Comments on: Why You Should Use an Editorial Calendar

By: 2011 Writing Prep: Editorial Calendar — Freelance Writing Jobs | A Freelance Writing Community and Freelance Writing Jobs Resource

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:27:42 +0000

[...] go into the importance of having an editorial calendar, we’ve got plenty of posts on that here, here and here. Those that have one, take this time to evaluate it. What worked? What could you do [...]

By: Fred Farrow

Fred Farrow — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:43:57 +0000

I agree editorial calendars are very useful for bloggers along with online calendars being great for most businesses but I do still like my wall calendars at home infact I have my 2011 calendars already to use

By: Why use an editorial calendar?

Why use an editorial calendar? — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:32:03 +0000

[...] Why You Should Use an Editorial Calendar {quick tips} [...]

By: 85 Hacks to Help Your Freelance Writing Career : Freelance Writing Jobs

85 Hacks to Help Your Freelance Writing Career : Freelance Writing Jobs — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:55:34 +0000

[...] into an editorial calendar: Editorial calendars help to keep track of work and plan ahead. An editorial calendar will allow you to create a [...]

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:45:52 +0000

When I worked full time, my staff used to tease me about the gigantic erasable white board in my office that listed each person’s work, including mine. I have found that now that I’m back to freelancing full time, I needed a white board – and a small one propped up against the wall now serves as my own editorial calendar. Works like a charm!

By: Freelance Writing Jobs for May 4, 2009 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print

Mon, 04 May 2009 13:55:32 +0000

[...] you use an editorial calendar? I have one, it helps me to stay on track – and I don’t know what I would do without it. I [...]

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:20:54 +0000

Sabrina,

Google Calendar also offers a color scheme — different colors for different calendars.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:59:48 +0000

Thanks for the tips, Deb. I started using a small desk calendar last month (small desk, small calendar), and I’ve been using different colored pens for different types of work: red for copyediting, green for writing, purple for personal. Yes, I have OCD. I had been thinking about switching to something electronic, but for me it would probably be just one more thing to play with. It’s nice to know that there are successful writers still using paper methods like mine, but I’ll check out some of the electronics mentioned in your other comments.

By: Betty C.

Betty C. — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:55:56 +0000

For a while, when I had quite a few writing projects going on, I used http://www.iprioritize.com — just their free service. It’s more a tool to keep track of deadlines than an editorial calendar, but I found it helpful. You can set up drag-and-drop “to do” lists in different categories.

By: Sunday Link Love | Writer's Resource Center

Sunday Link Love | Writer's Resource Center — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:02:28 +0000

[...] Why You Should Use an Editorial Calendar [...]

By: Lela

Lela — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:23:57 +0000

It’s funny I have been thinking about this lately, but haven’t quite gotten around to it. I have wanted to make a yearly plan that sort of goes along with a magazine format (seasonal, holidays, etc.) because I write for print as well. For the daily detail stuff – I have been using a large desk calendar with appt slots for each day. I’ve been slotting out my time and checking off each ‘assignment’, but now I can’t wait to go that step further and pencil in what I’ll be writing about. (Sunday is week-planning day!) I think especially for web writing and blogging, the better we plan, the easier it will be to cross-link our work. Thanks for the tips!

By: What a Writer is Reading on the Web, 2/17/08 | Real Words

What a Writer is Reading on the Web, 2/17/08 | Real Words — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:22:13 +0000

[...] Why You Should Use an Editorial Calendar @ Freelance Writing Jobs [...]

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:12:03 +0000

Hi, Deb!

I also think that a calendar is very helpful to writers. That’s why I publish the Bylines Writer’s Desk Calendar. Not only does it show a week at a time, but each week also features a short essay about writing, which hopefully will inspire writers to keep writing, even on the tough days.

Bylines has pages on goal-setting, and how to break down annual goals into smaller monthly goals. Included in Bylines 2008 is a submission tracker, which writers can photocopy and use to track the queries, articles, and manuscripts they send out.

Bylines has many additional features, from a listing of “literary holidays” to celebrate, to daily listings of birthdays of famous authors, pages for tracking writing-related expenses, checklists for keeping up with a writer’s office tasks, and more. Check out Bylines at http://www.bylinescalendar.com.

Sorry for the “ad,” but I totally agree that planning ahead, and setting reachable goals can really help a writer to accomplish much more during the year. And by keeping the info in a planner, later you can look back with satisfaction and see how far you’ve come during the year.

