This is Day 11 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, a group project 60+ of us bloggers are doing together in an effort to help each other become better bloggers.
I truly loved yesterday’s assignment, brainstorming new posting ideas. At first I thought it was dumb, but the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. Likewise for today’s assignment–which is to plan out a posting calendar for blogs to write through the week.
First my objections: I don’t write an informational blog so much as an inspirational one. And the kind of inspiration I write is the stuff God has been saying to me in my daily quiet times (well, mostly daily). Why would I need to brainstorm about this? I’m not the one coming up with the ideas. How can I plan out what God is going to say to me? How will I know what He may want me to write on Wednesday? Why would I need to?
The thing is, though, I often do plan what God will say to me. People raise topics I have questions about or I read something in the word I don’t understand, so I take it to Jesus and He explains–usually–or sometimes He doesn’t. And planning out a week ahead isn’t all that draconian, especially since I’m the one who decides on the moment whether to follow the plan or not. I often get cool things from God and never get around to posting them because something else comes up that diverts my attention. A posting plan would help to avert that.
I also liked the idea of planning a posting rhythm or flow–posting a scripture meditation on Monday, a list of relevant posts on Wednesday, a word to the church on Friday. Probably not for me, but it’s a good idea, and the idea of varying the format of my postings does appeal to me, if not in quite so structured a way.
Another thing I liked was that planning a little ahead will enable me to use more relevant photographs instead of just looking through my photo files for something that might work–or at least be pretty. If I plan ahead, I can actually go out and take a picture that will add to the content rather than just drawing the eye.
Finally, Rowse makes a good point when he says that blogs can get a little one-dimensional unless the writer plans otherwise. Planning can act as a self-portrait that allows us to see the face of our blog and say, for example, “I think it should have a nose, too–all those eyes look weird by themselves.”
So give it a shot–what can it hurt? Even if you feel that your blog isn’t the sort that will benefit from planning, you may find some aspects of this assignment that do apply, and how will you know unless you give it a chance?
Discussion
- Do you think your blog could benefit from a little more intentionality? Why or why not?
- Do you sometimes feel that your blog is getting a little flat? What would pep it up? How can you make it more interesting and attractive?
- Do you find materials in your notebook, etc., and think, “Why haven’t I ever posted on that? Do you then flip past them and forget about them again?
- What is God saying to you about this?
The Extra Mile
A few other things you can do to take your blog, other bloggers, and this project even further today…
- Reply & give other bloggers feedback on the little things they do.
- When other bloggers include a link to a new article they’ve posted today, click, read, and comment on it.
- Check previous posts in the series for new comments.
- Tweet, share, & bookmark this post.
- Please review Richard Sipes blog and give him some feedback.
Cindy Skillman lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota (USA) with her husband, daughter, and two goofy dogs. They’re involved with a group of brothers and sisters in a new organic church and meet to break bread with one another from house to house as well as just hanging out together through the week. She blogs at http://cindyinsd.wordpress.com and you can follower her on Twitter at @CindyinSDakota
63 Comments
We have actually accomplished this lesson quite by accident, but have found that having a calender of topics can be very beneficial.
In our blog today, we are talking about porn addiction, from the pew to the pulpit.
http://ronniespoon.blogspot.com/2010/05/addiction…
The difficulty I face with a scheduling is that the time I can devote to blogging varies evening by evening. I tend to think of "schedule" in terms of "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…" and that already begins to overwhelm this guy who can't manage daily posts.
But as I reflect on this, that's not what the exercise is saying. It's simply planning ahead. Tonight, I will be driving one daughter to youth group, and picking up another daughter from club volleyball. So I shouldn't try to write. Wednesday and Friday, on the other hand, look open.
I know! Tonight, I will catch up on yesterday's assignment! 🙂
My new post is an "out-of-context" quote from life which I use as humorous fillers on days when I don't have time to write.http://www.blogoneanother.com/2010/05/kay-sez-abo…
I don't think today's lesson is so much about scheduling when you write as much as it's about scheduling when certain types of posts will be published. As much as creative people such as writers hate to be predictable, I think readers like a predictable schedule so they know when to expect fresh content.
Cindy!! Great word.. I have slacked the past 2 days on posting.. Been so busy with work and some things God has been revealing to me..
I feel God leading me to plant a church back in my hometown of Gatesville, Tx.. Scares the crap out of me! Fought with this decision for a long time.. Put it on hold when my mom was sick and when she died.. On the 1 year anniversary of her death it was finally completely revealed to me.. Very surreal…
Anyways.. I think having a plan would be great and a calendar. I try to get our pastor to do that with his blog, but like most pastors he's a bit scatter brained! I will now be attempting to post regularly with a certain topic/idea for the days I do post.
Maybe do a Monday post on what I learned on Sunday. A Wednesday post on something personal and a Friday post on what's coming up for the weekend..
