My love of lists is well-documented but I love keeping records, too. I hesitate to give details, lest I come across as obsessive (heaven forbid!) and a bit odd, but it’s probably too late to worry about that…
So. I’ve kept a diary (I don’t write everyday, but regularly enough) since I was eleven and, of course, I have this blog, but I also keep a regular writing journal with ideas, free-writing, thoughts on my WIP and general moaning about my progress or lack-of.
Plus, every single day I note down how many words (of fiction) I’ve written, whether I’ve exercised (stretching and yoga-type stuff), and how many miles I’ve walked (last year I usually managed 15 miles a week but I’m aiming for 20).*
This year I’ve added to my self-documentation with a list of books I’ve read (date finished and a note about the content/enjoyment), and more comprehensive notes on my word count. I’ve added details about when I wrote, how long I spent, and notes on how I was feeling, distractions and so on. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to look back over these and draw useful conclusions about my work habits. Or, perhaps, I’ll just be horrified by the amount of faffing I do. Ah-hem.
So, am I the only self-obsessed record keeper? If not, what do you like to keep track of? And do you find it helpful?