It’s not uncommon for inspiration to drain from regular bloggers. Creativity is a beast that takes you on a ride from the summit of enlightenment to the abyss of nothingness. Sometimes it will feel as if you have no advice or encouragement to impart upon your readers.

It’s important to know that we’ve all been there, and it is OK if you can’t post new content because nothing is coming. The cure is in the calendar. Avid bloggers and successful authors with millions of followers will tell you that mapping out an editorial calendar has saved them during their own creativity droughts.

In my personal and professional life, I ardently map out my duties, goals and tasks. When I was the Editor of an executive-level business magazine I had my editorial calendar planned out a year in advance. Not so when it comes to my creative writing. I’m not a “creative planner” and I suffer from dry spells. My blog was the creative stepchild that was tended to when I found the time.

So, I started carrying a pen and pad with me wherever I go (yes, I have an iPhone, and no it’s not the same) so that I can jot down blog ideas throughout the day. On the back of a wedding invitation sitting on my desk I have written “On Pinterest” to remind myself that eventually I want to write about best practices for businesses using Pinterest. The idea hasn’t matured yet and I want to let it ferment further.

If you have no clue where to start in planning out your editorial calendar, look at your monthly calendar. No matter what your industry, you will find an event each month that will relate to your business. For instance, October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is also Women in Small Business Month. If that can’t provide me with inspiration, nothing will.

Here’s a list of themed months to chew on:

January – National Poverty in America Awareness Month

February – Black History Month

March – National Umbrella Month

April – National Autism Awareness Month

May – Meditation Month

June – Great Outdoors Month

July – Roots and Branches Month

August – National Inventors Month (also Beach Month!)

September – Baby Safety Month

October – Mental Illness Awareness Month

November – American Diabetes Month

December – Universal Human Rights Month (Read A New Book Month)