Feel like writing, but can’t settle on a topic? Realize that you haven’t posted to your blog in weeks, but finding no water in the well? Mine your own ideas by going back through comments you’ve made, and you’ll soon be giving your writer’s block its what-fors.
As you visit your favorite blogs, leave them comments, click through links they offer, and browse the Reader, you leave a convoluted, zig-zag trail across the landscape of the blogosphere:
Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to map those travels, so you could revisit older conversations and see what common threads run through your reading and commenting choices? You can, on the “Comments I’ve Made” page of your dashboard.
“Comments I’ve Made” not only tracks your comments but contextualizes them — it lists your comment along with the one immediately preceding it (if there was one) and any follow-up comments from others. It’s useful for keeping track of the many conversations you’re involved in, but it can also be a great tool for generating post ideas:
- If you’re involved in an intense back-and-forth with some other commenters, you probably have the makings of a post on that topic.
- If you consistently comment on posts that are nostalgic/darkly funny/beautifully photographed/politically-minded, you have fodder for a few different posts. You could write on the subject matter, pulling together the strands of all your comments, or reflect on why you’re drawn to these topics or writing styles.
- If you find yourself often replying to the same person or few people, maybe there are opportunities for guest blogging on each others’ sites to explore.
“Comments I’ve Made” doesn’t just give context to individual comments, it gives context to all your blogular perambulations. Take a peek now and then to see where you’ve been, and let that influence where you’ll go.
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Reblogged this on My Own Fantasy.
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Love this tip. I commented on another blogger’s post about meditation a few months ago, and ended up writing my own piece about how haiku saved me from a midlife crisis. I think I’ll take your advice and try that again. Thanks!
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I love this idea! Thank you! I definitely enjoy leaving comments on engaging, promising topics.
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Ha!
I’m an adventurer!
Wondering what adventures everyone else is on!
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Great idea. I have done this. Also, I keep a place for random thoughts on a general “rough draft” draft post. Sometimes I can pull together from that. Since my blog is a lot of quotes and photos I fill in with those. Love the Weekly Photo Challenge for this!
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A gud idea …Sometimes I ,too am in a fix as to which topic I shud blog on……This seems a gud piece of advice from u…………Thanx…….
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I need to start posting more comments when I read blogs. Sometimes, I just don’t want repeat what others already said. I should just state it differently. Note taken! Thanks for sharing
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Don’t have this on my menu!
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Sisyphus47, I’m able to see it — when you’re in the dashboard of one of your blogs, it’s the second option down from the top (in the left-hand menu). You need to be in one of your dashboards, not in the Reader.
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This is good! I’ve not thought of revisiting my comments before. i like this idea! Thanks. 🙂
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Hmm. I think I unintentionally plagiarise myself all the time, because there’s not much going on in my head so the same thoughts tend to come out again after a while. Oh well, I’ve always argued for consistency in all things.
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Great tip! Thanks!
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Loved this. I m inspired!
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Well, you’ve just explained something else I didn’t know..thanks Diane
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Good advice, have been following more blogs to get some more ideas
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WHAT A GREAT IDEA! Thanks!
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Great suggestion!!
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Thanks, this is a great idea! 🙂
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I’ve done this quite often and it does inspire me.
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Reblogged this on InkSettre and commented:
While I am simply testing out the Reblog Post feature, this is certainly an excellent idea.
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Great thought! Is there anyone out there that has been able to do this effectively? What is the trick to the trade… I’m a new blogger :).
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Awesome idea. I used to comment so frequently, in fact I never just liked I always took time to write comments on posts I read. Good to know that I can use them in some way now that I am finding it difficult to motivate myself to write regularly again!
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Some great ideas here. My only problem is that whilst my blog is mainly about crafting, I often comment on blogs that have nothing to do with this subject so not sure if I should digress too much into other subject matter.
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Maybe there are connections between those other topics and what/how you choose to create to explore!
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Such a good idea to help with writer’s block. I thought of a couple new posts because of the comment idea! Thanks!
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Good ideas. Unfortunately, I have the exact opposite problem. Too many ideas, not enough time to write them all. But if that changes, I’ll have a backup plan.
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That’s what post drafts are for! Get ’em all down in drafts, and you can scan all your ideas when you sit down to blog and write about the one that strikes you.
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This is a great tip. Thank you!
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Plagiarising yourself is called ‘cannibalising’. I do it all the time.
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Reblogged this on Home Sweet Home WY.
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Use this quick tip wisely – Reuse (and extend) good comments (and images) on different spaces (such as Favorites on WordPress/ Twitter).
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Very interesting tip. I have never even looked at this feature in past. It is definitely worth exploring further. Thanks.
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Love this!
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