The Wordsmith's Forge

It occurred to me that having a general description of these would be useful. Many people use recurring posts in their blogs to track things, boost activity, network, or promote stuff they care about. Here's a look at mine and some ideas for other possibilities. I write these on my desktop calendar so I mostly remember to do them.


Weekly Update
Each Monday, I make a post that includes:
* Links to some posts from the previous several days
* Current or recent activities
* Poetry in microfunding
* Nature report (general weather, birdfeeding and/or gardening)
These are tagged Blogging and Personal.

Wednesday Rotation
I have three post types that I cycle through for Wednesdays. These are designed to support online community. Everyone is welcome to copy the concept or even the text, although if you decided to host a Cuddle Party you'd probably want to find your own reference images to define the space. These are all tagged Recurring Posts.

Good News invites people to share things that are going well for them. Applause provides support and motivation. Focusing on positive things helps boost your mood, too.

Hard Things invites people to share things that are difficult or annoying. There is no other requirement other than you find it aggravating and want to vent about it. This is a good place to ask for help, cry, or scream your head off. Occasionally the comments turn into a long discussion or problem-solving session, but sometimes they're just quick notes. It's all fine.

Cuddle Party is a virtual event where people bring food, craft projects, and other things to hang out together. You can snuggle but don't have to. A variety of facilities are described including couches, beanbags, a kitchen, a hot tub, and an accessible bathroom.


Improvement Posts

I usually keep a couple of long lists going, where I post one of the entries once a week. These are all tagged Recurring Posts. You can pick any worthy cause or process you wish to promote. Currently I have:

Community Thursday posts on Thursdays with recent community activity.

Do next: food.

Hobbies posts on Thursday. I offer links about a particular hobby for people to enjoy. (2025)

Landrace Gardening posts on Thursday. I link to an article and share my thoughts, sometimes with more links.

Coping Skills posts on Thursdays. The list gives a simple item. Often I add discussion or links below that for expansion.

Self-Awareness Questions posts on Thursdays. They invite you to think about yourself, share with others, and learn about your online friends.

Philosophical Questions on Saturdays. These are deep topics which are fun to discuss.

Do next:
"100 Questions About Writing And The Future" by Jimmy Butts

Philosophical Questions from livie202 and Philosophical Questions and Issues Found Online in Other Writing: Reference: Psychology

Community Building Tips posts on Saturdays. They offer ideas for how to connect with other people in your hometown. Sometimes I argue, point out flaws, suggest improvements or expansions.


Monthly Events
I currently host two monthly events, one in my blog and one on crowdfunding.

The Poetry Fishbowl customarily runs on the first Tuesday of each month. I set a theme, people give me prompts, and I write about whatever I get. I post one poem for free in thanks for the prompts. You get a second freebie if there is one new prompter or donor that session. Finished poems get listed with a thumbnail description and price in case anyone wants to sponsor them. Next up will be "short forms" on January 5.

The Creative Jam runs on the third weekend of the month in crowdfunding. It is a creative free-for-all where anyone can leave or claim prompts. All lengths and media are welcome. I post one poem for free in thanks for the prompts, and sometimes other folks do too.


Monthly Posts

While I don't do much with monthly posts in my blog, I do them for the communities allbingo, birdfeeding, and crowdfunding. There I ask people what they accomplished in the previous month and what they have planned for the next month. I also list upcoming events so people can plan for them. Lots of bloggers do a month-beginning and/or month-end post for similar reasons.


More Ideas for Recurring Posts

Some communities activate on specific days. You can use these for your own blog or participate in the community posts.

3_good_things_a_day makes a daily gather post where you can comment with your own three things.

25book_pwd is a place to share books you've read by, for, or about people with disabilities, and see which of those other people are reading.

50books_poc is a place to share books you've read by authors of color, and see which of those other people are reading.

awesomeers makes a daily "Just One Thing" gather post to celebrate what you've accomplished.

caturday features pictures and other posts about cats on Saturday or other days.

fandom_checkin makes a daily poll where you can answer how you're doing.

followfriday makes a gather post each week. People comment with recommendations for communities, individual blogs, and occasionally other resources.

get_your_groove_on_friday celebrates relaxing music that makes you think of Fridays.

thefridayfive posts a list of questions for people to copy and answer.

you_did_the_thing makes a Monday post inviting people to talk about last week's accomplishments and upcoming plans.

Plenty of other communities have a daily, weekly, or monthly gather post encouraging people to participate, but they are harder to find with a search.

Daily Blog Post Themes -- The Golden Spoons
Ideas for recurring posts.


