Writing Wins: Charting Creativity, Tracking Triumph

Two small things that have made a big difference.

Friends, meet my process journal.

A couple of years ago I heard an author (I can’t remember who) talking about her process journals; how she uses a new one for every book project, how she writes to herself about her writing every time she works on her story, how it becomes a space to work through her ideas, confusions, obstacles.

I thought, that’s freaking brilliant. Then, as is typical, I promptly forgot about it.

For context, I’m an inconsistent journaler. I think it’s because I get tired of chronicling the banality of my life and I never figured out how to do it in a way that served me.

When I had a book idea last year and decided to dig in, I remembered that author interview. I found a special edition Moleskine journal with cherry blossoms on the cover. We sat and looked at one another that first morning, as if we were on an awkward first date.

I started with low expectations. Just a couple of sentences before and after each writing session. How I was feeling. What I was thinking about the story. What I managed to put on the page. What I might do next.

The book idea has since been abandoned but the habit of using the process journal remained. I’m getting close to the last page now, and I can’t wait for the excuse to go buy another pretty one and keep going. Not incorporating it into my writing sessions is no longer an option; it keeps me tethered, grounded.

Here is an excerpt from my process journal, just a couple of weeks ago:

2/19
Distracted today and wasted some time (no, not wasted, just not writing) and already did my freewrite. Some days are more uncomfortable than others and this is one of those. It’s okay, stay with it. Today I’m drafting v.2 of the piece about losing E. at the Highland Games. I’m going to try revising with v.1 printed out - we’ll see what happens.

- Finished v.2, now know that the goal is to move the character needle from calm and controlled to feral. Next step: print v.2, make notes on how to improve this, then retype into doc to upload for class.

In this one, you can see that I’m working hard on my mindset, trying to catch myself in the act of thinking thoughts about “wasting time” and actively wanting to flee the work. You can also see that I used it to make a plan for the session, and then to follow up on how that plan went and give myself next steps.

This, frankly, is a best case scenario entry. 😂 Here is another (typical) excerpt:

2/10
I don’t even know. I accidentally fell into some political news and now I feel like the world is burning and nothing matters. I know that part of my writing practice is finding a way to center and let everything else go but it’s f***ing hard and I hate it.

- Ugh, I don’t know. I have one piece ready to go but I don’t know where to send it. It’s not literary enough, not weird enough. I’m just grumpy about the whole thing.

There is no “right” way to use a process journal.

Writers use process journals for a million different reasons, and in probably just as many ways. But here is what it has done for me:

• provided structure and routine by bookending my writing sessions,

• saved words (my words) which I can read back and see proof that sometimes it goes well,

• become a place to store ideas for later,

• allowed me to practice course corrections when my mindset goes to the dark side.

Using a process journal has changed my practice for the better, and so I offer it to you as a suggestion. If you are anything like me, you have some (ahem, many) blank journals lying around. Or perhaps this is a free pass to go buy yourself a new one. Give it a try, see what happens, then come back and let me know!

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WRITERS GATHER

On the 2nd Saturday of every month, paid subscribers have the online equivalent to a fireside chat about the care and feeding of ourselves as writers!

This is open to anyone who writes, regardless of experience, genre or form. 💗

Writers Gather is an opportunity to come together in a safe and supportive space to casually discuss this thing we love (and sometimes hate) to do…especially if you are a newish writer.

Writers Gather next on March 8 at 10am Pacific. Loose topic: building craft skills. I hope you’ll join me! Click here to learn more. »

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Here is something else I’ve done this year:

That’s right people: I’ve got a star chart. Just like when my kids did when they were potty training.

Every time I write, even if for only 5 minutes, I get a star.

It might seem childish (and it’s ridiculously huge) but I don’t care, because every time I look at it, all I see are the stars and it makes me proud of myself.

What is something you’ve done for yourself - or that you want to do - to bring joy and/or structure to your writing sessions? Let me know!

Remember, there is no “right” way to write. There is only your way.

This week, give yourself the gift of something that makes it feel joyful and/or gives it structure.

And have a beautiful day.
Warmly,
Stephanie

P.S. I’ll be here when you’re ready. 🌻

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