5 Steps to Take One Idea and Write a Week’s Worth of Content

As writers who are always creating content, it’s rewarding when we can make the most of what we write. Turning one idea into five or more posts sounds intriguing for readers, but it can feel overwhelming for the writer. If you’re posting daily (or want to), read on.

I know this process can feel hard because I’ve been doing it for seven years. I count my early years as practice, when my readers were mostly friends and family. Over time, I grew more confident and efficient. These tips are meant to help you do the same and grow your reach along the way.

My style is short and simple. The bigger the thought, the fewer the words, the happier I am. My website features a different quotation or Bible verse daily, a quick comment to get the reader thinking and a short prayer. Each Monday-Friday post is about 150 words, all five tied to the theme of the week.

Your approach may be different, and that’s OK. Thankfully, God calls and enables us to reach a wide range of readers. One size does not fit all. 

My five-step approach:

1. Keep a list. I write down ideas inspired by something I hear or read, a bit of conversation or even a dream. Not every idea becomes a series of blog posts. Some will be better served by a different format. Others end up in the trash bin of concepts that never panned out.
2. Pray. Usually, a concept rises to the top of my list or a new thought drops into my mind. Searching for a weekly theme is like hiking up a woodland path. There are surprising vistas, rocky patches, delightful details, dead ends, and hard climbs. I keep praying until I uncover a treasure worthy of a week’s work.
3. Play with the idea. How many unique thoughts can I attach to it in a short time? Like a quilt or mosaic, each piece needs to stand on its own while enhancing the greater design. As I sift through the possibilities, I craft titles that highlight what’s unique while still tying them to the weekly theme. If I can’t come up with at least four distinct options, I go back to the list and look for another concept.
4. Write a very rough draft for each day — it may be a collection of phrases, not yet complete sentences. I’m looking for something unexpected and memorable. Truth is, if I have four great ideas, I’ll accept one day that falls a bit flat. The search for perfection gets in the way of publication.
5. Plan the schedule, but leave room for the Spirit to work. I know writers who plan and schedule each post weeks in advance. That’s not my style (if it’s yours, no judgment from me). I may have more than one theme in progress, but I leave the order of both the weekly themes and daily posts till close to publishing day. I often tweak the schedule or the wording to fit what’s going on in the world or to follow a nudge from God.

The end result — a week’s worth of content — may look very different than Step 4’s rough drafts. One day’s revision may spark a new concept. Titles change. Events reorder the plan. 

If you are currently turning one concept into a week’s worth of content, please share some lessons learned in the comments. If a series of weekly posts is on your to-do-someday list, I urge you to get started. Even if you don’t publish your first attempts, you’ll be making progress toward your goal.

Bless your words, bless your calling,

Shirlee Abbott

Do you follow someone who posts on social media daily? What keeps you coming back for more insights and inspiration?