Monday
Meatless Monday
Mindful Monday
Moanday
Monday Meme
Monday Moments
Moon Monday
Music Monday
Our Weekend
Plans for the Week
Weekly Goals

Tuesday
Cartoon Tuesday
How to Tuesday
Review Tuesday
Studio Tuesday
Tuesday in the News
Tuesday Takeaways
Tuesday Ten
Tuesday Trends
Tuestorial
Two for Tuesday

Wednesday
One Word Wednesday
Reading Wednesday
Relaxing Wednesday
Starwatch Wednesday
WIP Wednesday
Wordplay Wednesday
Wednesday Wishes
Wednesday Word Count
Wellness Wednesday
Wins Day

Thursday
Community Thursdays (see the Community Thursdays feed)
Purrsday
Thankful Thursday (see thankfulthursday)
Thorsday
Three on Thursday
Thursday Thoughts
Thursday Thrifts

Friday
Fannish Friday
Fantasy Friday
Feature Friday
Five on Friday
Follow Friday (see the Follow Friday feed and the community followfriday)
Fossil Friday
Friday Focus
Friday Freebie
Frugal Friday
Fry Day

Saturday
Caturday
Satisfaction Saturday
Saturday Craft
Saturday Showcase
Saturday Six
Saturday Sketch
Science Fiction Saturday
Story Saturday

Sunday
Funday
Solar Sunday
Son Day
Spiritual Sunday
Stellar Sunday
Sunday Seven
Sunday Soapbox
Sunday Supper
Sunday Survey
Sunshine Sunday
Sustainable Sunday

Any Day
3 Random Things
3 Things Make a Post
Ask Me a Question
Current Media Roundup
Currently Playing
Currently Reading
Currently Watching
Debate Topic
DIY Day
Inspirational Quote
People to Follow
Pick of the Week
Positive Affirmation
Recommendations
Weekly Challenge
Weekly Goals
Weekly Photos
What I Ate
What I Learned
What I Wore
Why You Should / Shouldn't ...
You Can Do It

As Needed
Animal Antics
Baby Quotes
Today's Adventures
Today's Cooking
What I Bought
What I Packed
Where I Went
Who I Met

Today / Daily
Daily Digest
Daily Gratitudes
Daily Routine
Daily Schedule
Done Today
Not To Do List
Quote of the Day
To-Do List
Today I Learned
Today's Adventures
Today's Cooking
Today's Tracker(s)
Today's Weather

Monthly
Capsule Wardrobe Changes -- any day, but usually in the first week
Capsule Wardrobe Shopping -- any day
Monthly Accomplishments -- last day of every month
Monthly Goals – first day of every month
Monthly Miles -- last day of every month
Monthly Word Count -- last day of every month
Seasonal Yardwork -- any day, but usually in the first week

By the Numbers
1 Quick Thing
One Word Wednesday
Two for Tuesday
3 Good Things
Three on Thursday
5 Things Make a Post
5 + 1 Times ...
Five on Friday
Saturday Six
Sunday Seven
Tuesday Ten
Top 10 List of ...
Baker's Dozen


Three Weeks for Dreamwidth (April 25-May15)

This event celebrates Dreamwidth with various activities, such as posting ever day. I've made some materials to help inspire more blog activity.

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Blogging Questionnaire (2023)

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth 2024 Questionnaire

Questions and Questionnaires for Three Weeks for Dreamwidth (multifandom, single fandom, nonfandom)


Seasonal Prompts

Some folks like to do one post a day inspired by holidays or seasons.

Our Ultimate List: 101 New Year's Blog Post Ideas

31 Blog Post Ideas for January

90+ Things to Write About in February (Blogging & Journal Prompts)

77 Super Sweet Valentine's Day Writing Prompts

Our Ultimate List: 101 Spring Blog Post Ideas

Our Top 50 March Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

Our Top 50 April Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

31 Blog Post Ideas for May

53 Magnificent May Day Journal Prompts

31 Great Mother’s Day Writing Ideas

53 of the Best Memorial Day Writing Prompts

Our Ultimate List: 101 Summer Blog Post Ideas

30 June Blog Post Ideas To Kick Off The Summer Season

31 Juneteenth Writing Prompts (Free)

Our Top 50 July Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

Our Top 50 August Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

51 Great Back to School Writing Prompts

Over 120 Fresh Fall Blog Post Ideas For Lifestyle Blogs (2023)

Our Top 50 September Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

55 Powerful Labor Day Writing Prompt Ideas

October Prompts

64 Best Halloween Writing Prompts (& Story Ideas)

Our Top 50 November Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

80+ Engaging Thanksgiving Blog Post Topic & Ideas (2023)

150 Seasonal Winter Blog Post Ideas

Our Top 50 December Blog Post Topic Ideas (With Guides)

Advent Anew: 25 Journaling Prompts to Approach the Season

35 Hanukkah Writing Ideas


Further Resources

30 Content Ideas to Inspire Your Posts

100 things you can do on your personal website
Some of these require your own website and/or a considerable amount of coding skill. Others are things you can do on Dreamwidth or another platform where you have a site.

366 Questions

Blog Theme Days

The Complete Guide to Choosing a Content Calendar: Tools, Templates, Tips, and More

Creating a Comm: Recurring Posts by vriddy

Daily Blog Theme Ideas

Fandom 50 Challenge

How To Create Must-Read Recurring Content Columns

Social Media Channels the 100 Post Ideas
While intended as one-shot posts, many of these would make great repeaters.