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Do You Think Scheduling Your #Blog posts Takes Away Spontaneity?

Blue Betta Splenden

Order or Spontaneity?

Both Daily (w)rite and Amlokiblogs turned 5 this year. I find that blogging takes a way a lot of my writing time if I’m not careful.

But since it’s such a rewarding process, bringing so many new people into my horizon, and so many posts that I would otherwise never know about, I can’t give up on it.

I love browsing, so this year I’ve taken to scheduling some of my posts in advance. While this is good for time management, one post following another in orderly fashion like scales on a fish, but I feel blogging for me has lost an element of spontaneous fun. Rushing off a post that suits my mood for the day had a pleasure all its own, not to mention a certain degree of honesty to my take on life on any given day. (And if you’re wondering about this one, yep, I’m scheduling it.)

Do you schedule posts for your blogs? If you do, does scheduling affect your spontaneity?

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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77 Comments

  • birdicatt says:

    I don’t exactly schedule my posts. A lot of my content is visual only, so I tend to save photos in my pc, then put them out in posts a couple of times a week. However, sometimes when I read posts on blogs I visit, I am motivated to “respond” and post my thoughts on things I have read and those tend to be spontaneous. Problem with me, when I write those thoughts I tend to get pretty verbose, a habit I find rather difficult to break unless I consciously remember to try.

    By the way, thanks for visiting me again and for the Like!

  • teresazz2 says:

    Since I read so much and some weeks are busy while others may not be I do schedule mine. My blog is on book reviews so I like to try to post on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This was suggested from a friend. I enjoy reading and telling what I read about which is why I started my blog to begin with. So many my blogs are for my enjoyment. However it is exciting to see someone like or follow you!

  • When I didn’t schedule posts my blog rarely got updated, and even when I started posting more often it would be a post then nothing for a day or more. So having a post ready helps a lot. If I do feel like making a spontaneous post I have a personal blog, but it’s updated maybe once or twice a month.

  • Topaz says:

    I don’t schedule any posts for my blog. Maybe because I’m fairly new, but I haven’t gotten into the “Teaser Tuesday” or the “Flash Fiction Friday” themes on my blog. Those are great ideas, and I love looking forward to them on the blogs that I visit. But, again, since I’m new, I’m more of the straight-ahead variety.

    I love writing, and the purpose of my blog is to help people, so I have no problem churning out one post a day. I tell my readers to expect one post per week — maybe more, but not less.

    Some bloggers have a queue of posts waiting to be published. Instead of doing that, I get ideas in my head and then make notes in my mobile WordPress app throughout the day. So, instead of lining up posts or racking my brain for topic ideas, I just go back to the notes in my draft section and expand on those.

  • Happyfrog says:

    I have no schedule and that seems to work for me. Though planning for posts is probably a good idea 🙂

  • R. Lynn says:

    I thought about it but then decided against it because I like to be in control of my everyday happenings.

  • PatrickM says:

    Spontaneity & scheduling are not polar opposites. The muse shows up when we do. The commitment to do the work is what matters. Twyla Tharpe follows the same routine everyday. I give myself assignments. Creative production is 99% showing up 1% inspiration. I commend you for your discipline. Well done!

  • Jemima Pett says:

    I schedule some of my posts, or put placeholders (drafts) in for dates I want to post something on a particular topic. I prefer to post just once on any day, but there are exceptions that prove every rule 🙂 I find scheduling makes sure I keep my regular features going, but they sometimes need to be updated at the last moment!

    And I schedule all of my April A to Z Challenge, otherwise I don’t have enough time to bloghop during it. 🙂

  • inkspeare says:

    Sometimes I write a few posts in advance, and then grab one to post that day; sometimes I just sit and write without anything pre arranged, and other times, I have just a list of ideas that I glance at that may inspire a post.

  • I generally don’t schedule my posts. I have some that I work on from time to time; often those are never finished. Most of what I post is something written within a couple hours of the initial inspiration. With rare exceptions, I hit publish once it’s done.

  • noirfifre says:

    When I started blogging, I wrote whenever but I realized it would be unfair to someone who may be waiting for your post and weeks go by and nada. Since I write mostly poetry, I make an effort to blog every week but I do not have a schedule day of the week. However I realize that most times I schedule reading blogs on WordPress. I LOVE reading what others write, after all my favourite hobby is reading.

