Writer's-Block Extreme

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   lmoyer92posted 10 years ago

   I'm not exactly the most experienced writer, but I do enjoy it. The problem is deciding on what to write about. There's so many topics that have already been written about. Even topics I've written on have already been written about. So how do you decide what to write?

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      WriterJanisposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      With so many writers on the internet, it can be difficult to fin something to write about that hasn't already been written about. One way around this is to write about personal experiences.
      
      If you're writing on a subject that has already been written about, put a special twist on it. For example, I have a Hub about how to throw a 1940s party. The twist i used was to narrow it down to throwing a Big Band party.
      
      Hope this helps.

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         lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you I appreciate the tip

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      SpaceShantyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with Robbie C Wilson, many topics are already covered but not that well, look at other hubs with a critical eye and try to make one that is better.
      
      Or just read the paper everyday to get ideas.
      
      One method (which I plan on using) is to look for 'future' subjects like commerical space travel, subterranean living, driverless cars, the discovery of life outside our planet, biological engineering, how the world will change with proof of the existance or non existance of God.

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         lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you! And speaking of Commercial space travel, have you heard of the Mars One project? Looks pretty interesting to me... Hmmm, next hub maybe?

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   Robbie C Wilsonposted 10 years ago

   How I approach topics that have been written about before (as WriterJanis correctly states, most topics have already been covered) is that I set out to make my articles better than those already out there. I aim to be more informative, have clearer instructions and better pictures than my competition. I also strive to include things not seen on other articles.

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      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      And that's why you don't have any friends. jk

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         lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I'm beginning to realize this place is like a big family that's ok with cracking jokes, giving constructive criticism, and helping each other out along the way. I'm really glad I've joined.

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   DrMark1961posted 10 years ago

   The area I am interested in has articles published on almost everything. So, like several people have mentioned, I try to write hubs that are more interesting than anything else out there. (There are also a lot of articles with mistakes out there. I try not to have any mistakes in my articles, but I am sure some readers would disagree.) Usually it does not work, but at times I will find my articles at the top of the search engines.
   If you have background in art history, write about that. If you know special techniques (like conte crayon, pen and ink, etc) write about that too. There might already be several things out there, so do a good job. Use good SEO techniques (read Writer Fox´s hub on the subject) and you might eventually do well.
   I read all of the hubs you have written so far. The Apple Seed will probably interest no one, so why not rename it "Apple Seeds and their use in cancer therapy" or something like that. Emphasize that part of the article.
   I grow Bonsai (or Bonzai) trees with Acerola, so that was interesting. If you like that subject, it needs to have more "meat" to keep the reader´s attention.
   Good luck!

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      lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much for the pointers I'm thankful everyone here is so eager to help out.

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   word55posted 10 years ago

   A million people have experienced love and heartbreak so just write your experience about one of them or both. No two people's story is the same however, a thousand may relate better to your story. Go for it...

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      lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's certainly an idea. But at the same time, I feel as though writing about my past love life would bring up unwanted memories.

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   Patsybellposted 10 years ago

   I am a garden writer. Dozens of writers have written a version of "How to plant a rose bush" Your article and my article will be very different and have different photos. Rose care in Oklahoma is a little different than rose care in New York. You will have a different point of view.
   
   With all the folks writing about "How to plant a rose bush," it just makes us all better writers. I can write and get paid to write this story every year because there is a different audience,. different folks are looking for this information now but did not want to know how to plant a rose bush last year.
   
   Most good writers or, professionals, will encourage each other. I will not feel threatened by you if you write about roses. (unless you steal my photos and research;)
   
   So, write about what you love. Write about what you know. What do you know?

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      lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I know and love art, but I feel as though I have very little experience as an artist to try and write a hub trying to teach others my techniques. I have a website "DezigningArt.com" which I post most of my artwork, but posting the photos is basically all that I do.
      I have considered writing about art in the past, along with posting sped up recordings of me creating a drawing, but I can never get the first few lines going.

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   DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

   What you describe is more "topic block" than "writers' block."
   
   Nonetheless, you may find my hub on "writing exercises to help with writers' block " to be of some interest and possibly helpful.
   
   Topics surround us daily, much has already been covered.  As some others have pointed out, duplication of topic is okay, as long as it is a different angle, and not stealing someone else's article, regardless of where published.
   
   I trip myself up now and then by duplicating my own work.  Just this past week, I thought I had hit on a nifty new topic and angle, (even though it's already well-covered elsewhere), only to discover I'd already written just such a piece a year ago.  Oops!
   
   Best wishes.

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      lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Since everyone seems to have mentioned it, I guess writing about topics already covered by others seems like a good alternative to finding new topics that have little to no articles written about them. Thanks for the pointers!

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   Patsybellposted 10 years ago

   Clearly you are here because you want to write. Just do it.

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      lmoyer92posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      touché. But finding what to write about seems to be the issue

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   Author Cherylposted 10 years ago

   I can always find something to write about that I notice during the day.  I am always taking in information that people talk about, watch how they are acting, life situations.  The possibilities are endless.

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   Helena Rickettsposted 10 years ago

   Write what you know and you'll never go wrong!  Narrow it down to a specific object or task and write about it whether it be instructions on how to do something or informational about a certain subject.
   
   If my husband changes the oil in our truck, I'll be there taking pics and notes on how he does it and I'd write a "how to" about it.  Articles really are everywhere.

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    sassypieholeposted 10 years ago

    Helena, I was just about to write the same thing: write what you know and what speaks to you. Worry about topics after it's written. ;-)

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       Helena Rickettsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Yes!  It makes it easier to write.  At least for me it does. 

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