Write blog posts from your content plan, with your sign-off

Every weekday at 08:00, the next topic on your content plan that has not been through review is picked up and an outline is written for it. Approve the outline and the post is written to it, with proper headings and paragraphs for WordPress, and shown to you in full. Reject it and nothing is written: the topic is closed, and any comment you leave is kept on your record tab. Before anything reaches your site you decide again: approve and it goes live, reject or leave it and it is saved in WordPress as a draft.

You end up with one post per run, titled exactly as the topic reads on your plan, either live or waiting as a WordPress draft. Silence never publishes. The topic is recorded as awaiting approval on a second tab before you are asked, and every outcome, including a draft that came back too short to use, is recorded there too, so a topic is never offered twice; to have another go at one, delete its rows from that tab. Your plan tab is only ever read, never changed, however long it grows.

You need Google Sheets, OpenAI and WordPress connections, and one spreadsheet with a plan tab (a 'Topic' column and an optional 'Angle' column) and a record tab headed 'Topic', 'Recorded on', 'Decision', 'Post ID', 'Link' and 'Your note'. Fill in the spreadsheet's link, the two tab names and a description of how your posts should read.

Run every weekday at 08:00.Run every weekday at 08:00.

Set spreadsheetUrl to blank.Set spreadsheetUrl to blank.

Set planTab to blank.Set planTab to blank.

Set recordTab to blank.Set recordTab to blank.

Set houseStyle to blank.Set houseStyle to blank.

Set doneTopics to an empty list.Set doneTopics to an empty list.

If a step below fails, save the error as recordUnreadableIf a step below fails, save the error as recordUnreadable

Try

Change doneTopics to the values from the Google Sheets “Read column” step.Change doneTopics to the values from the Google Sheets “Read column” step.

On error

Stop and report a problem: The '@recordTab' tab could not be read, so there is no way to tell which topics have already been through review. Nothing was written. Create the tab with these headers in row 1 - Topic, Recorded on, Decision, Post ID, Link, Your note - then run it again.Stop and report a problem: The '@recordTab' tab could not be read, so there is no way to tell which topics have already been through review. Nothing was written. Create the tab with these headers in row 1 - Topic, Recorded on, Decision, Post ID, Link, Your note - then run it again.

Set plan to nothing.Set plan to nothing.

If a step below fails, save the error as planUnreadableIf a step below fails, save the error as planUnreadable

Try

Google SheetsRead the rows of spreadsheetUrl. Save it as plan.Read the rows of spreadsheetUrl. Save it as plan.

On error

Stop and report a problem: The '@planTab' tab could not be read: planUnreadable as text.Stop and report a problem: The '@planTab' tab could not be read: planUnreadable as text.

Set planRows to plan.rows.Set planRows to plan.rows.

Set topic to blank.Set topic to blank.

Set angle to blank.Set angle to blank.

For each planRow in planRows:For each planRow in planRows:

Set candidateTopic to blank.Set candidateTopic to blank.

If a step below fails, save the error as noTopicCellIf a step below fails, save the error as noTopicCell

Try

Trim planRow.Topic and save it as candidateTopic.Trim planRow.Topic and save it as candidateTopic.

On error

Change candidateTopic to blank.Change candidateTopic to blank.

If candidateTopic is nullIf candidateTopic is null

Yes

Change candidateTopic to blank.Change candidateTopic to blank.

No

No steps

If candidateTopic is emptyIf candidateTopic is empty

Yes

Skip to the next item.Skip to the next item.

No

No steps

If doneTopics contains candidateTopicIf doneTopics contains candidateTopic

Yes

Skip to the next item.Skip to the next item.

No

No steps

Change topic to candidateTopic.Change topic to candidateTopic.

If a step below fails, save the error as noAngleCellIf a step below fails, save the error as noAngleCell

Try

Trim planRow.Angle and save it as angle.Trim planRow.Angle and save it as angle.

On error

Change angle to blank.Change angle to blank.

If angle is nullIf angle is null

Yes

Change angle to blank.Change angle to blank.

No

No steps

Stop repeating.Stop repeating.

If topic is emptyIf topic is empty

Yes

Finish the run: Every topic on '@planTab' has already been through review. Add a row to the plan and the next run will pick it up.Finish the run: Every topic on '@planTab' has already been through review. Add a row to the plan and the next run will pick it up.

No

No steps

Get today's date and save it as recordedOn.Get today's date and save it as recordedOn.

Set outlinePrompt to Plan one blog post. Reply with a title line, then four to six section headings, each with one sentence saying what the section will argue. Reply with the outline only - no preamble, and do not write the post itself.Set outlinePrompt to Plan one blog post. Reply with a title line, then four to six section headings, each with one sentence saying what the section will argue. Reply with the outline only - no preamble, and do not write the post itself. House style: houseStyle Topic: topic Angle the writer asked for: angle.

