Hey guys! Since all my posts so far this month have been in response to YOUR questions and ideas, I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to those of you who responded with questions and topic ideas for posts. I’ve had so much fun shaking things up a little and writing about things I might not have thought of on my own. You guys are the best!
Over the past few weeks, I have received multiple questions about my writing process. Some of y’all were curious how I come up ideas and plan posts for the blog.
This made me laugh because I’ve honestly never even thought about it. Even though I’m constantly learning more about the craft of writing (mostly by trial and error), I don’t have a lot of formal training as a writer and have yet to implement any specific systems or processes in my writing.
As cliché as it seems, I really do write about whatever is on my heart. There’s a lot of freedom in blogging, and that’s one of the loveliest things about it.
Whether I’m narrowing down an overwhelming stream of topics and ideas or struggling through writer’s block (it happens to all of us, don’t lie), these specific questions help me immensely when I’m brainstorming blog topics.
1. What am I passionate about?
Passion is what makes good writing great. When coming up with ideas, I ask myself what I am passionate about today. Whether my answer is a biblical truth, chronic pain myth, favorite food or anything in between, I have a starting point to write about something that is important to me.
2. What am I learning?
What lessons have I been learning lately? This question helps me reflect on how I’m growing and gives me ideas about topics I maybe want to research more and learn about as I write. Some people think you should only write about what you know. I say that’s garbage. Don’t be afraid to write about what inspires you to learn and keep learning!
3. What am I struggling with?
This is kind of related to question number two. I find so many writers who are quick to write about their areas of expertise, but never give any insight into their own human struggles. Don’t get me wrong. The internet is a dangerous place to air your dirty laundry and I am not advocating for that. However, learning how to convey relatable struggles in a humble, hopeful way is one of the most powerful writing skills anyone can ever learn. It’s something I’m trying to get better at.
4. Does this fit my niche?
Travel blogs, writing blogs, cooking blogs, you name it and there’s probably a niche blog for it. My blog is a Christian living blog with an emphasis on chronic pain management. My tagline, “fighting for joy, one day at a time” is an important part of how I pick my blog topics. If the post idea doesn’t help me and my readers fight for joy, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad blog post, It just means that maybe it doesn’t belong on my blog.
5. What would my readers want to see?
A good blogger knows how to write to an audience, which is something I’m still learning a lot about. As much as blogging is fun and even therapeutic for me, I genuinely want to encourage and help others with my writing. I can’t write specifically to the needs of every reader, but I really do listen to your feedback, comments, and suggestions to try to make this blog the most encouraging it can be for the most people.
So, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my writing process and how I choose topics! As always, feel free to comment or contact me with your questions. I love hearing from you and will do my very best to get back to each one of you!
-Alathia
Alathia Hayes 
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