Oohs and Aahs for 4.4.25

Journaling my way through my WIP

Someone recently asked me how I journal about my work in progress, so I thought I would share more details. I find it helpful to journal at any step of the writing process, from first spark of inspiration to final draft, even on into the marketing and selling stage of the publishing process. It’s easy for even our sparkliest writing projects to feel like a grind at some point in the process. We can assign ourselves a task, and get so attached to finishing it, that we forget why we started or what we meant to create in the first place. Journaling helps us:

• Remember why we’re writing

• Clarify our vision

• Find a way forward

When you journal about your WIP, it might look a lot like the way you journal about anything else. Maybe it feels like you’re writing to a friend, describing what you want the book to be about and where you’re getting stuck. Or you might document your process and weigh different decisions, so you can think through your options. Your journaling style might be almost sketch-like and look more like a list or a few scribbled phrases. It could be a good old fashioned brain dump that makes zero sense but clears out the cobwebs. These are all good approaches.

What’s most important is giving yourself some way to step back, loosen your grip on the manuscript, and talk yourself through the hard parts.

Journaling is ultimately an exercise in understanding and trusting yourself. It’s a chance to tune into your inner wisdom and discover the answers you’ve been looking elsewhere for. These are some of the questions I like to journal on when I’m feeling stuck or unsure:

• What part of the writing process am I in? What usually helps me move forward during this stage?

• What would I write if I didn’t have to worry about time, money, or proving myself?

• If I’m on the right path, which I must be because it’s my path, what steps can I take next?

• If I could only write one book, what would it be about?

• How do I want my reader to feel when she’s done reading this book?

• When I imagine my book sitting on the shelf next to the books I admire, what feels distinct and important about my book?

And if you prefer prompts instead of questions, these might get you started:

• I hope the reader…

• What I’m really trying to say is…

• This book is my chance to…

• I tend to find the answers I’m looking for when I…

• The parts I’m most excited about are…

• The parts that worry me are…

• They might be connected…

• I keep trying _____ but what will really help is _____

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This Week I’m…

• Talking about creative overwhelm in the latest 4,000 Ideas post⏳

• Reading like an artist (BTW I have a masterclass on reading like a writer if you’re interested!) 📚

• Nodding (and wanting to cry) because this is what life looks like for a lot of elder millennials and Gen Xers in publishing 😬

• Wondering what the A24 of books would look like 🤓

• Hoping someone here will submit their food-inspired fairy tale to The Fairy Tale Review 🍒

• Liking this way of describing the difference of left-brain and right-brain thinkers as “excel brains” and “palette brains” (Guess which one I am) 🎨

• Hoping more people follow Cory Booker’s lead🔥

• Loving this self-portrait prompt as a way to develop self compassion ✏️

• Celebrating reading outside! 🌱

• Sending you this ridiculousness if you need a big laugh! ☠️

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Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌

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✏️ PS—The fastest way to grow as a writer is to book a manuscript critique or a creative coaching session with an expert. My clients get agents, sell books, and win awards. They also learn how to enjoy the creative process, so they can keep going when life gets hard. 👏