Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Daily Blog Post Themes

One of my biggest challenges as a blogger is consistently coming up with new content for my posts.  Once I have inspiration, I love to write and the words just seem to flow.  However, finding the inspiration can be tough.  Let's face it - motherhood can be rather redundant.  People only want to read about my picky eaters or my messy playroom so many times before they are bored out of their gourds.  The fact that I am one of about 5,387,442,678,321 many, many mommy bloggers who are also writing about similar topics makes it even more difficult to find original topics or, at least, put a fresh spin on an old one.

For those reasons, I really like to have some sort of writing prompt or theme.  Now, there are plenty of sites out there that give you blog post topic suggestions.  I even did a post on it once!  Another idea, however, is coming up with some daily themes.  For example, I do a Tuesday Ten every week.  I started out doing it by myself, but have now teamed up with my blog friend, Rabia, to make it a link up.  I also do a Sunday Supper post every other week.  Having a focused direction a couple days a week has really helped me to post more consistently and has made finding something to post about a little easier.

Several months ago, I sat down and brainstormed several daily themes before deciding which ones I wanted to implement on my blog. I thought I would share my ideas with you!  Maybe adding one or two of these themes to your blogging schedule will help you as well!



Monday
Monday Matters - Write about a current event or hot topic
Music Mondays - Write about a song that is inspiring you (or driving you crazy)
Monday Minute -Write a short post about what's coming up for the week or a quick weekend review.
Manic Monday - Same as Monday Minute.

Tuesday
Tuesday Ten - Write up a list of 10 things. Check out weird holidays that are happening, think about something seasonal, or come up with your own topic for the list!
Tasty Tuesday - Share a recipe.
How to Tuesday - Do you DIY??  Are you tech savvy??  Write a "how-to" post to help others!
Twitter Tuesday - Keep track of your favorite tweets and share them on Tuesdays.
Toddler Tuesday or Tween/Teen Tuesday - Write about toddler antics or issues (i.e. potty training) or share advice on parenting tweens/teens.
Tuesday Tunes - Share a music related post.
Truthful Tuesday - Begin every Tuesday post with "The truth is . . . " or play "two truths and one lie."

Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday - This one has been around for a long time.  Just share a picture - no words necessary!
Wishful Wednesday - Start every post on this day with "I wish . . . "
Works for me Wednesday - Share a tip, a product, a parenting strategy - anything that works for you and might work for others!
Whatever Wednesday - Write about whatever is on your mind.
Wednesday Weigh-in - Write a post "weighing in" on a current event or hot topic.  Could also be a fitness post or a weight management post.
The Wednesday Word - Choose a single word as your theme and write whatever that word inspires. 

Thursday
Thoughtful Thursday - This could really be anything you want.  What are you thinking about??
Thankful Thursday - Share something you are thankful for.
Throwback Thursday - Share and old post or share an old picture and tell about it.
What Do You Think Thursday - Write about a hot topic or "controversial issue."  Share what you think and invite readers to share, too.

Friday
Flashback Friday - Repost or link to an old post that needs some love.
Friday Free For All - Write about anything you want!
Friday Funny - Share a funny story form the week.  You could also share a joke or a funny meme.
Friday Favorites - Show other bloggers some love by sharing some of your favorite reads form the week.
Foodie Friday - Share a recipe.
Feel Good Friday - Share a story of inspiration - a "feel good" story.
Friday Lie-day - A play on the "two truths and a lie" game.  Post three facts/stories - two are true, the other is not.  Invite readers to guess the truth!
Feature Friday/Friend Friday - Invite other bloggers to be "featured" by guest posting for you.

Weekend
Saturday/Sunday Summary - Share a review of the week.  Include your posts, your favorites from others, favorite tweets, etc.
Saturday/Sunday Silly - Share a funny story, joke, or meme.

These, of course, are just some ideas.  You can really take anything you think of and turn it into a theme.  Also, if there is a day that you particularly want to add to your schedule, you can spin one of these to make it work.  They certainly don't have to by this rhyme-y either!  Just come up with your own catchy title.  Remember, you can do it every other week or even once a month.

Any Day Ideas
Pinterest Party - Share some favorite pins you have seen.
Random question - Ask readers a questions.  Share your answer and invite them to share their answers in a comment or in a blog post.
Blog Tips- Share tips about blogging.  This could include social media, writing, scheduling, etc.
Let Readers Ask Questions - Invite readers to submit questions to you, then, answer one a week in a blog post.
Perspectives of a girl/boy mom - Are all your kids the same gender?  Share perspective of raising them vs. raising the other gender.
Book Reviews - Pick a day to review books you've read.  Invite others to submit reviews, too.

Another idea is to join a blog hop/linkup - a theme that someone else has implemented.  I mentioned our Tuesday Ten.  I also participate in Finish the Sentence Friday and Ask Away Friday.  Both are linkups hosted by other bloggers.  There are honestly blog hops for any and every day of the week.  You might just have to do a little research to find one that fits your style and your schedule.  (You could also take almost any of these and begin your own linkup!)

What ideas do you have to add to this list??  If I added one of these to my blogging schedule, which one would you most like to see??

68 comments:

Nicole R - Writer said...

Thank you for the inspiration. Truthful Tuesday sounds like a winner.

Janine Huldie said...

I love this Lisa and am so pinning for future reference. Seriously great list and in case I do need inspiration, this is perfect :)

Tamara Bowman said...

These are great! I love to take prompts and run with them. I love Old School Blogging and Ask Away Friday. I google good blog prompts too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Awesome! I like that one, too!

Kenya G. Johnson said...

This is great Lisa - I am printing this for myself. I already pinned it too. I love the Throwback Thursday pictures people post on FB. That could be like a Wordless Wednesday. Never say never but I think I'm never going to have a schedule. It would stress me out. But this will be a great reference for when I have that itch I need to scratch ;-)

The Dose of Reality said...

LOVE this so much! I think it can be so hard to constantly think of new stuff...and I love the idea of making it a theme for the day! Saving this post!-Ashley

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Kenya! I struggle with it, too. Originally, I thought I was going to do one of these theme 5 days a week. Then, I came to my senses and realized there was absolutely no way I could post every day.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Ashley! You and Lisa already do such a good job with you "Would You Rather" and "Pinterest Nightmares." That's the thing - it could really be ANYTHING that you find interesting, funny, etc. I, personally, just like the idea of doing something consistently. :-)

MamaRabia said...

Great list, Lisa! I find that participating in daily themed linkups allows me to have content consistently without having to start from scratch every day. Plus different themes bring in different readers, so I hope that means there's a good variety on my blog.

Amy Gurley said...

This already gets my wheels turning... I LOVE these ideas! *saves post* woot.

Petra Lucas said...

Great ideas! Im taking Toddlerhood and running off with it.

Dana said...

Great ideas, Lisa. I've been toying with the idea of having a bimonthly series on things I'm loving right now. My original idea for my blog was to do the legwork/research so you don't have to - when you're tackling a project, etc. So I thought I would have posts with lists of ideas/recipes/products that I'm using and loving - things that may appeal to my readers. I want a clever name though - "What I'm Loving ---day" is too blah.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I agree! I just worry sometimes that it's all I do - lie I never post anything original. Although, everyone puts their on spin on many of the prompts.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Awesome! ;-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Perfect! Good Luck!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That's a great idea Dana! My first thought was "Friday Favorites," but that would interfere with FTSF and Ask Away Friday. You could do the "Works for me Wednesday" or you could just call it "--day Picks." Or you could the leave the day out of the title and just come up with something catchy like "Listing What I Love."

Joy @ Comfytown said...

These are AWESOME, thank you! More than half the battle is getting TO the laptop, so having any sort of direction/schedule definitely helps! Pinned this!

Sarah @ LeftBrainBuddha said...

Wowzers!! Great list, Lisa!!

Petra Lucas said...

