In this module, we’ll be exploring Ground Zero of your process. Through the audio lecture and its accompanying journaling prompts (grab a notebook!), we’re going to take your process’s temperature.
Meet Your Process
Do you think you have a process?
How do you feel about it?
Go back and underline any negative language surrounding your process.
Now circle any positive language around your process.
Grab a highlighter and highlight all your questions about your process.
Process Fitting Room
You’ve probably tried on all kinds of processess in the course of your writing life.
Grab a piece of loose-leaf paper and fold it hotdog style three ways. This means you’ll have three columns. Or, just draw lines in your notebook, whatever works.
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On the top of column 1 write PROCESS
Column 2, write LIKES at the top
Column 3, write DISLIKES
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Have at it! We’re getting a sense of what process styles have worked or not worked for you.
Here’s an example for me:
PROCESS: Story Genius (Lisa Cron)
LIKES: character-driven, loved her exploratory questions in the beginning for building out a character, liked her focus on desire/misbelief/third rail
DISLIKES: after those concepts, it just seemed impossible to get drafting done - there were way too many steps and it felt too rigid for me…
Process Questions, worries, & Hopes
The answers to the questions below will be something you’ll look back on once you’ve completed your process mind-map later on in the course and are ready to begin tweaking your process to amplify what’s working and revise what’s not working.
Write down any questions you have about your process
Write down worries, such as concerns over not being organized or not knowing how to get into a flow state
Write down what you hope to gain from this course
See if you can begin catching yourself and noting when you have negative thoughts or language about your process.
What’s the story you’re telling yourself about your process, the misbeliefs that are running you?
Note them, and then we’ll work on reframing these thoughts.