Many options; here is my way
Sometimes an illness or a personal crisis can take us away from the computer, we reserve too much time or put off writing and research because we have no inspiration. But, our blog posting deadlines keep coming up. A variety of planners, calendars, and matrices are available to help schedule. I found them too generic or restrictive for my purposes, so I’ve developed my own simple system that I think is efficient and effective. Here you will know how you can do it.
folder with files
Start with a folder on your computer called Possible Topics, and put files (documents) in it on each topic you want to write about. Add to each file from time to time the information you find on the subject. Don’t write anything. Just keep adding tidbits of information.
create a calendar
Create a calendar file called Post Calendar and save it in the Possible Topics folder. Enter the names of the months on the left side of the page and the dates of your scheduled posts below each month. Nothing fancy, just a simple list. I keep a twelve month calendar and add a month to the end every thirty days.
Next to each date write a topic you want to cover; not necessarily the title. Headlines are usually the last thing I write after I’ve written the post. Include all the possibilities in your areas of expertise and interests. In addition to your practical topics and personal experiences, you may want to sprinkle book reviews, guest posts, and other focuses throughout your calendar. I’m planning five or six months in advance, which gives me time to move things around if I come across a special issue that I think needs attention sooner.
write your post
A week before a publication date, find the theme file for that date in your Possible Themes folder and start writing. Or, immediately after posting on Tuesday, select the theme file for Thursday and start writing. This second method is very similar to a salesperson’s answer to the question “What is the best time to make a sale?” Answer: Immediately after making one. Although you’ll find writing time to suit your management style, one of the best times to write a post is right after you publish it.
work for me
I find this system much easier to follow than entering information on a pre-printed calendar. With this system, I get an immediate view of where I am and where I need to be. And because I’m working so far in advance, I have plenty of lead time when a crisis disrupts my routine. Like a passenger plane in the sky, I give myself plenty of room to maneuver.
