Keeping It Personal

1. Every night, write down a list of ten things. Use the following to get you started:
* 10 things I want people to say about me at my funeral
* 10 books I’ve always wanted to read, but didn’t
* 10 things to do every day to be healthier
* 10 best films I’ve ever seen
* 10 things I can do to help my career
* 10 ideas for a time travel story
* 10 happiest moments of my life
* 10 worst moments of my life
* 10 of my greatest strengths
* 10 of my greatest weaknesses
* 10 things I find exciting/sexy/sensual
* 10 other lists I can write
2. Draw one picture a day. (If you’re not an artist, don’t worry: after all, you can only get better.)
3. Keep your planner near the bed. Write down any dream you remember as soon as you wake up. (If you are in a rush, put down some keywords and elaborate when you can.) Analyse it, if you can.
4. Carry around at least one photograph in your planner that is meaningful to you, and you can show people.
5. Carry around at least one photograph in your planner that is meaningful to you, and you cannot show other people. (Nothing too incriminating!)
6. Keep a receipt envelope or folder in your planner, and keep clippings of news or magazine articles that speak to you in some way. Each month, read them and transfer to your filing cabinet.
7. Keep a tab called Journal in your planner, and keep your personal writings, sketches and ideas there. Clean out every couple of weeks (or 20 pages, whichever comes first) and store the pages in a safe place.
8. Make personal writing a daily habit. Put aside fifteen distraction-free minutes a day to write in your planner.