In this blog post, I will show you how to snap out a pretty decent blog post in almost no time at all. Even if you are having an uninspired day.

We all have off-days. Days when we feel supremely uninspired. If you are running a blog, you cannot let off-days stop you. This secret method of mine will teach you how to write a pretty decent blog post.

Before we start, remember one thing: On no account try to come up with a title or headline. You can worry about that later. We are going to dive right in. Starting with the barest germ of an idea…

Step one – What are you going to write about?

First, you are going to want a topic. This should be fairly simple. If in doubt go for a shower thought, interesting comparison, or simple idea. Something that you can express in a single sentence. All you need is the slightest sniff of an idea.

For example

• good blog posts are easy to write quickly
• the first world war was rougher than you think
• Shakespeare is not as perfect as we make him out to be

Whatever it is that you think your readers will be interested in. Something you think you could probably muster three reasons why it is true, right, or interesting.

Other ideas include a question you can answer or a complex thing you can simplify. Maybe something people who would be interesting in your book might ask about.

As I say, anything you can hammer into a basic idea.

Step two – Write down just three points

Now you have a topic write down three points that support or explain the main idea. If your main topic is a little bit controversial use three things you can muster in support of your position.

These three points do not even need to be complete sentences. Just an idea of what you want to say.

At this stage you now have a five paragraph plan.

• introduction
• point 1
• point 2
• point 3
• conclusion & review

The first and last paragraphs pretty much write themselves. The introduction explains what you are going to establish. The conclusion explains that you have just established it.

You might want to throw in a call to action. Perhaps inviting people to comment on you post.

Step 3 – write three sentences (a few times)

For each of your five paragraphs, but especially for the 3 points, write three sentences expanding your point. Each time, you use one sentence each to:

• establish the point
• strengthen the point
• draw a line under the point

You can write more if you have more to say. If you are feeling uninspired, three sentences each for three points is enough for a pretty decent blog post.

If you are feeling uninspired with your points, you do not even have to get especially creative. Introduce the point with six to twelve words. Then mashal a fact or something to back it up. Finally, for sentence three, conclude that you are right and that you hope the reader will agree with you.

The chances are, you will now have about 300 to 500 words. That’s plenty for a pretty decent blog post.

Step four – decoration for a pretty decent blog post

If you are using WordPress or some other blogging platform, the chances are you can add a featured image. This is when you try to find a picture that goes well with what you were talking about.

If you have not got a good picture to use, there are site – like pixabay.com – where you can source images.

If you ended up with a longer post with subheadings (like this one), you might like to add pictures to each section.

Step five – let’s tackle that headline

Now that you know what your post is about and the exact point(s) that you want to drive home, we need a headline. It should be something that entices readers to view the post.

A good headline makes promises about what the reader will encounter. Having written the post already, you know full well what promises your post can keep.

A good headline can take work. The post was quick to write. Probably quicker than this one was to read. Your headline should take as long as you need. Take some time to craft a good headline.

Conclusion

You now know my secret formula for turning a one-line idea into a quick and fairly decent blog post. It is hardly going to light the world on fire but it will give your readers something to read that they should find interesting.

It might be a good idea to start a file for ideas. Write down ideas you have when you feel inspired. Posts you might like to write or think could be interesting. Then when you are stuck for a quick idea, you can dip in and knock out a decent post in no time at all.

With just a hint of an idea, you should be able to go from blank screen to finished post in less time than it took to read this post.

I make no promises about that headline though.

What do you think of this fall back formula for posts? Do you disagree with me? Do you have a secret method of your own that you use? Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts?