How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1)

Posted November 2, 2010 | Laura Christianson

This is Part 1 in a 12-part e-course about the types of blog articles.

CALENDAR ARTICLE

A Calendar Article is tied to a holiday, special observance, season, or anniversary.

The key to a good calendar article is to put an interesting spin on it – something that makes an otherwise predictable topic unpredictable.

Let’s say you’re writing about the anniversary of Columbus sailing the ocean blue in fourteen hundred ninety two. Those of who live in the U.S. have heard that one a few times, haven’t we?

What if, in honor of Columbus Day, you…

…write a feature about all the U.S. cities named Columbus

…post YouTube videos of Columbus Day songs

…interview an extra from the Columbus Day movie

…examine the controversy behind Christopher Columbus’s alleged oppression of indigenous peoples

TRANSITIONS BETWEEN SEASONS

Articles about the transitions between seasons are popular too. If you’re writing about the transition from summer to fall, topics might include:

  • 10 ways to take your summer wardrobe into fall
  • What to do with green tomatoes that won’t make it past the first freeze
  • Fall front porch décor: pumpkins, cornstalks, and a bale of hay
  • Aromatherapy candles that keep depression at bay during the short days
  • Head to the spa for a pre-holiday tune-up (this article could double as a review of said spa)

YEARLY BIG EVENTS

In addition to the yearly Federal Holidays, other “big events” make for interesting Calendar Articles:

UNUSUAL EVENTS

Then there are the not-so-big events:

  • Global Belly Laugh Day: January 24
  • Police Week: week which has May 15th in it
  • World Tobacco Day: May 31, 2011
  • Wright Brothers Day: December 17

MONTHLY CELEBRATIONS

There are numerous monthly celebrations – some wacky, some serious. Here are a few:

  • January: National Mail Order Gardening Month
  • February: Great American Pies Month
  • March: Foot Health Month
  • April: American Cancer Society Month
  • May: Older Americans Month
  • June: Perennial Gardening Month
  • July: National Cell Phone Courtesy Month
  • August: National Parks Month
  • September: National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15)
  • October: National Toilet Tank Repair Month
  • November: National Adoption Awareness Month
  • December: National Write A Business Plan Month

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

  1. Using some of the resources below, list one calendar article topic you’d like to write about for each month of 2011. Each topic must relate to your blog’s niche, and each must put an unpredictable spin on that topic.
  2. Share your most intriguing Calendar Article topic in the Comments area so we can learn from each other.

RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL DATES

1.  Brownielocks and the 3 Teddy Bears (a month-by-month listing of monthly, weekly, and daily observances) – http://www.brownielocks.com/month2.html2.  Madman Mike (another excellent source for a variety of observances) – http://www.madmanmike.com/us_holidays_dates.html3.  e-promos – promotional events calendar & products to help you celebrate each observance
4.  Wacky National Holidays (a no-nonsense list) – http://www.quamada.com/months.html5.  Surfing the Net with Kids – http://www.surfnetkids.com – See what’s going on every day of the year
6.  Holiday Smart – http://www.holidaysmart.com/ – Rich site; even includes flower of the month and birthstones
7.  When-Is – http://www.when-is.com/ – Religious and civil holidays worldwide

Coming next:

How to write a How-to Article

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39 responses to “How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1)”

  1. Susan says:

    It was fun looking up some of the odd special days. I’ll have to try to think of something for Abet and Aid Punsters Day next Monday. For JRR Tolkien Day on January 3, I could write about places I’ve been where hobbits and elves might roam–in other words, magical places of woods and stream, since my blog is about seeing the eternal in the everyday, focusing on nature.

  2. Susan says:

    It was fun looking up some of the odd special days. I’ll have to try to think of something for Abet and Aid Punsters Day next Monday. For JRR Tolkien Day on January 3, I could write about places I’ve been where hobbits and elves might roam–in other words, magical places of woods and stream, since my blog is about seeing the eternal in the everyday, focusing on nature.

  3. Love your ideas, Susan! Thanks for sharing your creative spin-offs. I’m glad you found the “odd special days” links helpful.

  4. Love your ideas, Susan! Thanks for sharing your creative spin-offs. I’m glad you found the “odd special days” links helpful.

  5. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  6. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  7. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  8. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  9. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  10. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  11. […] most memorable Christmas – This post combines the Calendar Article and the Roundup […]

  12. […] most memorable Christmas – This post combines the Calendar Article and the Roundup […]

  13. […] on the 12 types of blog articles, some of you have been e-mailing sample articles to me. Here’s a calendar article that’s fitting for today, Veteran’s Day in the United States (known as Remembrance Day in […]

  14. […] on the 12 types of blog articles, some of you have been e-mailing sample articles to me. Here’s a calendar article that’s fitting for today, Veteran’s Day in the United States (known as Remembrance Day in […]

  15. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  16. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  17. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  18. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  19. Anita says:

    Great ideas. Thanks!

  20. Anita says:

    Great ideas. Thanks!

  21. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  22. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  23. […] If you haven’t already started, get yourself a business blog now. The easiest way to think about unique, fresh and appealing content for your customers and prospective clients is to plot out key dates in the calendar and align posts to them. There’s an excellent example of calendarising content by Laura Christianson at Blogging Bistro. […]

  24. […] If you haven’t already started, get yourself a business blog now. The easiest way to think about unique, fresh and appealing content for your customers and prospective clients is to plot out key dates in the calendar and align posts to them. There’s an excellent example of calendarising content by Laura Christianson at Blogging Bistro. […]

  25. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  26. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  27. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  28. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  29. […] planned to publish the next installment of our continuing e-course on The 12 Types of Blog Articles today. But alas, life got in the way. The Blogging Bistro team took on several new clients this […]

  30. […] planned to publish the next installment of our continuing e-course on The 12 Types of Blog Articles today. But alas, life got in the way. The Blogging Bistro team took on several new clients this […]

  31. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  32. […] How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1) […]

  33. […] ways to celebrate National Adoption Month (or any National ___ Month – see Session 1: Calendar Article for […]

  34. […] ways to celebrate National Adoption Month (or any National ___ Month – see Session 1: Calendar Article for […]

  35. You’re just so creative. You know so much about this subject, made me think about it from so many different angles.

  36. You’re just so creative. You know so much about this subject, made me think about it from so many different angles.

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