“ If you keep writing blogs at this rate you will run out of ideas”
I’ve heard that one a few times over the last five years, but hundreds of blog posts and six published books later – I’ve managed to consistently come up with what I believe to be insightful and valuable content on a pretty steady basis.
Writing is obviously an intense passion of mine and one that I’ve put countless hours into.
It has helped me establish myself as a reputable professional and draw a great deal of interest to both my brand and my business.
The release of my eight book – The 5-Ingredient Heart Healthy Cookbook – should be solid evidence of that fact.
I know that many of you out there are passionate about the world of writing and want to see where it can take you.
For those who don’t quite believe in the power of writing, please do read my article on the 7 reasons why nutrition students and RDs should blog.
One of the most important steps you can take to excel in this regard is to understand what people want to read.
In other words, you need to be in tune with all of the sources of nutrition writing inspiration that surround you.
This is a skill that takes time to master, which is exactly why I created my Kaleigraphy writer’s mentorship program.
In today’s article, I’m going to offer you all some insights into how I arrive at the topics that I choose to write about it.
As my writing has gained attention over time, I am often asked about where I find my blog inspiration from.
If there’s no topic, there’s no blog – so this is the best starting point.
Source #1 – My Clients
My client interactions are my single greatest source of blog inspiration. People come to see me often because they are confused about food and nutrition and would like my help in demystifying it for them while also guiding them down a better, healthier path.
A big part of why the average client is confused about topics in nutrition is because they have come across, or been fed, misinformation from a variety of sources.
I pay very close attention to what my clients tell me and when I notice trends, I blog about them.
The #1 Example Has To Be Soy
My inspiration for Soy What? stemmed from numerous clients concerns over my recommendations to try tofu and soy milk over fears of the negative health effects of soy.
This worried me deeply as I am a practitioner who very much advocates for restoring the balance between plant and animal-based protein sources.
What trends do you notice in terms of misconceptions in those you interact with?
Source #2 – Traditional & Social Media
Traditional ( ie: TV, movies etc) And Social (ie: Instagram!) media do a very good job of revealing current trends.
It’s very much the idea of “keeping your ear on the pavement” and staying adrift of current nutrition trends and fads.
A great writer should be able to identify emerging or consistent trends and seize the opportunity to share their thoughts on them.
If a new documentary comes out, or you see people on Instagram consistently using an ingredient or making a questionable claim about food, write about it!
The Game Changers Is A Great Example
I know you guys have heard of the pro-vegan documentary The Game Changers – it was all the rage shortly after it’s release and any writer worth their salt would have picked up on that and respond accordingly.
I sure did!
Who else remembers the period of time where everyone on Instagram and their grandma was touting the benefits of coconut oil, I realized that there was no way this random product was capable of all the things being attributed to it. So I looked into it, and sure enough, it turned into a great topic to write about. What kind of trends like that can you identify on Instagram today?
Source #3 – Friends & Family
Outside of work, the people that we tend to spend the most time with are our friends and family.
Friends and family are, undoubtedly, an amazing source of inspiration.
Not only because you are intimately familiar with their lives and their own challenges with food, but because they probably have a ton of questions for you. These questions or curiosities will more often than not also reflect the questions and curiosities of the general public, thus making for a great topic to blog about!
You should certainly not shy away from telling your loved ones about your writing ambitions either, because just the fact that they know your looking for ideas means they will naturally send them your way.
Examples
Although this could technically fall under the “clients” heading, literally everybody asks about topics like intermittent fasting and the keto diet.
By writing about these topics you are not only educating yourself and becoming a better professional in the process, but you are also addressing questions that are held by large swathes of the general public.
One of my most novel and fun articles was “born” when one of my followers ( who I consider my friends!) asked me “what do the people who live the longest eat?”… I realized that would be a very cool article and ended up turning into an exploration of the Japanese diet, as the people of Japan have very long lifespans.
The People Of Japan Live Longer Than We Do, And It May Have Something To Do With What They Eat
Source #4 – Self Reflection
I will often sit down and ask myself if there is anything about what I am doing that other people might want to hear about or learn something from?
In the world of nutrition and dietetics, reflective practice is invaluable.
For every stage of your career ( from student, to intern, to professional, to major career accomplishments) there is a massive group of people in the tier just below you who are FASCINATED by your story.
Don’t believe me?
Another Great Example
I realize that what I do on Instagram is quite unique so upon hitting 10,000 Instagram followers I decided to reflect on all the benefits being on Instagram has conferred to me and provide some insights into how other aspiring social media gurus can grow their own followings.
How To Grow Your Nutrition-Focused Instagram Account ( And Why You Should)
Source #5 – Personal Beliefs & Experiences
Although the line could be blurred between self-reflection and personal beliefs/experiences, I think they are sufficiently different to warrant separation.
My beliefs are a big foundation for my writing, as they should be for yours.
As dietitians we all abide by sharing information in an evidenced-based manner.
But beyond that, there are specific topic areas that really get us going.
For me, at this point in my life and in my practice, one of my biggest passions is turning people onto a more plant-based lifestyle.
I am a newly minted pescatarian and quite steadfast in my belief that we could all benefit from relying a little less on animal protein and it’s safe to say the evidence is on my side.
Final Thoughts
Today’s article is for anyone who has ever wondered if it’s possible to “run out of ideas” as a nutrition writer.
It simply isn’t.
While ideas are not easy to come by, inspiration is everywhere if you know where to look and are willing to do so.
If you need help putting your ideas to work and creating content that will propel you as a professional, Kaleigraphy is here for you.
I’ve been told time and time again that I would run out of topics to talk about, but blogging is an integral part of my professional life and as I sit here at midnight on a Sunday finishing this one up, I know someone, somewhere will find it useful.
Until next time,
Andy De Santis RD MPH
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