Thanks again for sharing this inspiring list. I've started my Toddler Thursday theme - or as Im calling it Adventures in Toddlerhood. :) Hope you don't mind me posting my post link here: http://branchingoutreachingtall.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/toddlerhood-reading/

Rebecca Erwin said...

I love "You have my undivided attention." I need to say that more. No used to be a difficult word for me too. Good for you saying it. The times you volunteer will be come so much fun.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yes - there is not time to sit and think "What should I write?" Having direction definitely helps!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Sarah!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That's awesome!

Janine Huldie said...

I will admit that it is usually my kids in the backseat that do make me laugh and talked about this in my own post tonight, so totally relate to you on your story. And I would love to be able to pause time once in awhile and take in the finer moments. Sometimes I feel like time just flies on by lately and would like to at the very least slow it down, so a pause button would definitely help I think with that :)

MamaRabia said...

We have paneling in our dining room and I can't decide if I like it or hate it. I think your den looks nice. And I love the rug in there! I had fun swapping with you this week. You gave me some really good questions!

Kristi - Finding Ninee said...

Oh I remember the spider on the roof story! Too funny. I painted my brick fireplace white (I should show a pic of before and after) but totally get why you're reluctant about the wood paneling. Soon as you remove it, it will probably be the next coolest trend, anyway!

Ilene Evans said...

Lisa, I too have had to stop my car due to spider sightings! And I really admire how you support your daughter being a vegetarian. I too became one at a very young age but was left to fend for myself...she will remember and appreciate this one day.

NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner said...

7 by Jen Hatmaker is a book that totally rocked my world in the best kinds of ways!


I adore your den. I think the wood paneling is so homey and inviting. My grandparents painted their paneling white, and they really like it that way.


I would love to have a pause button from time to time so I could really soak in the moment. I guess maybe, that is part of the reason why I blog. So I can remember the every day.

Kenya G. Johnson said...

I really admire YOU for #5. I think we as moms we all make meal adjustments to make everyone happy but I really love it that you do that for her. One time I screamed and nearly made my dad run off the road. I distinctly remember that I had my hair it french braids. I was rubbing one of them at the nape of my neck and then IT bit me. Me discovering I wasn't feeling my braid and the bite happened in the same moment. UGH! I can see it in my memory but I don't know what it was. It looks like a wasp - but bigger.
P.S. Don't paint the paneling. I don't think you can undo that ;-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Wouldn't that be great if we could just hit pause once in a while? :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Rabia! It was fun swapping questions with you, too!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Yep! That's the other thing I'm afraid of~ :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Ilene! She's a pretty great kid and I honestly do admire her sticking to her beliefs. It's not always easy for me, but I know it's not always easy for her, either.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

That's the main resin I started this blog - to record memories. It has grown into more than that now, but I hope it still serves that purpose.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Oh my - my youngest would absolutely FREAK out if it had been crawling on her.

Nina Badzin said...

What a great resource! Thank you! I only write about once, at most twice a week for the blog. But still, I get stuck for sure. This is really cool. Thank you again!

The Dose of Reality said...

These were REALLY great questions and your answers are so interesting!! I like your answer about the pause button. I was going to say rewind, but after reading your answer I changed my mind! I'll have to get that book. It sounds really intriguing!! --Lisa

Ginnymarie said...

Those are such great questions! I often want a pause button in life, just so I can savor the here and now. I can also see my daughter asking for some salt before a bath if she thought it would turn her into a mermaid!

Tamara Bowman said...

And this week, I doubled duty with Ladies Only Blog Share and Ask Away Friday! You gotta love it. And I'm laughing because Scarlet noticed a tiny spider in the car the other day. It was tiny and nowhere near her! Eagle eyes.

Allison C said...

These are great questions, so pleased to read them and was very interested.
On the spider thing, there IS NO SUCH THING AS A SMALL SPIDER. ;)
And I would want a Pause button, too.

Sarah @ LeftBrainBuddha said...

I love seeing the pictures in your house - what a cozy room! I'm with you on the pause button. Do you remember that show when we were kids about that girl that was like half alien and had the power to stop time to get something done and then restart it? Oh, how I want that power!!!

