Laura’s Blog

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:

• Super Bowl XLV (45): February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas (new Cowboys Stadium)
• Mardi Gras Carnival: March 8, 2011 in New Orleans
• Kentucky Derby: first Saturday in May
• National Day of Prayer: May 5, 2011
• U.S. Open Golf Championship: June 13-19, 2011 at Congressional Country Club in Maryland

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