Looking for Inspiration: How to Find Topics for Articles on Associated Content

One of the most common questions in the Associated Content forums (aside from, "Why does my page view counter say zero?") is, "What should I write about?" The simple answer is, "Write about anything." Most Content Producers, however, don't like that answer. They want something specific, something solid. So here are some suggestions on how to find inspiration for your work here at Associated Content.

What do you know?

Everybody knows something. And chances are, you know something that most other people don't know. Write about it. If you're a mechanic, write an article about how to rebuild an engine, or even something small such as how to change the oil in your car. You could write about what qualities a person should look for in a mechanic, or standard labor charges for various kinds of auto work. And since you're writing about cars, you could write about detailing, body work, proper car maintenance, how to care for your car on long trips... anything.

What do you want to know?

Maybe there's something that you've always wondered about. Just how does a vacuum cleaner work, anyway? If you've wondered about it, somebody else probably has, too. So do some research and write about it.

What did you buy at the mall last week?

Product reviews are always good topics for Associated Content. If you bought a new kitchen appliance, write a review. New body wash? Write a review. New brand of paint? Review it. Any new (or old) item that comes into your home has the potential to be reviewed. Even better, if you've purchased two different brands of the same kind of item, you can do a comparison review.

What do you do in your free time?

Hobbies can be a terrific source of inspiration for your work at Associated Content. Do you play a lot of videogames? You can write a game review, or perhaps a retrospective of great games from the past. If you're an excellent cook, you could write a few articles about cooking tips. Maybe you're a classic movie buff - you can write about the life of one of your favorite actors, or a review of a classic movie, or something more global such as the portrayal of women in 1950's cinema.

What did you see on television today?

Did you watch the premier of a new television series? Write a review of it for Associated Content. Or you could write about "Why Roseanne is the greatest sitcom ever." Anything is fair game. Did you see a blurb on the news that hasn't been covered yet on Associated Content? Research it, and write a news story. You can also write about the highlights of today's game, or the live concert that you watched on pay-per-view.

Don't limit your topic to just one article

Almost any subject can be broken down into a few smaller articles for Associated Content. Take something as simple as, say, grocery shopping. You can write about how to find the best deals on produce, how to select fresh produce, seasonal food items, getting the most out of your coupons, proper etiquette in the checkout line, the advantages and disadvantages of using the shopper's cards, keeping your kids happy while you do the shopping, and so on. All of these things can easily be turned into an article for Associated Content.

So the bottom line is, write about anything. At Associated Content, there really are no boundaries. Almost anything can be spun into an article for Associated Content. Take a look around you, and find inspiration from your everyday life.