10 Signs You've Run Out of Good Ideas for Hubs
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Hitting a Wall
Sometimes it happens to the best of us. We are going along writing well without a care in the world and one day we wake up blank. Suddenly no ideas seem like a good idea anymore. Even lists of old ideas seem stale and ridiculous. You've looked everywhere for inspiration, but you can't find any. No topics seem like anything someone would want to read, and surely, it is nothing you'd want to write about on Hubpages. Yes, sometimes we suffer from writer's block.
Now, you might be hoping this is going to be a helpful hub on how to stop being so "blocked" or how to write even if you are blocked. However, this is not the case. If I had that kind of knowledge, I probably would not be writing this hub in the first place. In all fairness, this is really not the most helpful hub. Instead, this hub is going to give you the 10 signs you have run out of good ideas for hubs.
1. You're Staring at a Blank Screen
You've been staring at your computer screen for hours, but it is no help at all. When you are in your time of need, sometimes Mr. Computer simply has nothing to say. The computer is not always your friend. Sometimes it just sits there taunting you and there is nothing to be done about it.
2. You've Started Calling People
You start to randomly call friends and family members and ask them for ideas. Some of their ideas are so terrible, you decide to never do that again. Obviously their ideas of entertainment are quite different from your own.
3. You Start Roaming the Streets
This is part of a "maybe an idea will just fall from the sky" theory. Nothing is falling from the sky today, except maybe some leaves or for some odd reason, a NASA satellite. You figure there must be some great ideas out there, but nothing is coming to you.
Books on Writer's Block
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4. Random Thoughts Are Not Working
You begin to think maybe something random will occur to you. Objects around your home might help you out. However, they really do not.
As it turns out, no matter how much you like to eat Nutella, you just can't discuss it long enough to make a hub about it. You can, however, discuss it long enough to make a blog post about it.
5. Take a Nap
When all else fails in life, you just need to take a nap. Sometimes you might even have a crazy nightmare that inspires a hub. Perhaps a dream about zombies will really work out for you and a new hub. But wait, you've already got some hubs about zombies and there is nothing new to say about them unless, of course, there is an actual zombie apocalypse. But then again, who has the time for hubs when the zombies are attacking?
6. You've Started Reading Again
Yes, you've really actually sat down and attempted to read some books for inspiration. Books? Real books with pages and not on a computer screen? Wow, that is so out of style! This writer's block has really gone too far now.
7.
You can't even think of a good #7 for a completely ridiculous list you are creating on Hubpages.
8. You've Started Overeating
When all else fails, just start overeating and you are bound to think of something, right? Wrong. All of the food in the world does not seem to help this situation. Instead, you've only managed to anger your stomach and eat all the Nutella. Can things get much worse?
9. You've Started to Watch a Jersey Shore Marathon
It is an all new low once you begin to watch the Jersey Shore marathon on MTV and the computer can't pull you away from it. After all, writing for Hubpages is way more productive. Seriously, how many times can Ronnie and Sammi break up anyway? There has got to be a hub somewhere in that, right? No, actually, there isn't a hub hiding anywhere in that. They need to just break up and be done with it this time.
10. You Start to Write a Hub with a List
When all else fails, you start to create a hub with a lame list in it. Either that, or you start to read a hub with a really lame list in it. This is your rock bottom. But the good news is, you can only go up from here.
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Thanks for the comment! Every now and then I hit a slump. I usually don't stay in it for too long, but at least while in a slump, I can talk about being in a slump.
Hilarious! I think I've had all of these haha! Only for me, it would be "What Not To Wear" marathon instead of Jersey Shore.
Great hub, Jeannie.
Thanks for the comment! I am glad you liked this. Sometimes I just get stuck. I've never watched What Not to Wear too much. I am all about the Jersey Shore. Actually, the marathon is still on now. :-)
Hi Jeannie,
I think we can all relate to this one - every hubber should read it! Sometimes I write a sentence, erase it, and then write it again. Great hub!
Cloverleaf.
It is good to hear from other people that everyone goes through this. Thank you for sharing and for the comment!
Hi Jeannie, Very funny list and the elephant photo even funnier:-)
It's surprising just how long you can stare at a blank screen....
Brilliant hub and voting up!
Thanks, Movie Master. I am glad you liked the elephant. I found him at Walmart years ago. He was too big for the bin and kept falling in the floor. I felt sorry for him even if he is just stuffed. Yes, one can really stare at a blank screen for a while, huh?
I liked this hub...great list .....I am trying to think of a number 7 for you...but I am drawing a blank too....funny stuff. Voted up and funny. PS...I like your Halloween Avatar.
I think #7 might be if you are so blank you can't even come up with a summary, which is the case for now. I will write one later. I doubt Google needs to ever search for this hub anyway. Thanks for the votes and the comment. Also, glad you like the Halloween avatar. I thought I should do something different. :-)
Been there, done that. LOL Too funny!!
7. You write a hub about not being able to think of anything to write a hub about.
11. You post a comment on a hub about not being able to think of anything to write a hub about :-)
Thank you both for your comments. Obviously, we've all been at this point at some time while using Hubpages.
Something I've done when I have writer's block that's on this list:
Roaming the streets-I use this to clear my head and get exercise.
I'v e never watched Jersy shore, but I'm familiar with watching things that are just on TV for something to do.
Things not related to creating an idea for me that's on the list:
I have always loved lists and would make them regardless. I have a strange sleeping pattern too, so my nap taking is likely not a reference to anything but being tired-or sick.
