Reflections for Creative Practice
Reflections are at the foundation of my creative practice. They help me articulate my goals, align my habits with my intentions, and troubleshoot any problems. Regular reflections remind me, there’s no final destination to creativity—there’s always more to learn. Here are the types of reflections I incorporate into my creative practice:
Daily Journal
I’ve been keeping a diary since seventh grade. There are times when I use it more than others, but it’s a tool that I can always count on. For folks who are interested in developing a journaling practice, here are a few prompts that I use:
Feelings Check
What are you feeling? Label the emotion.
3 Questions
How did I succeed?
How did I fail?
What did I learn?
Daily Discoveries
An on-going list of unexpected encounters, discoveries, or wonder witnessed during the day.
Work Notes
There are a few types of reflections I keep while writing:
Craft Notes
I track new techniques or aspects of craft that I learn as I work on a story. I got in the habit from sharing accompanying craft notes with each story I write on Patreon, and over time the habit has helped me build a bigger writing toolbox.
Work Notes
A daily log of specific challenges I’m facing as a writer. This might include publishing strategy, notes on a specific project, or mindset management. I keep an on-going record in Scrivener by year to refer back to key lessons for blog posts or zine issues, or to troubleshoot a problem.
Monthly Review
At the end of each month, I do a review of the projects completed and track my stats (books sold, subscriber count, and follows on social media). I note any changes to my marketing or promotion, and update my strategy. These reviews help me prepare for the following month and plan for upcoming projects, how I may need to adjust my routines, and schedule tasks. It also helps me see if I’m managing my expectations—if I have enough time to tend to a project, or if I need to extend my timeline. I've been using The Maker’s Yearbook, which includes worksheets for monthly reflections.
Quarterly Review
My typical release schedule is one new story each month. These stories are generally part of larger projects, so every 3 months I take a step back to look at how the projects are moving forward and assign tasks for the following quarter.
Annual Assessment
Every year, I do an annual assessment—basically a longer version of a quarterly review. I make a list of all the projects I completed, what areas of my creative business grew, any unexpected challenges that came up, what assignments weren’t tended to. I use these reflections for Big Picture planning for the following year.
Include Self-Care
With all these reflections, I make sure to include notes about self-care. Was I still taking care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally? Were there any new habits that were effective and should be added to my routines? Were there ways I could have better managed a stressful project? I’ll note it with each monthly, quarterly, or annual reflection—and try to adjust accordingly.