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10:47 am
February 15, 2011
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Melissa (Mom's Plans)
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I have blogged for nearly two years, and have never run out of ideas. However, for the last month I have been seriously sleep deprived due to sick and teething children. Most nights I am averaging 4 to 6 hours of sleep a night, and I am someone who really needs 7 to 8 hours. As a result, I find myself often staring at a blank screen. I think I am just too tired to be creative.
What do you do when you face writer's block? What are some tips and strategies to get the ideas coming again (besides a full night of sleep  )?
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11:00 am
February 15, 2011
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Jackie
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I just write anyway, even if the topic seems uninspired or completely random at first. Generally once I get writing things improve. It's the same answer to "what do you do when you have to go to work but don't feel like it?" — you go anyway. To get new ideas, I read random books and watch movies, talk to people about unrelated things, and try to relax.
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11:27 am
February 15, 2011
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moneysmarts
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One thing I like to do to come up with topics.. Find a personal finance (or other topic) book on amazon. Look at the table of contents if it has a book preview. Just looking at the table of contents can usually give you 10-20 topics!
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12:14 pm
February 15, 2011
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Buck Inspire
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You can even write about the problem you are facing. Sleep, children, writer's block, etc. Check the news for the latest headlines. Think about some interesting events in your past. Maybe even tap into any trips you took. Hope you get some rest! 
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3:50 pm
February 15, 2011
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brokeprofessionals
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I wrote a post the other day on 70 different types of posts. You know them all already, but sometimes it helps to read them. (I feel like a shameless self-promoter right now) (but the wink face makes it ok, right?).
I also feel like a hypocrite because I am still at work and dreading having to write anything tonight myself.
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5:02 pm
February 15, 2011
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Sunil from The Extra Money Blog
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that's when i take a long break away from the routine to recharge and refresh . . . but it doesn't happen often. as long as i have something to say (verbally) , i feel that i never run out of things to write about. i have heard many say watching TV, reading, listening to the radio works for them. we are exposed to so much, and something usually triggers an idea for a post at some point during the day.
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The Extra Money Blog– Expedited Wealth Building Through Multiple Streams of Active & Passive Income (Entrepreneurship, Internet Marketing, Personal Finance)
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5:49 pm
February 15, 2011
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My Personal Finance Journey
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Generally, when I am facing writer's block, I turn to reading one of my finance books on my shelf. There are always chapters that spark new ideas or things to analyze on my blog!
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6:05 pm
February 15, 2011
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Invest It Wisely
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When you have nothing to write, read…. and Jackie's idea isn't a bad one, either. Sometimes you just need to start typing.
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7:42 pm
February 15, 2011
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Sandy @ yesiamcheap
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I'm in the same situation as you right now! I'm averaging 55-70 hour work weeks these days and have no time or energy left. What I do is post reprints from others, guests posts or try to make a post that is a list. In fact, my current post called "10 ways to save money on gasoline" came from that exercise.
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11:41 pm
February 15, 2011
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Buy Like Buffett
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The news is the best place for coming up with things to write about.
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5:11 am
February 16, 2011
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Barbara Friedberg
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Awesome ideas-First off; Really try to get some rest. Stick the kids in front of the TV!
Second, stop pressuring yourself. If you skip a day or few your site will still be there.
Third, Clear your mind. Frequently ideas come to you when you least expect them
Fourth, read a PF book or magazine. In idea will come.
Fifth, ask a friend, spouse, relative to write a column. (My mom wrote a really popular column and she loved inviting her friends to my site!)
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5:16 am
February 16, 2011
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Glen Craig
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The news is the best place for coming up with things to write about.
That's a great source. Watch the news or daily talk shows. I also have a number of news outlets in my RSS to look through.
But I know how you feel. When I'm exhausted it's tough to get any real work done.
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6:26 am
February 16, 2011
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Melissa (Mom's Plans)
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Thanks so much for all of the advice. Using the tips here, my husband and I brainstormed 12 new ideas. That will keep me going for a bit. Now, just to get some sleep!
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10:56 am
February 16, 2011
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Frugal Confessions
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Awwww–sorry to hear this!
First off–don't freak out. That will make you get even worse writer's block.
I like to read/skim magazines from all different categories for ideas. Libraries are filled of ideas as well ( don't know how much time you have though), other blogs, or even ask some friends what are topics they would like to hear about?
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12:07 pm
February 16, 2011
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moneycone
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Do the reverse. Consciously try not to think about the blog or ideas for blogging.
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8:49 am
February 17, 2011
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The Financial Blogger
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9:15 am
February 17, 2011
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MaximizingMoney
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Drinking lots of coffee might help, or it might make you slightly jittery.
Just kidding there, but I tend to believe that you should just keep writing and ignore writer's block.
Try stream of consciousness writing where you let your thoughts flow and let one word lead to another without trying to think about what you're writing.
It may seem like you're writing meaningless meanderings, but eventually it will lead you to a topic that you can then focus on. It's a good way to generate ideas.
It's sort of like reverse writing, where normally you would think about what you want to write, and then start writing it, but in the opposite approach, you start writing first and then think about what you wrote later.
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10:02 am
February 17, 2011
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moneysmarts
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Another idea.. I have a bunch of google alerts set up for certain good keyword search strings. I get daily email reports on stuff that has been written about those topics in the news, and often those news stories lead to a great post – on a topic I know pays well!
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