A Different Kind of Writing Tracker: Caring for Your Craft and Yourself

In my last blog post, I announced my first spring offering—a 21-Day Guided Writing Journey. I created this program to help writers return to their work with care rather than pressure. Today, I want to share more about one of its key components: the customized writing log.

For some writers and projects, progress is often measured by one thing: word count. But if you’ve ever felt drained by logs or tracking systems focusing solely on productivity, you’re not alone. I can vividly remember days when I felt even worse because I didn’t have a word count that seemed worthwhile—or any word count at all. That’s why I designed a customized writing log for the 21-Day Guided Writing Journey—to offer something different.

This idea comes from my frustration with systems that overlooked the bigger picture. Writing isn’t just about how much you produce; it’s about the process, the challenges you face, the moments that bring you joy, and the support that keeps you going. Without a space to reflect on what’s working well or making writing feel hard, it’s easy to forget why you started in the first place. Also, with the stressors many of us face when it comes to our writing (limited time and resources, competing responsibilities, systems that don’t value creativity) it feels imperative to ensure that we take care of ourselves and our craft. I believe that this kind of attention and nurturing of our writing is a powerful way to support our communities.

The writing log isn’t just a place to track words. It’s a guide with thoughtful questions designed to help you dive deeper into your writing process—what fuels it, what stalls it, and what you need to move forward. It invites you to reflect on your surroundings, energy, and emotions, helping you understand the patterns in your writing life. And yes, if tracking your word count is beneficial, there’s space for that, too!

The goal is simple: to help you care for yourself as a writer. This log and the 21-Day Journey work to support you in creating a space where you can connect with your writing meaningfully.

Registration for the 21-Day Guided Writing Journey is open, and we begin on March 20. The program is designed with flexibility because I know that life doesn’t pause for creativity. The program can be done flexibly, as it is asynchronous with optional drop-in Zoom writing sessions if you’d like. If you’re ready to connect with your writing and writing process with compassion and curiosity, I invite you to join us.

Have questions? I’m here to help.