Set outline to blank.Set outline to blank.

If a step below fails, save the error as outlineErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as outlineError

Try

Trim the response text from the OpenAI “Ask OpenAI” step and save it as outline.Trim the response text from the OpenAI “Ask OpenAI” step and save it as outline.

On error

Show in the output: The outline for '@topic' could not be written: outlineError as text.Show in the output: The outline for '@topic' could not be written: outlineError as text.

Change outline to blank.Change outline to blank.

If the length of outline is less than 80If the length of outline is less than 80

Yes

Stop and report a problem: No usable outline came back for '@topic', so nothing was written, recorded or published. The topic stays on the plan for the next run.Stop and report a problem: No usable outline came back for '@topic', so nothing was written, recorded or published. The topic stays on the plan for the next run.

No

No steps

Set claimRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, Outline - awaiting approval, , , ].Set claimRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, Outline - awaiting approval, , , ].

Google SheetsAdd a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.Add a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.

Set outlineAnswer to blank.Set outlineAnswer to blank.

Set outlineApproved to false.Set outlineApproved to false.

Set outlineDecision to Outline - no answer.Set outlineDecision to Outline - no answer.

If a step below fails, save the error as outlineApprovalErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as outlineApprovalError

Try

Request approval: Approve the outline for @topic? Save it as outlineReview.Request approval: Approve the outline for @topic? Save it as outlineReview.Approve and the post is written to this outline and brought back to you before anything reaches WordPress. Reject it and nothing is written: the topic is closed, any comment you leave is kept on the record tab, and the topic is not offered again. To try it again, delete its rows...

If outlineReview.approved is yesIf outlineReview.approved is yes

Yes

Change outlineApproved to true.Change outlineApproved to true.

Else if @outlineReview.timed_out is no

Change outlineDecision to Outline - rejected.Change outlineDecision to Outline - rejected.

Otherwise

No steps

Trim outlineReview.comment and save it as outlineAnswer.Trim outlineReview.comment and save it as outlineAnswer.

On error

Show in the output: The outline review for '@topic' could not be sent: outlineApprovalError as text.Show in the output: The outline review for '@topic' could not be sent: outlineApprovalError as text.

If outlineApproved is noIf outlineApproved is no

Yes

Set outlineRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, outlineDecision, , , outlineAnswer].Set outlineRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, outlineDecision, , , outlineAnswer].

Google SheetsAdd a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.Add a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.

Finish the run: The outline for '@topic' was not approved, so nothing was written and nothing reached WordPress. The topic is closed and your answer is on the '@recordTab' tab. To have another go at it, delete its rows from the '@recordTab' tab.Finish the run: The outline for '@topic' was not approved, so nothing was written and nothing reached WordPress. The topic is closed and your answer is on the '@recordTab' tab. To have another go at it, delete its rows from the '@recordTab' tab.

No

No steps

Set draftPrompt to Write the blog post below to the outline you are given. Follow the outline's sections in order. Reply with the post body only - no title line, no commentary. Write it as HTML for WordPress: <h2> for each section heading, <p> for paragraphs, <ul><li> for lists and <strong> for emphasis. Use no Markdown (no #, ** or -) and do not wrap the HTML in a code block. Do not state a statistic, price, date or named source unless it is in the brief.Set draftPrompt to Write the blog post below to the outline you are given. Follow the outline's sections in order. Reply with the post body only - no title line, no commentary. Write it as HTML for WordPress: <h2> for each section heading, <p> for paragraphs, <ul><li> for lists and <strong> for emphasis. Use no Markdown (no #, ** or -) and do not wrap the HTML in a code block. Do not state a statistic, price, date or named source unless it is in the brief. House style: houseStyle Topic: topic Approved outline: outline.

Set draft to blank.Set draft to blank.

If a step below fails, save the error as draftErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as draftError

Try

Trim the response text from the OpenAI “Ask OpenAI” step and save it as draft.Trim the response text from the OpenAI “Ask OpenAI” step and save it as draft.

On error

Show in the output: The post for '@topic' could not be written: draftError as text.Show in the output: The post for '@topic' could not be written: draftError as text.

Change draft to blank.Change draft to blank.

Replace the pattern ^\s*```[a-zA-Z]*\s*|\s*```\s*$ with in draft and save it as draft.Replace the pattern ^\s*```[a-zA-Z]*\s*|\s*```\s*$ with in draft and save it as draft.

If the length of draft is less than 400If the length of draft is less than 400

Yes

Set shortDraftRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, Draft too short - nothing sent to WordPress, , , ].Set shortDraftRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, Draft too short - nothing sent to WordPress, , , ].

