Focusing on the essentials
Let's do a project, shall we?
Today, let us try part of an idea from Nicole Gulotta’s “Wild Words” book to help focus and prioritize our writing projects and ideas.
Using sticky notes or index cards or whatever, write on each one a single writing project in your mind, either one in progress or one you hope to write or are thinking about writing, and be specific. (Gulotta suggests even including all creative projects like newsletters, podcasts, workshops, etc.) Stick the papers up on an open area of a wall, or lay them out on an open surface where they won’t be disturbed and walk away. Go do the rest of your day. Glance at this collage of things as you pass by, but don’t stop and study it. Let it all churn in your brain for a couple of days. Then, and only then, come back and ask yourself what you really want and see what speaks to you. Rearrange these sticky notes or index cards around what feels essential, around logical flow between projects and other dot-connecting that comes to mind as you work.
There’s more to this exercise (the full exercise is on pages 68-71 of the book) but just take on this one part and see what lands, what stands, and what emerges.
Source: “Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path” by Nicole Gulotta. Find it on Bookshop.org or Amazon.*
* This post features two affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through those links within a certain time frame. That commission is paid by the retailer, at no cost to you.