whenever I'm having a bout of writer's block, I just surf my pinterest board for about a minute and come up with 50 different ways to write out the post. :)

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  13. Certainly, I'm jealous that you have a husband with a head full of ideas for your blog ... that's so cool! I only use my brain to generate ideas for the next posts I'll write, I use my enthusiasm to find time wherever to carry forward my projects, combining these projects with the rest of my daily tasks, ... and I have to share the internet speed with my son (he has another computer and play online games.) to upload a semi-decent photos and write some words ...
       I end up completely exhausted! hahaha. Kisses, dear friend.

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  14. Interesting to read about how you collect up your ideas and how you go on to turn them into posts.

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  15. I would love if you made a post just about autumn and winter footwear from the 40s and 50s. I live in Germany, where it snows a lot during the winter in the little village I live at.

    I ordered a couple of Miss L Fire shoes, but I will only be able to wear them during autumn or non snowy winter days. I still haven't figured out what on earth will I cover my feet with when it starts snowing.

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    1. Hello dear gal, thank you very much for your comment and request. I have a post planned this year about some of my vintage winter wardrobe staples, which I think you'll really like. In terms of shoes specifically, I highly recommend you check out these two posts that my lovely friend Brittany from Va Voom Vintage wrote last you on the topic:

      http://www.vavoomvintageblog.com/2012/11/10-vintage-style-winter-shoes-under-50.html

      http://www.vavoomvintageblog.com/2012/11/10-vintage-style-winter-shoes-under-50_3.html

      We get tons (!!!) of snow here in Canada, too, for several months, and I've been on the hunt for some good repro or real vintage winter boots for years, too. In the meantime, I usually use thick socks and sturdy, classic ("Granny" or subtly hiking-esque style) leather or faux leather boots.

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. I never discuss blog post topics with my h. I do jot them down when the lighting strikes my brain and i have some enlightenment. I write the ideas on my calendar .... but i have to admit sometimes i cannnot think of anything.

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  17. Of course he's intelligent - he's married to you! ;) You're lucky to have a husband who inspires you, mine doesn't even read my blog. I also have a text file on my pc desktop in which I write ideas, and sometimes I don't think I have anything to blog about, then suddenly I almost have too much. I have a quite boring life: work, eat, sleep. But I love it anyway. See, I'm behind with your blog again, but I'm reading ahead. :)

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    1. That's so wonderfully sweet of you, dear Sanne, thank you (from both of us!) very much. I'm always here if you'd like to bounce blog post ideas of off someone else.

      ♥ Jessica

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