  • Schedule schmedule. I have two blogs and I’ve found that once a week, I need to write something new. That said, there are weeks I’ll post 4 or 5 times. If I’m not truly moved to say something fresh and entertaining, I’d rather skip a day. Nobody likes to eat the soup made from the Taco Wednesday leftovers. Know what I mean?

  • Rich Allan says:

    Nope…I write blogs when something catches my eye in the media and I feel motivated to comment on it…although on the more controversial topics…I should sit it aside for a day so I don’t overreact.

  • I have a goal of scheduling posts, but so far I’ve had little success. I seem to do better when I compose & post on the same day. I’ve had a little more success scheduling tweets.

  • Ciara Knight says:

    I used to schedule my blog posts in advance, but the summer has caused me to throw together last minute posts. Once summer ends I’ll be back to scheduling. It works better for me.

  • I usually schedule my twitter post and Facebook, that definitely helps and I can schedule it so it catches my international readers when it’s sleepy time here. To keep it from being all mechanical, all the time I post to Twitter & FB spontaneously, re-TW, comment etc. To engage with readers.

  • feltenk says:

    No, I think scheduling posts is wise. I have four book reviews waiting to post b/c I like to spread them out. I try and check out the blogs I follow at least once a week, twice if possible, so that’s a schedule of sorts, too 😉

  • Scheduling your post doesn’t mean you lose the spontaneity of your writing. You are still writing the post when YOU want to write it. I personally love the schedule function as as a reader there is nothing I hate more than when a blog I follow posts 4 posts in a row. I subscribe to over 150 blogs and if even half of them regularly posted numerous posts in a row it would make it difficult to read them all. I prefer good quality posts every couple of days from my favourites. Even daily is fine. The odd multiple every now and then I’ll wear but please, not always. Just because you were feeling spontaneous today when you were writing them doesn’t mean I will feel that way when one after the other fills my inbox. I’ll end up skipping over one of more of them or skimming them and not giving them a real chance. All something that I as a writer don’t want others to do with my posts. I do however have a strong urge to press that publish button as soon as I finish a post but making it schedule instead fills that urge too. It just can’t be sitting in my drafts anymore.

  • LadyI says:

    I recently started using my calendar on my IPhone. I would put the title of a post I want to write on the date that I would like to see it published. I worked on those post, until that date as if it is a deadline I must meet to get paid, (sigh, one day.) Anyway, I have not lost any fun moments that comes with writing something on the whim because I just write it and save or publish it! The fun thing about not really having to worry about getting paid for deadline pieces is that you can always change when you will publish it.

  • I started without a set schedule, but since my blog posts are on the long side, allow time to draft and tweak a bit.

    Now with the onset of publishing my first novel, I have a serious need to plan some of my blog posts. But to keep some spontaneity alive, I will balance planned posts with unplanned posts. Responding to current events or sharing breaking news to your readers or sharing choice bits of your daily life.

    A recent example from my blog-

    I’m writing a multi-part series of articles on “Solid prose vs. Storytelling”, and the merits and challenges of both, and sharing ideas of how they can better work together. But I’ll take breaks in between parts to post about other things, and now that I do book reviews on my blog, it helps avoid some repetition, and since my reviews are personable, and take a bit of time.

  • fojap says:

    I try to put up one post a day. Sometimes, I write posts ahead of time and schedule them for a future date if I think some other area of my life is going to prevent me from blogging that day. So, it’s mostly spontaneous with the occasional exception. I have a loose framework about when I post what, but I haven’t felt compelled to stick to it. I’m not sure anyone would notice anyway.

  • Rosey says:

    Every once in awhile I schedule. I’m certainly not adverse to it. Most of the time, though, I’m writing whatever in the morning (I’d rather schedule). Regardless, I like blogging whether it’s timed or spontaneous. 🙂

  • lynnsbooks says:

    I actually don’t schedule but think sometimes it would be better if I did! I’m a bit chaotic and all over the place and sometimes I have an idea for something I’d like to post and then because I’ve not made a note it goes out of my head completely! I suppose the closest I come to having a schedule is keeping on track with any challenges/readalongs or events.
    Lynn 😀

  • tric says:

    Yesterday was the first day since I began blogging six months ago that I wrote two posts. One of them I have kept for today. I only did it because for a very very rare moment I was alone in my house. I read of others who are writing and scheduling, and I feel I am such a different sort of blogger. Yes I post every day but I have read of others who have over 20 posts scheduled. I cannot even imagine having so many ready to publish. I tend to live in the today and whatever I am thinking I write. Maybe I am more of a leisure blogger?

