One of the most difficult things about being a writer is finding topics to write about. Most good writers write best when they write from what they know and about the things that interest them. Though many tackle a wide range of topics, all writers have their niches and their favorite subject matters to write about, and there are two tools in particular that can help jog those story ideas.
Google alerts and email subscriptions are two great ways for writers to get the most up to date stories on their favorite topics as they happen. Instead of performing web searches for story ideas and information, news items can be delivered to a writer’s inbox quickly and hassle-free.
Google Alerts
Writing a time-sensitive story gets a writer more page views to his or her work, and a great way to keep up on the latest news on your favorite topics is to set up Google Alerts. Put simply, Google Alerts allow writers to enter in a search term and then get emails on stories about the topics they like to write about. Here are step by step instructions on setting up a Google Alert:
Go to the Google Alert page right here
In the box at the top of the page, enter a search term
Under “Type,” choose from ‘news,’ ‘blogs,’ ‘videos,’ ‘discussions,’ or ‘everything’
Under “How often,” choose the frequency of emails: ‘as it happens,’ ‘daily,’ or ‘once a week’
Under “Volume,” choose either ‘best results’ or ‘all results’
Next, simply type in your email address and you are all set
Google Alerts is one of the best ways to get story ideas on favorite topics. I like to write a lot about new music and so I have a Google Alert set up for “new music,” ‘everything’ and ‘daily,” with ‘all results.’ Every day I get an email full of the latest news or blog items and more on new music, from which I can generate ideas to write my own spin on stories concerning new music. I do this with other topics, as well. For me, roller coasters, favorite music artists and hot news items are topics I follow every day via my inbox. You can’t get much more convenient than that!
Email Subscriptions
Another great way to stay on top of stories that a writer finds of interest and would like to write about is via email subscriptions to favorite websites that talk about favorite topics. Whether it’s a celebrity’s official webpage, a trade periodical or a news outlet, subscribing to their email updates gets a writer quick dibs on stories as they unfold.
Of course Google Alerts or email subscriptions won’t work for every writer, but those who like to write on newsworthy items concerning their favorite writing topics would do well to participate in both writers’ tools. If you’re a writer and don’t use either already and you do like to stick to similar topics here and again, then give both ideas a try!