How much do facts matter in your writing genre? When I was very young, I decided I’d write fiction because surely fiction couldn’t need facts the way journalism and nonfiction do, so I could just make everything up. Then I realized that fiction needs facts to ground the reader in the imaginary world. But when … More Fact-Track Your Writing: Tricks of Tracking #4
The old saying “Ready, set, go!” won’t work for writers who want to track their way out of resistance and into satisfaction and success. Instead, you need to Set your intentions, Ready the resources and Go track yourself. Set Your Intentions! They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but the road … More Track Your Way Out of Writer’s Block: Tricks of Tracking #3
The second trick of tracking for writing success is KISS: Keep It Simple and Seen. The system you use for tracking needs to be simple, quick, easy to use and readily accessible. It could be a chart with gold stars on your office wall, a legal pad on your desk, a Moleskine notebook in your … More Tricks of Tracking: KISS
The old saying “Ready, set, go!” is the wrong order for writers who want to track their way out of resistance and into satisfaction and success. You need to Set (your intentions), Ready (the resources) and Go (track yourself). Set Your Intentions! They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but the … More Set, Ready, Go! More Tricks of Tracking Your Writing
Detective Joe Friday knew how to track: Focus on facts. When you track Process, Self-Care and Product Time, keep your attention on two facts: “This is what I said I’d do. This is what I did.” One of the benefits of tracking is that the feedback allows you to recognize changes in your patterns and … More Tricks of Tracking #4: Focus on Facts
Your tracking system should highlight two questions: “What will I do?” (as you set your intention) and “What did I do?” (after you go into action). Even though your tracking system may not highlight it, the “ready” between the “set” and the “go” is equally important. Set Yourself! At the beginning of the week, set … More Tricks of Tracking #3: Set, Ready, Go!
Here’s what we’re looking for today. Typically found on rooftops (click, click, click). When found on lawns, they are often accompanied by “such a clatter” that neighbors report they “sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.” Those who find these elusive tracks won’t necessarily receive everything they’ve asked for, but they may … More Tricks of Tracking Christmas Eve Edition: Know What You’re Looking For
The second trick of tracking is KISS: Keep It Simple and Seen. The system you use for tracking needs to be simple, quick, easy to use and readily accessible. It could be a chart with gold stars on your office wall, a legal pad on your desk, a Moleskine notebook in your pocket (which admittedly … More Tricks of Tracking #2: KISS
Bane of Your Resistance 