  • I only recently learned how to schedule posts for my WordPress blog. For my Blogger blog, it does not seem to work. I like the scheduling, since I have a bad memory! But I do enjoy posting something once it’s written. I guess I sit on the fence on this one…

    I wish I knew how to make my Blogger blog, Poetry Perfected, have scheduled posts. I would post every day there, if I knew how to do it. I tried, but it does not seem to want to work for me. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!

  • Yes and no. I don’t do any of the memes, so most of my posts are book reviews, which I try to space out evenly. That leaves me space in between them to post spontaneously. Kind of like ordered chaos…

  • ReneeDeSuza says:

    Plus I don’t see why you can’t post something extra outside of your usual schedule if the mood hits you or you find something that you think you absolutely must share.

  • ReneeDeSuza says:

    I schedule my posts because it really helps with the time management. I only post twice a week and I feel that if I try to do more it will become overwhelming and make blogging feel like more of a chore. Camp NaNo is kicking my butt right now so it helps to have my posts done in advance.

  • I was thinking about blogging about this very same topic, but you have lots more readers than I do, so I think I will can that idea and read the comments here 🙂 I try to blog once a week, and so far I have not scheduled blogs. I am a technical writer by profession, so I find that I really need a deadline to drive toward in order to be productive. I also think that if I don’t blog at least once a week, I move on to other things and lose interest.

  • Luanne says:

    I agree that blogging takes away from writing time; however, it’s a good way to keep improving one’s writing. I schedule them for the next morning, rather than posting the minute I finish. That way if I think of a booboo or something I want to add, I can get up in the middle of the night and do that ;). Sometimes I schedule ahead if I’m going out of town.

  • I’m still finding my way. I don’t schedule, but I nearly always have at least one draft post, and if more than a few days have passed, I will finish one and post it. Yet I am also telling a Far East POW story in short bites, so I this is semi-scheduled, though not pre-written. My early posts mixed categories, which was a breeze. Now I am trying to write in only one category at a time, I find this a little constricting. Then there is the worry about blogging eating writing time… I love it all the same.

  • words4jp says:

    I have yet to schedule a post. I try to write everyday but sometimes life gets in the way – and it also gets in the way of my reader time;(

  • Rebel Sowell says:

    I never schedule my posts but I’m always thinking of new ideas. Sometimes I write one, and after letting it sit for awhile, decide it’s not right for my blog. Since I prefer writing fiction I find it difficult to come up with blog ideas, I have to wait for inspiration, plus I’m a slow writer. If you have any suggestions on how I might improve, I’m all ears. 🙂

  • kayuk says:

    I love writing and sometimes write several stories in one day, while on other days I don’t find the time. I would love to schedule, but somehow my finger just goes to the ‘post’ button when I’m not looking!

  • Annie says:

    Yeah, I guess it does. I’d like to change my ways somewhat – your post has inspired me!

  • Lani says:

    Nah. Scheduling forced me to stick to a schedule (duh) and allowed me the freedom to not be around when I wanted to upload my posts. I could play with timezones (I’m an expat), peek online times and simply not worry about it.

    If something timely caught my eye, I’d postpone my scheduled post. Now I’m posting when I want to. That being said, if I have a lot of ideas and want to get ahead I have my posts lined up and ready, and that’s a good thing.

    Scheduling also forced me to ‘let things rest’ and proofread later. Cheers!

  • With my work schedule, it makes it easier if I plan out how my blog posts. I want to write one every other day, so if I get a burst of inspiration, I write a ton and then go from there. If I get something spontaneous that takes precedent, then I post that one instead.

  • Heartafire says:

    I imagine there are those who do to time constraints and other responsibilities have no option but to schedule blogging. I prefer to write when I am inspired to do so. Of course writing in advance and posting later is good too.

