Organizing Writing Processes through Bullet Journaling Techniques

Organizing Writing Processes through Bullet Journaling Techniques

Getting organized can be a struggle, especially when it comes to writing. Over the years, I've scoured the internet for the perfect planner, only to be disappointed with ones that didn't align with my needs as a writer. That's why I stumbled upon bullet journaling – and let me tell you, it was a game changer!

Here's the lowdown: bullet journaling is a highly adaptable system for tracking thoughts, ideas, and tasks. It's perfect for authors seeking to manage their projects more efficiently and find inspiration along the way. There's no shortage of bullet journaling content online, but it can be daunting to sort through the ocean of information. But don't worry, at its core, bullet journaling is flexible, so you can tailor it to your comfort level.

Bullet journaling takes on different forms for different people. For some, it's an artistic endeavor; for others, it's a simple tool to organize tasks and ideas. Ryder Carroll, the bullet journal's inventor, defines it as an analog system used to track the past, organize the present, and plan for the future. He created it out of necessity, seeking a flexible system that could work with his ADHD, and used a blank notebook to suit his ever-changing needs.

Like Carroll, I found that the bullet journal fit my bill too.

Now, for some transparency: while I've been using the bullet journal for three years, for much of that time, I've been stumbling upon discoveries that have helped me better integrate it with my writing process. Regardless, I wanted to share the usual suspects – the spreads and methods that have proven beneficial to me thus far.

Monthly Focus Spread

My method for getting a bird's-eye view on the big projects I have on my plate involves a monthly focus spread. Here, I list tasks with their deadlines, any additional goals I'm working toward, and a writing quote for motivation. I may even include a habit tracker if needed.

Editorial Calendar Spread

In January, I made a goal to publish a blog post each week and start developing my social media presence. I knew I'd need a way to plan my content, so I put together an editorial calendar following my Monthly Focus Spread (it's one month ahead of the current month to ensure I'm always staying ahead of the curve).

I jot down my content on sticky notes, making it easy to rearrange as needed. Once the content goes live, I write the title of the piece on the day it was published on my editorial calendar, using a pen for long-term reference.

Dual Daily Planning Spread

Since I use my bullet journal for more than just writing, I have my daily planning spreads split down the middle, with a side for writing and a side for daily tasks. I arranged them into a weekly view to limit my task space, as I often work a day job and sometimes overschedule my evenings. This setup works well for me because it encourages me to focus on the top 3 priorities for each category each day, making my list more manageable.

Occasionally, I'll overload a particular week, like when I'm preparing for a trip, but overall, this system keeps me organized and productive.

I also place a content sticky note from my editorial calendar on my daily spread for the day the content goes live. This declutters my editorial calendar and serves as a travel reminder of what I need to prepare.

Collections

Collections can house any information you find helpful. Here are some that have significantly aided my writing process:

Word Vault

Every now and then, I'll come across new words I'd like to add to my vocabulary. I keep them in a collection in my bullet journal, as I found it an effective way to retain them. Plus, it gives my husband and I an edge in word games!

Motivational Quotes Page

I'm always on the hunt for quotes to inspire me, whether I'm including them in my focus spreads, my Instagram, or as daily motivations. I compile my favorites in collections, so I can easily pull from them when needed.

TBR and Reading Log

Since reviewing books is a recurring theme on this blog, I created spreads for tracking what I read, what I want to read, and whether or not I've reviewed them. This log is particularly handy for keeping track of books that I read for research within my preferred writing genre.

Research Spreads

Earlier this year, I began investigating strategies for building a social media presence. With various sources providing information, I knew that I'd need to refer back to what I was learning regularly. So, I created a section exclusively for research, and it has proved incredibly useful over the past year.

Notes

One of my newfound obsessions is keeping all my notes in my bullet journal. This year, I started filing my writing class and conference notes, and even taped in the business cards of people I met, so I could have context on who they are and what we discussed. It's been an amazing way to stay organized and consolidate all my notes in one place.

NaNoWriMo Word Counts

I'm still figuring out the best way to integrate my NaNoWriMo experience with my bullet journal (graphing by hand is cumbersome). However, I managed to come up with a decent solution for the last November: I wrote my daily word counts in the boxes of my monthly calendar spread. This gave me a quick overview of my daily word counts, helping me stay motivated.

Using a bullet journal has been a learning process, one that I needed to adapt to suit my writing brain. Here are some quick takeaways that could have saved me some time:

1. TAB YOUR COLLECTIONS PAGES: Collections are fantastic, but only if they're easily accessible. In the beginning, my collections got lost, half-filled, or neglected. The second I labeled them with colored tabs, I used them diligently.
2. CREATE YOUR INDEX AT THE END: The original bullet journal method requires you to create your index as you go, but I struggled to keep up with the page numbering and logging in real-time. When I completed my initial journal, I went back and catalogued its contents, grouping them together and discovering what types of notes my brain found most valuable. This allowed me to create better spreads, focus on the right things, and keep track of what mattered to me instead of what I thought I should care about based on others' experiences.
3. MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF: If you find yourself avoiding your journal or resenting its complexity, make it simpler. Many people invest a lot of effort into the artistic aspect of their journal, but I just can't do that consistency. I went through a phase where I was creating elaborate weekly overview spreads, then breaking them down into daily spreads with hourly calendars. It was cool, but I stopped using my journal as I found it too time-consuming. Once I simplified my spreads, I went back to focusing on my writing and avoided the dreadedbullet journal abandonment.

While the bullet journal may not be for everyone, it's a powerful system that's worked for me. This process is iterative, and I'm currently exploring ways to better incorporate it as a project tracker for my writing projects. But the beauty of the bullet journal is that it can evolve and grow with your writing journey, just as I'm excitedly on my own.

What are you looking for in a writing planner? Do you think bullet journaling could work for you? If you're already using a bullet journal for writing, what tips and tricks have you discovered that have made it effective for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

1. Bullet journaling transcends lifestyle categories, finding a place within fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, education-and-self-development, and entertainment, as well as the specific needs of authors.
2. While bullet journaling can involve artistic elements, its core function is organizing tasks and ideas, making it adaptable for those seeking simplicity.
3. In my bullet journal, I have collections dedicated to word Vault, motivational quotes, TBR and reading logs, research, notes, and NaNoWriMo word counts, all of which aid my writing process.
4. Reflecting on my bullet journaling journey, I've learned the importance of tabbing collections, creating the index at the end, and keeping the system straightforward to avoid abandoning it.

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