Last year I published a note with helpful tips on getting beyond writers block for people who write for social justice, and with help from my readers, learned additional things that I had not previously considered.
I later shared 4 things that help me to get in the space to write. After giving those notes some additional thought, I recognized another important source of writing inspiration that can often go ignored: your comment section.
Need Blogging Inspiration? Check Your Comment Section
When you’re not sure where to begin, taking cues from your visitors can be a great place to start. Through their comments, your readers may ask a question, make a suggestion, or share similar or different experiences that can help you to think more deeply about specific topics.
As a fun fact, the inspiration behind this note came out of the realization that many of my responses to comments have become their own full posts.
At the time of this entry I am approaching the end of my 5th year of blogging. Here are some notes from each of those years that have all started with a comment from a reader:
Playing Oppression Olympics Gets Us Nowhere On The Road To Equity
On Communication: Duplicates vs Complements
On Doing A “Double Check”: What If You’re Not Missing Information?
Readers’ Choice: Questions About My Blogging Experience
Non-Religious Belief ≠ Lack of Morality
Special Considerations
At times, intentionally avoiding the comment sections of websites and blogs is a necessary act of survival. This is increasingly important for people who write about social justice issues, as the anonymity that online spaces provide can make it easy for people to spew some of the most bigoted and hateful rhetoric while remaining safely hidden behind fake names and avatars.
I acknowledge this reality, and have found that moderating my comment section and making use of a comment policy has worked well so far.
Give It A Try
Have you been feeling stuck lately? Go check your comment sections for inspiration. Your blog is your space, and it’s okay to repurpose your responses into posts.
Try it out for yourself.
From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins-Jones, MSW, LLMSW
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This is a very interesting idea. I often get thought compelling comments and just reply with a short blurb, perhaps elaborating on those comments would serve me better! Thanks!
You’re very welcome, and thank you for your comment as well! I also write short blurbs at times for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is due to lack of time, while other times it is is because that just may be all that I have to say. However, sometimes I’ve found that I’ve been so moved, be it in a positive way, or triggered by a response that I just have to write more. I’ve realized after going through my comments and archives that I’ve been able to turn over 10 of my comments into their own separate posts.
Sometimes I just paste what I originally wrote, because it feels like enough. On other days, I may modify my original comment and expand on the points I was making before. It all depends, but I’ve definitely seen the positives that searching your comments can bring.
Great tip! I will definitely keep this in mind when I’m stuck (which is often lol)
Thanks for voicing that Tunisia, I often find myself feeling stuck too, but I can really attests that this tip works for me, and I am so thankful to my readers and commenters whose sharing continues to inspire me at just the right times.
I am thankful for the same thing. Always great to have support!