Google SheetsAdd a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.Add a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.

Stop and report a problem: The draft for '@topic' came back too short to be a post, so nothing was sent to WordPress.Stop and report a problem: The draft for '@topic' came back too short to be a post, so nothing was sent to WordPress.

No

No steps

Replace the pattern (?i)(\s*(</(p|h[1-6]|li|ul|ol|blockquote)\s*>|<br\s*/?>)\s*)+ with "Replace the pattern (?i)(\s*(</(p|h[1-6]|li|ul|ol|blockquote)\s*>|<br\s*/?>)\s*)+ with in draft and save it as draftText.

Replace the pattern (?i)<li[^>]*> with - in draftText and save it as draftText.Replace the pattern (?i)<li[^>]*> with - in draftText and save it as draftText.

Replace the pattern <[^>]+> with in draftText and save it as draftText.Replace the pattern <[^>]+> with in draftText and save it as draftText.

Make draftText back from HTML and save it as draftText.Make draftText back from HTML and save it as draftText.

Set publishAnswer to blank.Set publishAnswer to blank.

Set postStatus to draft.Set postStatus to draft.

If a step below fails, save the error as publishApprovalErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as publishApprovalError

Try

Request approval: Publish @topic on your site? Save it as publishReview.Request approval: Publish @topic on your site? Save it as publishReview.Approve and it goes live on your site. Reject it, or leave it, and it is saved in WordPress as a draft for you to finish by hand. draftText

If publishReview.approved is yesIf publishReview.approved is yes

Yes

Change postStatus to publish.Change postStatus to publish.

No

No steps

Trim publishReview.comment and save it as publishAnswer.Trim publishReview.comment and save it as publishAnswer.

On error

Show in the output: The publish review for '@topic' could not be sent, so it will be saved as a draft: publishApprovalError as text.Show in the output: The publish review for '@topic' could not be sent, so it will be saved as a draft: publishApprovalError as text.

Set createdPost to nothing.Set createdPost to nothing.

If a step below fails, save the error as wordpressErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as wordpressError

Try

WordPressCreate the post topic. Save it as createdPost.Create the post topic. Save it as createdPost.draft

On error

Show in the output: WordPress refused the post for '@topic': wordpressError as text.Show in the output: WordPress refused the post for '@topic': wordpressError as text.

Show in the output: draft.Show in the output: draft.

Set refusedRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, WordPress refused the post - nothing created, , , wordpressError.message].Set refusedRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, WordPress refused the post - nothing created, , , wordpressError.message].

If a step below fails, save the error as refusedRecordErrorIf a step below fails, save the error as refusedRecordError

Try

Google SheetsAdd a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.Add a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.

On error

Show in the output: The outcome for '@topic' could not be recorded on the '@recordTab' tab: refusedRecordError as text.Show in the output: The outcome for '@topic' could not be recorded on the '@recordTab' tab: refusedRecordError as text.

Stop and report a problem: WordPress would not take the post for '@topic', so nothing was created there. The draft is kept in this run's output. To have another go, delete the topic's rows from the '@recordTab' tab.Stop and report a problem: WordPress would not take the post for '@topic', so nothing was created there. The draft is kept in this run's output. To have another go, delete the topic's rows from the '@recordTab' tab.

Set postId to blank.Set postId to blank.

If a step below fails, save the error as noPostIdIf a step below fails, save the error as noPostId

Try

Trim createdPost.id and save it as postId.Trim createdPost.id and save it as postId.

On error

Change postId to blank.Change postId to blank.

If postId is nullIf postId is null

Yes

Change postId to blank.Change postId to blank.

No

No steps

Set postLink to blank.Set postLink to blank.

If a step below fails, save the error as noPostLinkIf a step below fails, save the error as noPostLink

Try

Trim createdPost.link and save it as postLink.Trim createdPost.link and save it as postLink.

On error

Change postLink to blank.Change postLink to blank.

If postLink is nullIf postLink is null

Yes

Change postLink to blank.Change postLink to blank.

No

No steps

Set finalDecision to Saved in WordPress as a draft.Set finalDecision to Saved in WordPress as a draft.

If postStatus is publishIf postStatus is publish

Yes

Change finalDecision to Published.Change finalDecision to Published.

No

No steps

Set publishedRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, finalDecision, postId, postLink, publishAnswer].Set publishedRecordRow to [topic, recordedOn, finalDecision, postId, postLink, publishAnswer].

Google SheetsAdd a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.Add a row to recordTab in spreadsheetUrl.

Show in the output: '@topic' - finalDecision. postLink.Show in the output: '@topic' - finalDecision. postLink.