Helping You Rock Out Your Site Like A Rockstar!

Web Design, uses your creativity and can run low from time to time, just like a writer can experience ‘writer’s block.’ However as much as that can be an excuse, there really is no such thing as a creative block. It is all in the designer’s mind. Some of this can be spurred on from the following:

• Physical limitations due to lifestyle choices (ex: stress, sleep problems)
• Lack of confidence in your own work
• Too busy or too much on your plate
• Not enough knowledge in field to complete certain projects
• Lack of motivation.

These are things that can be changed by taking a positive approach. I love to write as much as I love to design. I design like I write, which means I do the following: make sure I keep focused with the design before doing anything else.

• 1. Write down in notebook or type in notepad what you do not know in my field. Once this list is made, go out and search for books, and online resources to help teach myself how to do something.
• 2. Look around the internet for web trends and take notes. A lot of clients like to give example sites for something that they have in mind. These also can help you learn different tools that you can design for websites even if you code it your own way.
• 3. Keep designing. Do something, even simple stuff. You will find that if you work with one photo, you could discover dozens of ways to change or enhance it. Look for sites that offer graphic challenges. Some might offer a prize (even a small graphic), but the prize is not the goal. The goal is to keep designing and create something. A prompt sometimes helps and these challenges, even ridiculous ones can help. Here is a site called Graphic Competitions that may be handy for helping you get in the design mood.
• 4. Try joining forums for graphic and web designers to share pointers or visit blogs of these genre to get in touch with your field better.
• 5. Try drawing offline. Make mockups of layout ideas without the graphics on paper.
• When designing, try designate a time. Occasional breaks are great, but distractions can be a nuisance. If you are a mother, perhaps during naptime, during school hours, or after the kids go to bed might be the best times to design without being distracted.
• 6. Be confident in your work. Yes, rejection might hit hard for you, but you can always change the work. Take your client’s constructive criticism seriously and try to apply. You are working with a client which is a partnership. Most of the time, it is communication failure that breaks the partnership. The client chose you because they liked your past work and believe you can do the job because you said you could, so think about your past work and what your client wants. Do not let fear get in the way. You got the job, so you can do it
• 7. Be honest about your work. In the case that you cannot complete a project for some reason, be up front with your client. However, try to be resourceful and refer them to a possible web design buddy you may have met according to my 4th suggestion.
• 8. Keep a positive attitude. It is not the end of the world if your first proof is rejected. Persevere and you will definitely come up with something better second time around.

Remember, even if you design professionally, have some fun. It will help keep you motivated.

Summer for some of us might mean you have some extra time, especially if your job is only during certain times of the year. However, on the other hand, sometimes it is so hot out, not only does it take your appetite away, but it might even make your brain want to dry up.

Never fear though- here are more than 40 summer blog post ideas for any niche: (please note I have grouped these generally, but they can be used for other blogs too.)

Blog Post Ideas for Fashion Blogs

• Summer Clothing Fashion tips
• Summer Makeup tips
• Tips for what to wear on a summer night out in the town
• Beach fashion
• What the celebrities are wearing during the summer time
• Thrifty summer fashion tips
• Thrifty summer finds that look high fashion
• Product (makeup, clothing… any type of beauty or fashion) reviews

Blog Post Ideas for Blogging About Blogging Blogs

• How to successfully connect with A & B list bloggers
• Interviewing influential bloggers (at least to you- they are influential)
• Advice to attract the extra available crowd to your site during the summer time
• Recapping fellow blogger’s post (linking to original article of course), say why you do or do not disagreeing, or perhaps expand upon any points missed.
• Small or large guest blogging contest
• Invite other bloggers to do a question and answer type interview on Blog Talk Radio and post a recap of the session on your website.

Blog Post Ideas for Business Blogs

• Summer business events
• How to start a business
• Recap on last 6 month recap on your business and how it is doing in comparison to your current goals
• Advice for the newbie business owner on how to get to the next level, especially when they hit their first plateau
• Business Case Studies
• New business marketing tips
• Online tools for business management
• Reviews or comparisons of business products or services
• Interviews with other business owners in same niche on specific topics that your readers have expressed interest in hearing about

Blog Post Ideas for Mommy Blogs

• Summer Recipes to keep the family cool
• Summer dressing tips for your child or children
• Craft tutorials to keep the kiddies busy during the summer
• Summer safety tips for children
• Tips for moms on how to become more efficient at specific house chores/ necessities
• New summer product reviews
• Interviews with other moms or even dads on specific topics your readers are interested in reading about

Blog Post Ideas for Social Media Marketing Blogs

• Social Media Marketing events
• Interviews with influential social media marketers
• Social Media Marketing Case Studies
• New tech tools for social media marketers
• Social media challenge for readers – make a contest

Blog Post Ideas for Web and Graphic Design Blogs

• Summer trends in web design
• Any type of tutorial on creating graphics (especially anything summer related)
• Any type of tutorial on coding (HTML, jquery, CSS, PHP, etc…)
• Feature posts on design work that is awesome
• Roundups on the best of any type of graphics (the cutest, the scariest, the best vector, etc)
• Interviews with web and/or graphic designers on topics that readers are specifically interested in reading
• Web and Graphic design case studies

I hope these help in the case you have run out of ideas. Some of these ideas can be used again and again, especially for interviewing different people. For those reading, feel free to comment and leave more ideas for others.

I have been a bit irked by the efiction script I use at InuYasha-Fanfiction.com. The coding is so finicky especially when incorporating a new layout. Since I have been surfing the WordPress plug-ins, and had no success in finding something that I could make a fiction site with WordPress, I thought I might suggest something in their ideas section. I am sure that it can be done using WordPress alone, but for what I want, it has to be in particular. It would be extremely daunting to go into a WordPress site and find the sidebar filled with stories. If a link directory can be created, then I am sure this can be done.

There has to be some brainiac that can harness my ideas. Here is what I suggested:

A plug-in that gives the ability for the admin to allow users to sign up and use the site as an e-fiction site, much like the script from e-fiction.org. The plug-in would allow the admin to choose to display:

1. recent fiction posted (up to how many they want) or a way like recent commenters widget for the sidebar (or both)
2. Page created for categories in fiction
3. Tabulates and gives users, and users online.
4. Functioning profile with avatar.
5. Give users the ability to comment/ review on stories.
5. Stories can be added and chaptered by “Add new chapter” or “Add new story”

So, if they put [wpfiction] on the main page or active sidebar widget, the site could become a fully interactive wordpres fiction site. Just an idea…

Please, even if you do not use my sites for efiction, I really urge you to vote on this fiction script idea for WordPress. I would like to try running an efiction website that uses WordPress.

It may change the face of how we view fiction sites? And it might actually be popular…. *can only dream*