There has been a lot of talk lately about bloggers taking time off for the holidays and how we should make sure that we have posts ready to go. With WordPress, we can set publishing for any time imaginable invisibly. This feature is excellent and I am not sure anyone blogs without it. My 9 to 5 would make it impossible for me to post at peak times so it has been a real lifesaver for me. I believe this feature, in conjunction with a solid editorial calendar is the answer to the true consistency I have been seeking.

Chris G recently wrote a terrific article about planning blog post topics. In the article, Chris discusses the use of a simple editorial calendar to plan for time off, special events, etc. I am always looking for a way to remain consistent that I can consistently use. Some weeks I wing it, while others I stick to a serious schedule.

Because I write for several blogs now, I use a calendar with a basic reminder system just in case I lose track of where I am at. However, in the past month since I have added to my workload, my consistency has been seriously out of whack.

So with the help of Chris’ idea and a little trip to Staples, I plan to remedy this situation in 2008. You can most likely find all of these things around the house and/or create them, but I love any excuse to buy office supplies (yes, geeky. no apologies) so here is my shopping list:

  1. Extra Large desk calendar
  2. A different colored pen for each blog
  3. Chalkboard/whiteboard

I will hang the desk calendar so that it is the first thing I see when I enter my office. I will use a different colored pen for each blog and make a mark on all the days on which I plan/am scheduled to post to that blog. Then I can start filling in finished post titles for each publishing slot. The whiteboard is for finished posts/ideas that have not yet been placed on the calendar.

I know I have it in me to organize this way because I have done it before. I was managing editor of my college newspaper. It just took Chris’ post to push me in the right direction. Hopefully with this new plan in place, I will finally be able to establish the consistency I haven’t yet been able to grasp.

The ultimate goal in this is to become consistent with what I currently have going so I can add more projects. I firmly believe that I spent way too much time spinning my wheels. With better organization I could probably take on at least twice what I am already doing. It is all about making the Pareto Principal work for you.

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  • Not sure I can be organized enough to plan in advance. Last minute and late night for me.
  • I'd have to do too much work doing all that organization Sara...hahaha:) I just write whatever, whenever I want...do you think I'm disorganized? I will be doing one link love post every Sunday...that's as organized as I can get! You should see my sock drawer...hehe:)

    Bobby Revell's last blog post..How To Provide Traffic For Others
  • Great way to organize. i think that some people just dont use calendars enough. We buy them and them let them collect dust. I like to see people actually making changes with their organization and improving. Its motivation for me!!
  • Question ... I just got myself a laptop - my last one died more than a year ago! - and it came with Windows Vista, which is new to me. There are a lot of built-in widgets, like a calendar and "sticky pad" that hang out on the right edge of the screen. How do you feel about paper vs digital for scrap notes and such?

    Forrest's last blog post..Blowing up the Space Needle (New Year Fireworks)
  • Wow, you are one organized person!
  • You've hit on a fantastic idea! While I do have a 9-5 job, I had not heard of this feature in WordPress till now! Rest assured I'll be putting it to good use from now on!
  • Hopefully with this new plan in place, I will finally be able to establish the consistency I haven’t yet been able to grasp.
  • This is interesting to see that you're using a calendar to manage your blog posts, after your three Cs post - consistency in posting schedule.

    I've never used the scheduled posting feature in WordPress. It would have been pretty handy a few times, especially the second to most recent post of mine ... a quick, slightly autobiographical rambling I wanted to "go live" on my birthday. I'll have to look into both of these ideas, although if I decide to use a calendar, it'll probably be a desktop one.

    Forrest's last blog post..Blue Winds Dancing (by Tom Whitecloud)
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