Also, Bylines accepts 53 new essays about writing each year. We don’t pay much yet, but we are a paying market. Check out the submissions guidelines on the website.

Thanks!

Sylvia Forbes, publisher
Bylines 2008 Writer’s Desk Calendar, the essential Tool for Writers
http://www.bylinescalendar.com

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:22:58 +0000

For me, I don’t see the point of an editorial calendar. At least not used the way people here are using it. I have two calenders where I record all my deadlines. I start on gathering interviews as soon as I get the assignments. Then I put together a weekly and daily to do list to keep me on track. I don’t blog for pay and I rarely query, so I do need to plan ahead for ideas.

By: L. L. Woodard

L. L. Woodard — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:54:26 +0000

Oh, organization? That’s helpful???

Seriously, I am a little OCD, but making the decision to use one thing or another boggles my mind. But okay, I do see the plus side of the calendar, and the weekend is gloomy and dreary–might as well put my time to good use and try to catch up with you organized folks.

By: Jenn Hollowell

Jenn Hollowell — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:58:18 +0000

I bought one of those huge calendars from Staples to keep our family organized . . . now I’m tempted to buy another to keep my career organized.

I use a daytimer, but it isn’t as efficient as I had hoped. I tried using a notebook for topic organization, but that left me feeling more disorganized than when I started. LOL I’m going to try this method. Thanks for picking it apart for us!

By: Leo

Leo — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:25:57 +0000

In a former life as an editor, I planned magazine editions months ahead – sometimes as much as an entire year. Easier for the as team to sell ads when the advertisers know the topics.

I have no idea why I haven’t applied this to blogging, but it fits perfectly. Thanks for the kick in the rear!

By: Debra

Debra — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:40:22 +0000

Funny, as I read your description I realized that I use the social work equivalent of an editorial calendar to keep track of all my active cases. But it never occurred to me to apply this method to my writing – DUH!

Thanks for the great tip. I always look forward to reading your blog.

By: PreSchool Mama

PreSchool Mama — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:20:54 +0000

I recently started using a Google speadsheet. I’ve been able to organize posts better, especially when I am doing a series on a single topic.

By: Erik Hare

Erik Hare — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:31:19 +0000

I do the same thing, but on a big whiteboard in my office. The principles are all the same, but I like the flexibility and tremendous visibility – I can’t get away from it, so I can’t miss a thing!

The software/hardware you use isn’t that critical, but there are a few basic principles. Deb outlined them well. I do have a smaller pocket calendar for longer-term scheduling, but first thing Monday everything in it for that week goes on the Board!

By: Theresa

Theresa — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:44:11 +0000

I use Windows Calendar to plan each week. I put personal and professional stuff in there so I don’t have any conflicts with my husband’s schedule. I also have a monthly planner that I carry in my purse. I transfer all information that I gather throughout the day (doc appointments, meetings, etc.) to Windows Calendar.

Keeping a calendar helps me balance the professional and personal parts of my life. It keeps me from feeling like I have to work until midnight to stay on top of things. I finish my true workday around 5 p.m. so I can get dinner started, do some laundry, and attend my workout classes. I do some “light” work (accounting, job search, etc.) in the evening if my husband is grading papers or watching TV.

I am sure my tidy schedule will go kaput once we have kids, but I’m enjoying it right now!

By: Warren Whitlock

Warren Whitlock — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:44:14 +0000

I’ve had any empty calendar sitting here since the holidays. Your post put me on track, I’ve just put in the first 4 entires for next weeks posts.

Thanks

By: Opal Tribble - Addicted to Writing

Opal Tribble - Addicted to Writing — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:29:56 +0000

I’m on a Mac. I use iCal. I also use FlexTime for certain projects. They keep me on top of my projects.

By: Mary Jo

Mary Jo — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:14:49 +0000

I started using an editorial calendar when I started a second blog. At the time I didn’t call it an editorial calendar (didn’t even realize what one was, in fact), but it kept me organized.

I use Outlook for mine, and keep separate ones for each blog and personal, and well as one mash up of all of them. Depending on what I need to look at, I bring up the appropriate calendar.

The calendars are also helpful for me in making sure that I continue series, and to make sure that I’m not overdoing it on one topic. So I also use it look back as much as planning forward.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:39:14 +0000

I use Apple’s iCal. Because writing changes so frequently, I’ll print out a month and pencil-in additions or strike deletions. Going totally digital (using just a computer file or an online calendar) doesn’t seem to work for me.