  • magyarok27 says:

    Yes, depending on the type of blog it effects it, so those I don’t schedule, but for example for the next two weeks I’ll be on “vacation” so I did schedule some posts in advance! 🙂

  • lumar1298 says:

    I have too many things going on & most often than not, I prepare poems ahead of time. I do wish I had more time to keep up with the new changes in technology. WP puts out many great stuff that I don’t have time to review…

  • I always schedule my blog posts. I think it’s very easy for a new blogger to get swept up in blogging and then a few months later they have to row back because it’s overwhelming. I blog twice a week, on a Monday and a Friday. If I need to schedule another one, I can do.
    As much as I like blogging, I don’t want it to get in the way of my writing. That is the reason why I blog in the first place.

  • Aaran Sian says:

    Hey!
    I don’t tend to schedule posts, well I don’t really plan anything actually haha 😛
    My mind is always like ‘oh yeah I can write a post about this’ kinda thing, but then there’s those times when I suddenly rush to my laptop and start punching the keys and writing whatever comes to me 😛
    I think there is always a degree of spontaneity, because you can schedule posts but when you’re writing them it will always be in that moment and you might add more in and stuff.
    Your blog seems really great! I can’t wait to explore it some more! Thanks a lot for the follow aswell! 😀
    Aaran 🙂

  • I have to be spontaneous, Damyanti … and, even though I am retired and love blogging, if I didn’t write a post only when the spirit moves me I would never have the time to write the next definitive English novel, (yeah, like right!)

  • I’m still relatively new to blogging so spontaneity is the way I’m going just now. And loving it. What I have found is that reading others’ posts sparks ideas and I have found myself doing more writing rather than less.x

  • @eBook_Girl says:

    I schedule sometimes. I get a book to review but the publisher doesn’t want reviews posted until a certain time before the book is released. Or maybe I saved up and wrote 2 or 3 reviews at once and I set them up to post 1 a day.

  • Kate is says:

    I like scheduling. It speaks to the practical me, while the writing takes care of the creative. I find scheduling avoids that “oh I forgot that great blog topic I wanted to write about” moments.

  • Vidya Sury says:

    No, I don’t think scheduling affects spontaneity, because spontaneity is related to the writing, not the scheduling. 🙂 You can always edit / update a scheduled post – that’s the beauty of blogging!

    Congrats on turning 5! Big milestone, Damyanti! And yes, you’re right about the connecting, even if blogging is a timesuck. Makes life all the more worthwhile. Happy weekend to you!

  • pmcalisterjr says:

    I have a weekly feature for reviewing comic books, but beyond that, I blog whenever the mood strikes me. Lately, I’ve begun to feel that I should try scheduling; having a deadline, even one I impose myself, is usually a pretty big motivator for me.

  • I usually schedule ahead. I try to stay two weeks ahead of the game. If something comes up that I want to post immediately, I just push one of the prescheduled posts to a later date. It really takes the stress off to know I have content for my readers.

  • I schedule the newsy posts. Like my weekly tech tips, writer tips, website reviews, book reviews. Those aren’t time sensitive. Others–I schedule a draft so I remember to post my Thanksgiving greeting, but flesh it out within a week of publishing.

  • Marian Allen says:

    The answer for me is: it depends. I blog Every Freakin’ Day, and I usually write — spontaneously — and schedule the night before. That way, if I oversleep, or wake up to find the day starting early, or the power goes off in the night, my post is already up. During Story A Day in May, I got up early and wrote my story fair and square, day by day. If I have posts scheduled for several blogs on the same day, I usually schedule at least most of them in advance. So … it depends. 🙂

  • I would very much like to respond intelligently with a witty and relevant remark, but, as I have scheduled this comment to appear on a random blog at this particular time, I have absolutely no idea what you have just written. 🙂

  • I prepare drafts and post those if I want or write something new if I want. I think it gives me both worlds.

  • Mai says:

    I have daily themes, and follow those pretty consistently. Fridays, for example, are about food. Saturdays are Caturdays. That said, I have been known to write a blog in advance in preparation for its proper day.

