# Plan content around a goal

AI Content Creation | Module 17: Plan a realistic content calendar

## Your goal

Give each item a purpose, owner, and next step.

A calendar is a production plan, not just a list of posting dates. Track the reader need, asset, channel, owner, review status, and intended action.

Work backwards from the event. Readers may need an introduction, preparation details, and a reminder. Do not invent an event date for this brief; use relative labels such as seven days before.

Leave time for checking and revisions. If one person has only two hours, a simple caption and poster may be more realistic than a daily video series.

## Source pack

FICTIONAL PRACTICE BRIEF: Green Bench is a student repair club. It runs a free notebook-cover repair workshop on Saturday, 14:00 to 16:00, in Room B. There are 12 places. Learners bring one worn notebook; tools and scrap card are provided. Register using the club form. No date, form URL, access arrangements, impact figures, or testimonials have been supplied. Ask the organiser about missing details before publishing. This is a creative exercise, not a real event.

## Worked example

Plan three content items using relative timing.

### Early item

Seven days before: introduction caption for first-year students, owned by the writer, with a registration action and organiser review.

### Preparation item

Three days before: materials checklist showing what to bring and what is provided, reviewed against the source brief.

### Final item

One day before: time and room reminder, held until the actual date, link, and any capacity update are confirmed.

## Your work

Plan three content items using relative timing.

### Early item

Write at least 8 words.


### Preparation item

Write at least 8 words.


### Final item

Write at least 8 words.

## Review your work

- [ ] Each item serves a reader need.
- [ ] The plan uses relative dates where facts are missing.
- [ ] Review time and ownership are visible.

Completeness checks do not assess creative quality or factual accuracy. Review the actual work yourself or with a mentor.

## Quiz

1. What should a useful content calendar include besides a posting time?
   A. Purpose, owner, and review status.
   B. Only a larger number of posts.
   C. An unsupported prediction of reach.

2. There is no confirmed event date. How should your calendar express timing?
   A. Invent a date so the table looks complete.
   B. Publish immediately to avoid the issue.
   C. Use relative dates such as three days before.

## Quiz explanations

1. A: A calendar should help people produce and review the work.

2. C: Relative timing supports planning without inventing facts.

## Further reading

[Anthropic: prompt engineering overview](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/prompt-engineering/overview)