Sometimes the hardest thing about writing a blog post is actually sitting down to write it. It’s so easy to put it on low priority, and before you know it, you haven’t posted in a month.

It’s hard to collect and maintain a readership if you aren’t posting regularly. That’s why I recommend creating a content calendar.

I know what you’re thinking: your posts are stories and they can’t necessarily be planned. I’m not saying that your calendar has to be a hard and fast rule that you live and die by. I’m merely suggesting using it as a “to do” list that keeps you accountable to write regularly.

It might also be used to inspire the stories that you write.

If you write your calendar monthly, you can take the time to look at important dates for that month that might be inspiration for a story. For instance, in May you might want to write about your best Mother’s Day, or how your mother was special to you.

Think of each month with themes in mind, love for February, back-to-school in September, and Hallowe’en in October.

Use your calendar as an organizational tool. The first thing that you need to decide is how often you think you can post. Be realistic. You should be posting at least once a week.

 Here are some things that you might want to include for each of the posts on your calendar:

1. Post dates. Give yourself a deadline to meet.
2. Working Title. You don’t have to keep this, but it will remind you what you are writing about.
3. Keywords.
4. Notes. Any pertinent information you might want to include.
5. Call to Action. Is there something you want this post to do? Is there a question you want the reader to answer?
6. Any up coming campaigns you are involved it.

 Once you have a content calendar, it will not only make it easier to sit down and write, but it will be a constant reminder to post regularly.