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Develop an Article Calendar – Part 3

This is the third part of your article calendar ideas. I invite you to look for other reasons or occasions to write about. Look for new angles on old subjects or new special days or holidays to write about.

January
Start thinking the hot days of August, even if you’re shivering.

  • Back to school
  • End of summer
  • School supplies
  • Women’s Small Business month
  • Away to college
  • National Immunization month
  • New, affordable school clothes
  • Happiness month

February
This is a short month, so get started on these September ideas.

  • Labor Day party
  • Patriot’s Day [9-11-07]
  • Cooler weather
  • Gardening tips on winterizing
  • New school
  • First bus ride/separation anxiety
  • Grandparents Day
  • Update your resume month
  • Autumn begins
  • Baby safety month
  • College savings month
  • Library card sign-up month

March
Plan for October ideas:

  • Columbus Day
  • Weatherize your yard
  • National Bosses Day
  • Halloween costumes
  • National breast cancer awareness month
  • National domestic violence awareness month

Pick the subjects that most interest you or you have experience with. Write in support of a cause that you believe in. This week’s posts have given us some ideas to start with and can help keep you on track and keep you writing. You won’t have to have get stuck for ideas. Have fun finding new ideas to go with these.

 


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How to Develop an Article Calendar

Some of you may already to this, but others may not realize what a great tool it can be when you’re trying to set up an article writing schedule. You can even use it to plan for releasing a new print book or E-book. Think seasonal. Think about how much lead time you need. Most magazines want a 4 to 6 month lead time. Some are only 60 days.

The following are a place to start. It’s already the end of March for this year, so we’ll start with April dubmissions.

April
Look ahead to November.

  • Lung cancer awareness month
  • Colder weather
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • American Diabetes month
  • Holiday tips
  • National Alzheimer’s disease month
  • Surviving the holidays
  • Decorations

May
Think about December.

  • Hanukah
  • Last minute shopping ideas
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  • Holiday meals
  • Kwanzaa begins
  • Cold weather/winter fun

June

Now’s the time for January ideas to keep your calendar going.

  • New Year’s Day
  • Goals and resolutions
  • Celebration of Life month
  • Lose holiday pounds
  • Start a fitness program
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Travel in winter conditions
  • International creativity month

July
It’s hot now but look to February.

  • Valentine’s Day
  • Romantic dates
  • Black History month
  • President’s Day
  • American heart month

Come back Thursday for the rest of the article calendar ideas.