It has only been this year that I started to blog more regularly and started planning in advance my blog’s posts. The switch happened after reading an article from Kam of Campfire Chic in her ‘better blogging’ archive (this one). Before then, I never really thought myself as a blogger, and still don’t to be honest, but reality is I have been blogging since 2009 and that makes me a blogger. I don’t want to start talking about the reasons why I blog, that is a possible subject for another post, but I started to enjoy the weekly tasks, the coming up with a topic and, most of all, the record of things I have been building up during the past five years. My editorial calendar is very simple and flexible. Since I’m using the Moleskine 12-month diaries this year, I have downloaded one of their free templates (the weekly notebook alternative template in pocket size, here). I have printed out 13 pages to cover the 52 weeks in a year and folded each in 3 pieces to nicely fit at the back of each monthly diary. The tedious part was writing down the month/week/day on each page, but I did that while watching some tv and didn’t take too long after all.
Since my planning is more or less on a weekly basis, I tend to shift things around very often, especially is something comes up at the last minute and I want to blog about it. For this reason I use post-it notes, the index ones, as they perfectly fit in the space allocated for each day. I write down the topic and I stick it on the planner, and eventually move it around. I was originally planning to use a colour coding system since I have some recurring topics I write about, like The Pick of the Month, the 52 project, and so on, but it wasn’t worth the effort so I just stuck to orange for the 52 project blog posts, which go live every (!) Monday and to green for all the posts that goes into my other blog SketchingIn Colour (Tuesdays and Thursdays only!). So far this method has worked wonderfully for me; it gives me the flexibility and organisation I need to stick to my plans and gives me time to plan and schedule in advance, especially when I’m too busy or on holiday. How do you plan your blog posts?
me, i just know that i'll post the 52 project, for the rest, just when i've time and something to write about (even if not too important!), but you're so organizated, and that's so admirable!
ReplyDelete@mirari I used to be like that, but found out that a toddler and a full time job doesn't leave much time for anything else...this is the only way I can get stuff done!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome. I have yet to find a blogging schedule or plan that works for me. I also like the idea of being able to change things but the sticky keep pulling up on my calendar so I don't know what to do. Still very pretty and organized. Maybe one day I will be like that too.
ReplyDelete@Cody K Doll it took me a while to find out what was actually working for me. But once I found it, it made things easier. Keep experimenting!
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