Regarding the books however: I've always been an avid reader. I loved holding a real book in my hand.
I have a potential number seven for you: You haven't turned on your computer for more than 24 hours and it's not broken or crashed.
That is so true. If you are not turning on the computer and it is not broken, that is probably a bad sign. At least my computer is always semi-broken, so I can use that as an excuse. Thanks for reading and thanks for the comment!
Wow, that was entertaining. I love reading stuff I can totally and completely relate to. Voted up and funny.
Thank you so much for the compliment and for reading! I am glad you can relate to this, too. I guess we all go through this sometimes. Thanks for the votes, too!
ouch I just joined and I just submitted my fourth or fifth? Hub and its a ten things hub.. so yours popped up and now I am thinking LAZY ME! my other hubs are around 3000 words I am trying to cut them down.. haha... well I will take this as good advise and try to find some fair middle ground between the terrible easy top tens and the novels I keep writing! thanks! :)
Hahaha... I don't think the "list hubs" are really lazy, I just sometimes do them when I am low on ideas. Sometimes I am actually really inspired to do a list hub though. And trust me, people love to read them, so if you liked writing that hub I would say keep writing them. Thanks for reading and welcome to Hubpages!
If you have written 144 hub in 7 months I think you are allowed to occasionally run out of steam - not that you have since you had the idea for this funny hub. My problem isn’t running out of ideas, but finding time to write so I am very impressed by your output!
Thanks for reading and for posting a comment! Every now and then, I slow down and lose inspiration. But I am OK again. I know what you mean about finding time to write. I either have time to write or time to sleep, but can't manage to do both. So basically, I am lacking sleep and living off of caffeine for now. I've heard of some writers that publish 3 hubs a day. I don't know how they do it!
Obviously, I've hit rock bottom too. I'm roaming aimlessly down hub lane, when I stumble across your hub, which is a good thing by the way. I don't feel so bad now. Thanks for the happy read and maybe, this would set a hub idea. BTW, congrats on your 100 score!
thank you thank you - this made me laugh sooooo hard! By the way - LOVE the elephant pic and #7. :)
Guess I'll go back at staring at my screen again ...
Thank you both for reading this hub. I had no idea so many people would relate to it. I am glad you both enjoyed it. Have a great weekend and I hope you are both inspired soon!
Funny girl! Isn't there something very satisfying about writing a bit of humor? :)
Very funny hub and realistic as well. Just this morning I was driving, and thought, maybe I'll write a hub about defensive driving! But who wants to read about that? You never know when a hub idea will hit you. I especially liked your number 7! Voted up and funny! Thanks!
--courtlneygdtm
Thank you both for your comments. Yes RTalloni, it is nice to write with a sense of humor sometimes. And yes courtlneygdtm, it is funny how ideas will hit you. I would personally like to read a hub about defensive driving. I am such a bad driver!
Lame lists are all I know!!! Very funny, enjoyed it!
Wait, are you saying this list is lame? Just kidding. It is. I am glad you liked it and thanks for the comment.
This is hilarious. I remember when I first started, I had so many ideas flowing out of my head, so I still have a list when I am hitting a slump, no matter how lame some of the ideas seem. I am not looking forward to the time when the list is all finished.
Thanks for the compliment! Don't worry - we all hit slumps. I read someone's hub who was celebrating writing 1,000 hubs. She said sometimes she was uninspired and wrote nothing for a bit. It is good to know everyone has a dry spell here and there.
I'm still int he millions of ideas spinning phase...but I'll be watching for these signs. lol
Don't worry... even when you run out of ideas, you can always create a hub with a list of random ideas. It works for me whenever I run out of ideas. Thanks for reading!
#11 you hope one of your facebook or twitter friends posts a status to unblock your block and create a hub from it! Fun hub:)
Hahaha... that is so true. My best ideas always come when I am getting ready to go to work in the morning. That just doesn't help me! Now, I have to sit at work all day thinking about the hub I could be writing. Bah! Thanks for the comment!
Bizarre, you really have written a hub about not being able to write hubs. The tongue-in-cheek made it very amusing.
Thanks! I am glad you liked it. Sometimes I just hit a wall as far as creativity goes.
I ran out of ideas within my first 24 hours on Hubpages, since then it has just been a case of write whatever comes into my head! - Great hub
That seems to work for most of us. Sometimes an idea just comes to me. Sometimes I just make stuff up as I go along. Thanks for reading and for the comment!
Very funny, Jeannie. I think all of us writer's have been there!
I am not sure what is worse - sitting at the computer with no ideas, or having a bunch of ideas but no time to get to the computer. Thanks for dropping by!
Lol great hub, it is a little useful because then if you notice what you're doing is getting you nowhere then it's easier to change things up! Sometimes when I "give up" that's when I somehow find something to write (or draw).
This is true. Sometimes you have to give up and let inspiration happen naturally. When I do have writer's block, thankfully it only seems to last about a week. Thanks for visiting my hub!
7 is classic. Well done. I just stopped by here because I can't think of anything to write about. Comments on other people's hubs are always easy.
I am glad you liked #7... as you can tell, a lot of thought went into it. Hehe. Sometimes I just run out of good ideas. Thanks for reading! Hope you think of something to write about soon!
What a cute hefalump.
Thanks! I just really like that photo and could not find any other way to incorporate it into a hub. :-)
Painted Seahorse Level 3 Commenter 7 months ago
Really funny! I think we've all been there, and I'm sure I've gone through most of the things on your list. Thanks for the laugh.