Stephanie Sprenger said...

I love the spider story, how funny! These AAFs are so fun to read! I love learning more about people. I too am sort of hopeless at interior design. And I loved the rewind/pause question: as a nostalgia-junkie, I would adore a rewind button. :) Also, I cracked up out loud at the mermaid salt bit! Too funny!

Emily (OhBoyMom) said...

Love your combo post...those were some fun questions too. Oh and I'd definitely choose pause -- both to savor the moments as well as to catalog them. I keep wondering if I'll ever put photos in an album ever again!

Considerer said...

Cool combo! I'm a fan of combo-ing, as you know :)

You could always get a nice stencil for the panelling, then you wouldn't have to be 'creative' but you could still lighten the room and add interest to the walls. A golden fleur de lis could work well.

I usually sleep on my right side and then stay there.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I still have my blankie. It lives in a box near my bed (rather than *in* my bed) and I still love it. So I'm glad you never had cause to post that update.

Alison said...

I love the mermaid story, that's adorable!

And I know all about blankie-attachments - my oldest, at 4, is very attached to his. Though I can usually take it away and put it in his room without too much fuss (as opposed to him dragging ti around the house).

Jessica said...

This is great! Thanks for posting!!

KatiaDBE said...

I love Rabia's very insightful questions and love the way you've addressed them. The question about rewind vs. pause as well as the one about going to the past vs. future is my favourite. I love the distinction you make between being nostalgic yet not spending too much time dwelling on the past or trying to correct it. It's a lovely thought and I've learned so much about you and your daughters that I didn't know!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Lisa! It was fun!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

:-) She was so funny because she didn't want to tell me what the salt was for! She was very disappointed when it didn't work!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Ha! My daughters would totally agree with you about the spiders! However, simpered to the heart attack she gave me with her screaming, it was small! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I don't remember that show, but I would definitely like to have that power!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Stephanie! I love AAF and FTSF so it's fun to combine them. I am very hopeless when it comes to interior design! Emily as very disappoint data the mermaid trick didn't actually work. :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I know! I was diligent about baby books and photo albums when my kids were small. Now I have picture CD's and SD cards. Crazy!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

:-) I used to say "Well, she won't carry it down the aisle with her so it's not worth the battle to take ti away." Now, I 'm convinced that she may very well carry is down the aisle with her and I'm o.k. with that. As she gets older, it is one thing that reminds me that she is (and always will be) the baby.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks, Katia! These were fun questions and I'm glad you enjoyed reading my answers!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

I love doubling up! Sometimes I know exactly what to write for FTSF and other times I am stumped. Those times, it nice to just answer it like a questions and then move on! We should teacup for AAF some time! :-)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Fortunately, my daughter has several "blankies" and is not too particular about which one she has at any given moment. Going to school has helped because we told her the school doesn't allow those things because "big kids" don't need them so much. A bit of a white lie, but it has helped her to leave it at home without being too upset.

Tamara Bowman said...

I would love to!

Stacey Gannett said...

Love these questions and answers! I completely understand about the blankie thing...my lil miss is 11 and she had a special blanket that I made for her and it was lost on a recent trip and she was devastated. I made her a new one though, but I don't think that it will ever fully replace the first one. Have a great week, Lisa!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Thanks Stacey!

Michelle Nahom said...

That mermaid story is so cute! And I think I would hit pause too, just to enjoy a moment for a little longer! These were such good questions!

Kris said...

Thank you for sharing! I teach high school, and my students have their own personalized blogs. I am always looking for new ideas for them to post on! This is a great list of ideas.

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

Glad it was helpful!

Charlene said...

This is exactly what I have been looking for! I have been wanting to add a little structure to my blog as I am new to the blogging world - blog prompts are perfect for this. Thank you so much Lisa - you are a gem!

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

So glad it was helpful!

Krystal Zollinger said...

Thanks for the ideas!

Jenna said...

So happy I found this! Thank you :)

Lisa @ The Golden Spoons said...

You're welcome! Hope it's helpful.

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