    I find that if I don’t do this, I’ll sometimes go days without blogging, just out of sheer mental exhaustion. I’ve lost a lot of blogs that way,

  • Paul says:

    I’ve written posts during my lunch break at work, and then scheduled them to publish after I’m home, so it won’t look I’m writing blog posts at work. 😉

  • Reblogged this on jbcultureshock and commented:
    Totally something I’ve been struggling with. I like browsing online and posting about whatever article looks interesting, but I’ve found my increased writing lately (plus other stuff I have going on) is taking up priority, so I try to schedule some posts to make everything more manageable.

  • I typed up the posts I had planned for today last night when I couldn’t sleep and then scheduled them. This is the first time I’ve done that. I had no idea what my plans would be for today and thought I should get the blog posts out of the way in order to have more time for other things. It’s been really weird because I’m so used to the “write and post” thing.

    I also scheduled them because I want to figure out when I get the most views. I had two days where I got a lot of views .They were in the evening after 5 with multiple posts. So that’s what I have set up for today.

    I think I might type up posts the day before hand so I don’t have to worry about making a post that day. Seems pretty useful.

  • I’ll plan them out in advance sometimes, but I schedule them the night before. So I am a combination of scheduled and spontaneous. Then again, my posts are a mixture of everything…

  • JLakis says:

    Valid question, and I’d say, as I’m wont to do, “it depends.” If you really want/need/enjoy the experience and love working with the keyboard and computer, scheduling is fantastic discipline. Plus you get the feedback. When I started, we did this stuff in person, in a circle, like savages! Just so long as it doesn’t interfere with the bigger projects that lead to achieving the coveted status of “professional writer.” They eat very well, I’m told.

  • Great post and good question. My goal is one Post a week, and having a full time job leaves me with the weekend, so I suppose you could say that they’re scheduled after a fashion. But being an analyst, I’m used to schedules, so it doesn’t mess with my head as far a as stifling creativity.I hate to say it, but it’s actually comforting to know when I have togetto get things done…

  • What a great question.
    I schedule one or two ‘long-form’ posts a week, depending on how many I’m writing, and what time I finish the one I’m working on. I rarely post in the middle of the night (local time). Those are all long-form posts, which aren’t necessarily spontaneous anyway.
    My “In the moment” posts tend to be shorter.
    I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either. I enjoy reading both.

  • I am trying to schedule my posts as much as possible, but I find I almost never stay true. Either I find myself rushing the post (writing crap), or I am busy doing other things, and I miss post time altogether. I will try this attempt at scheduling thing for a bit more, but I believe I am going back to old ways.

  • nivaladiva says:

    I have had general schedules before (list of subjects I’d like to blog about this month) but usually write what’s on my mind. Lately, I’ve been running low on ideas and feeling like I should be writing my scripts. I love blogging but it can drain my writing energy, so I have to be careful.

  • I almost never schedule posts, to be honest. I think blogging is a lot more fun if I just post whenever I feel like posting. I also tend to only write posts now after I’ve done any other writing I wanted to get done; otherwise, blogging would simply become another source of procrastination, which is not what I want at all.

  • sknicholls says:

    I also have less than 7220 followers…I have less than 300 LOL.

  • Hi Damyanti,
    I have tried scheduling my posts but I have not been able to stick to it because the spontaneity of a post is pretty important for me.

  • I will schedule my shameless self promotion moment for the day when I feature an item from my Etsy shop but I don’t schedule my daily quotes or stories that I write…those are usually a reflection on my day : )

  • sknicholls says:

    I like to engage my readers and be engaged by them, so often when I post, my followers will immediately respond and I can respond back to them. Most of the fun is in the comments. I have thought about scheduling blog posts and saving myself the time, because it does take away from my writing time. I am also learning to multitask and write while responding to comments so that my web presence is very real. I think that is a very necessary component to a successful blog, but I have been blogging only a few months, not a few years.

    • Damyanti says:

      For me writing time has become precious, and I’ve cut back on my blogging time. At least I haven’t cut back on blogging, which I used to do in the past. Hated that.

  • tjtherien says:

    I tried scheduling once, but I post what I write once it is written.

    • Damyanti says:

      I used to write on the day for all these years, but this year I realized the blog won’t survive the way I want it to if I don’t schedule posts.

      • tjtherien says:

        part of the reason I don’t schedule posts is to force myself to write every day otherwise I would write one day a week and schedule my posts for the week like I use to do with my meals…