Sticking to a consistent blog schedule isn't always easy. Writer's block, responsibilities and a whole slew of things can get in the way of producing content.

Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that you keep your blog regularly updated with new posts.

1. Read A Lot

Every writer – no matter the medium – must read and read and read.

For bloggers, reading other people's work is essential to stay on top of industry trends and news. Fitting lots of reading in is a great source of inspiration for your content and can be a big help in figuring out what your next post should be about.

Tip: Audio books and podcasts are great ways to fit in some "reading" during the commute to work or while carrying out household chores.

2. Block Off Time

Schedule appointments in your calendar – an hour at a time works well – that are just for blogging. Hide your phone and turn off email notifications. Eradicate or limit all distractions.

Tip: Schedule this time for first thing in the morning so that it doesn't get stolen away by unexpected tasks or ones that eat up more time than anticipated.

3. Create An Editorial Calendar

An editorial calendar is a great way to keep your blogging schedule on track, and equally spread out content topics. Use a tool like Google Calendar, and if you must, set reminders for each deadline.

Tip: A great way to start your editorial calendar is to fill in the holidays, sessions and industry events that will provide related content ideas and built-in deadlines.

4. Crowd Source Ideas

Sometimes you feel like you've thought up very possible topic or angle imaginable. When this happens, ask colleagues and friends for content that they'd like to see or what would be a great fit for your blog.

Tip: If in-person interaction turns out to be useless, head on over to Quora.com. Quora is basically a bottomless well of knowledge. The resource gives you the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from experts and people with first-hand experience regarding your topic.

5. Organize Content Ideas

Keep a running list of all your blog post ideas in a single place that's easy to reference and sort through. Since inspiration can hit at any time, your list should be easily accessible and editable from different devices.

Tip: Check out Evernote and Google Docs. Both great options to keep track of your ideas and content is synched from mobile to desktop.

6. Create A Series

By creating a regular recurring series of posts centered one theme or idea, you force yourself to stick to a specific schedule. Promising a regularly updated series is like entering a social contract with your readers. They'll expect the content when it was promised, and you must deliver. It's pressure, but the good kind.

Tip: Create a templated format for serial content. This way, it will basically be like filling in the blanks every week.