Some days, nothing is more threatening than a blank Word page with a blinking cursor. You’re on a deadline, you need to have written something by the close of the day but your inspiration has run dry.

Time to bring out the big guns:

1. Read

Reading is a sure way to get inspired. Websites like Quuu do a great job of hand-curating content based on topics you select.

If you are a Passle user, commenting on those articles is an easy way to create content!

2. Myblogu

Myblogu

is a website which promotes collaborative writing. You can invite others to improve your work in process, be cited by others, invite people to be interviewed,...

3. Brainstorm

Brainstorming is nothing new, but the 635 method of brainwriting is great for generating an impressive amount of content ideas. Most of them will not be usable, but the very process should reinvigorate you. This is particularly great if you need to generate a large amount of content to suit a particular strategy.

4. Interview

If you’re used to writing content about yourself or your work, then why not take the opportunity to switch things up a bit by interviewing someone or showcasing a business? There are lots of benefits to this: you can strengthen contacts, drive more traffic to website, and create content without too much fuss.

5. Research trends

Use a tool like Google Trends to research trending topics, popular searches and charts. Seeing what kind of content other people are searching for can give you new ideas.

Why not survey your customers and create a post with those finds? Google consumer surveys is one option, or if you have a targeted audience in mind, set one up with Qualtrics or Survey Monkey.

6. Recycle

You don’t always have to create new content, translating previous articles into a different format, such as video, podcast or infographic could be the perfect way to engage a new audience. It also extends the longevity of your work.

7. Listicles

The tried and tested method, exemplified by this post. They’re a seductive format, promising to condense a topic into an easy to read package. If you’ve been wondering how to tackle frequently asked questions, perhaps this is the format for you!

This post was originally published on 14 July 2015, updated 17 March 2016.