Title: What We Were Writing
Author: Andrew P. Popov
Published: <strong>October 4, 2026</strong>
Last modified: October 4, 2026

---

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# What We Were Writing

 By [Andrew P. Popov](https://profiles.wordpress.org/papex/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/what-we-were-writing.1.0.1.zip)

 * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/what-we-were-writing/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/what-we-were-writing/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/what-we-were-writing/#installation)
 * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/what-we-were-writing/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/what-we-were-writing/)

## Description

What We Were Writing helps editors prepare a collection of historical posts for 
a specific calendar date.

Choose a future display date in the WordPress administration area. The plugin finds
published posts from the same day and month in earlier years. Select the required
posts and save the collection.

On the scheduled date, the `[what_we_were_writing]` shortcode displays a simple 
server-rendered HTML list grouped by year. When no collection exists for the current
date, the shortcode returns no output.

Features:

 * Manual selection of posts for any display date.
 * Automatic search by matching day and month in previous years.
 * Several posts from one year or from different years.
 * Simple server-rendered output without JavaScript or animations.
 * No external services, tracking, or third-party libraries.
 * Multisite-compatible database installation and removal.

The plugin stores only the display date and a JSON list of selected post IDs in 
its own database table.

### Shortcode

Basic usage:

    ```
    [what_we_were_writing]
    ```

Optional attribute:

 * `title` changes the section heading.

Example:

    ```
    [what_we_were_writing title="Our history"]
    ```

## Installation

 1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` or install the ZIP file from
    the WordPress administration area.
 2. Activate **What We Were Writing**.
 3. Open **Posts > What We Were Writing**.
 4. Choose a display date, select posts, and save the collection.
 5. Place `[what_we_were_writing]` on the required page or in a shortcode-compatible
    block.

## FAQ

### What happens when no collection is scheduled for today?

The shortcode returns an empty string and does not display a notice or placeholder.

### What happens if a selected post is deleted?

Deleted, private, draft, or otherwise unavailable posts are skipped automatically.

### Does a collection repeat every year?

No. Each collection belongs to one exact calendar date, including the year.

### Where is the data stored?

The plugin stores the display date and selected post IDs in its own database table.

### Does the plugin collect personal data or contact external services?

No. The plugin does not collect personal data, send tracking information, or contact
external services.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“What We Were Writing” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ Andrew P. Popov ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/papex/)

[Translate “What We Were Writing” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/what-we-were-writing)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/what-we-were-writing/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/what-we-were-writing/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/what-we-were-writing/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/what-we-were-writing/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.1

 * Initial public release.

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.1**
 *  Last updated **3 days ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.1.3**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 * Tags
 * [anniversary](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/anniversary/)[archive](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/archive/)
   [history](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/history/)[posts](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/posts/)
   [shortcode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/shortcode/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/what-we-were-writing/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/what-we-were-writing/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/what-we-were-writing/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ Andrew P. Popov ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/papex/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/what-we-were-writing/)