Its a challenging perspective you bring. I do tend to be in a constant train of thoughts and ideas, largely prompted by what happens everyday. Planning ahead, does, however, have its merits and on occasions I have run a deliberate theme – so maybe for me its a bit of both.
Yes! Definitely a bit of both. We make the plan, but God orders our steps and our days.
So, I sat down and wrote out a plan. I have the picture (above today's post) to prove it! But do you think I followed it? Hahaha! Very funny! It did inspire me to sit down and write (well, transcribe) some posts, though, so I have a new post up and several more scheduled that I might not have gotten to for a while if I hadn't written down a plan to do SOMETHING. If you want to see, click on my name–it will take you there.
Great review, Cindy!
Blessed,
Janis
Thanks so much for this post. I am a planner and so this works well for me. Although I must admit I've been a little out of sync lately. I know other bloggers (especially inspirational) who have struggled with planning blog posts. Thanks for encouraging us that our blog posts can be that much richer and informative with a little planning… Whether that be including link posts or intentional pictures, I think that planning will allow you to incorporate all the tools being presented in how to become a better blogger. Keep up the good work everyone!
I'm a new blogger over at lashorne{dot}com. My latest post ishttp://lashorne.com/2010/05/18/joy-in-christ/
Love the picture you used with your post. The scripture and picture went great with it. Thanks for the visuals.
Thanks Becky! I checked out your blog post. I really liked the idea of color coding based on one-time posts, series, etc. I enjoy using color when I plan, that just brought some perspective for me.
I can totally understand what everyone is saying here. Most people who blog probably take that common approach of being more spontaneous. However, this project is about building a BETTER blog.
Personally, I'm doing this to learn how to take my blog to the next level, and this is just one of the best practices. So I have a choice to make. Do I stick with what I've always done, or do I try the best practices that I'm learning about? If I stick with what I know, will I ever be able to achieve the BETTER blog status?
So while some steps like this one may seem uncomfortable (or unreasonable), I'm willing to give it a shot. I don't think that it means leaving the guidance of the Holy Spirit behind… just using that guidance to help me be a better planner.
word!
🙂
The idea of scheduling what to post and when to post for our blogs is a good idea. I sat down and did this and loved being able to see it visually and what I can do with it. Seeing what I'm posting when and everything. I know I probably won't always stick to this and will probably rearrange it or move posts sometimes because I feel God is saying to blog about something else or to wait on it.
The links in the book for today were very helpful. Tips on the best time to post, blogging schedules, and more were great.
Posts since yesterday –
Your Community 6of6 – The Church –http://tijuanabecky.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/your…
31dbbb days 8-12 –http://tijuanabecky.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/31db…
Uh-oh! Since I wrote my new post, I am afraid that I need to give today's calendar topic a little more credence. Today's post is on being passive.
http://campfirecowboyministries.com/2010/05/how-t…
I like today's lesson/assignment, and I think it's going to be really important in taking both this blog and LiveIntentionally.org to the next level. It think the one of the biggest problems with both is the lack of consistency.
I hear what everyone is saying about wanting to be spontaneous, creative, and led by the Spirit, though. I think usually the best way to go is to have a solid plan and the freedom to deviate from the plan. (Hmm, that would be a good topic for a blog article)
Today I wrote… Digging Deep: Leading When You Have No Energy
http://www.liveintentionally.org/2010/05/18/diggi…
Wow – if you think you lack consistency Paul then there's no hope for some of us then 🙂
And that's a good post – I recall the lack of sleep (I typically only take 5 or 6) when I had my prolapsed discs this time last year. It came down to snatches of 5m at a time. I was literally paralysed by the pain and lack of sleep – it took three weeks before I could even get 2hrs straight and for about 6wks I was useless to all around me. Should have commented over there but ….
Posts in this series and in the 20 Ways to Share Your Faith Online series last month have been very consistent, but that's primarily because a) other people have been writing most of the posts, and b) I feel accountable to everyone else participating in each of these projects.
Posts outside of these projects have been inconsistant. And if you look at LiveIntentionally.org you never know what you're going to get. My goal is 3 posts a week, but the last week in April I didn't post at all. It really comes down to a matter of priorities and writing that blog comes after God, my wife, my kids, OCC, my church, my small group, extended family & friends, exercise, household chores, and on and on.
Your last paragraph is precisely one of the reasons why I probably inwardly shy away from planning my blog.
Committing to doing X on a specific schedule could easily lead to a clash with other more important items – your list being a great example and mostly mirroring my own degree of importance… plu sthe shift work can make life real tough to get everything done with a schedule whilst at other times it facilitates it.
Plus, despite my regular, daily usage of tech I am more than happy to walk away from it for a period to recover so schedules definitely go out the window then.