Good morning, rebellious rule breaker!

I hope you’re having a splendid morning. (Or evening. Or lunch break. Whatever! I don’t care. I just hope it’s splendid. If it’s yucky outside, just close your eyes and imagine the sun shining! I’m writing this post from a sunny patio in California and I want to share the sunrays with you!).

 

 

I’m damn inspired today to help you solve one of your biggest, silliest blogging blunders.

 

This is one of those simple, golden nuggets of advice that will make you slap your forehead with an open hand and say “DOH!” à la Homer Simpson.

It’s not fancy. It’s actually the most simple piece of advice I’ve ever given

 

In fact, you’ve probably already heard this golden nugget of advice and thought, “Oh yes. That’s nice.”

Yet… I know you’re not doing it.

And even if you ARE doing it, I know that you could do it BETTER.

 

People ask me on a weekly basis, “How do you come up with ideas for your blog?”

 

They say things like…

“Every time I sit down to write, it’s like all of my good ideas run away and hide.”

“I know that I’m an expert, but I just don’t know how to come up with a good article idea.”

“I hate following an editorial calendar. I never feel inspired to write about the thing that I PLANNED on writing about.”

 

So don’t worry, I’m NOT going to tell you to create an editorial calendar or plan your blog articles six months in advance. This type of Glamour Magazine-style planning has never worked for me and from what you’ve told me, it’s not working for you, either!

 

No – what I do is much, much, MUCH simpler.

 

Because the thing is… YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ADORABLE, SHOCKING, REVOLUTIONARY, BORDERLINE LIFE-ALTERING blog ideas.

 

If you’re anything like me, your best ideas hit you when you’re…

…driving on the highway.

…lathering your locks in the shower.

…drifting off into sleep.

…waiting for your your car’s oil change.

…working on something else entirely.

…chatting with your friends over an artisan beer.

…standing in a downward dog in yoga class.

…sweating in a crowded rush hour subway train.

 

And because you’re busy (or don’t have a pen handy) you say to yourself whistfully, “I’ll remember it when I get home/wake up/get out of the shower.”

 

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LAW OF THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF LIFE, YOU DON’T REMEMBER YOUR LIFE-ALTERING IDEA. YOU NEVER DO. NEVER!

 

So here’s what we’re going to do.

 

We’re going to set up the 2 idea traps that you abso-tootly MUST have if you want to consistently come up with amaze-balls blog content:

 

IDEA TRAP #1: YOUR COMPUTER

You’re on your computer approximately 47 hours per day, so you DEFINITELY need to set an idea trap on your computer.

Remember how I showed you how I set up my computer desktop? 

I have a sticky note on my computer desktop labled “IDEAS”.

Every time I come up with a blog idea (usually while I’m checking my email, Facebooking, or working on a different blog post) I pause and write down the idea on that sticky note.

This is my main idea trap. I transfer all of my ideas from other idea traps into this trap and this is where I look when I’m ready to write a blog.

DO THIS NOW: Set up a sticky note idea trap on your computer desktop.

 

IDEA TRAP #2: OUT AND ABOUT 

For the times when pure genius slaps you in the face while you’re shopping for lipstick at Target, you need an “out and about” idea trap.

Me? I use the “notes” application on my iPhone.

Then, about once per week I’ll look at the notes app and unload the most amazing ideas on to my desktop idea trap/ sticky note.

 

It’s really that easy, dollface.

You don’t need fancy apps or blonder hair in order to write articles as wonderful as your idols.

You don’t need to lose 5 pounds or hire a business coach to play with the big dogs.

JUST DO THIS.

 

Try it out and make sure to Tweet at me and let me know how it works for you!

 

(P.S. This tip is one of hundreds from the book From Amateur to Professional. For more information about the book, click here). 

 

Is your life better now than it was before you read that? If so, SHARE THE LOVE!