Summary

The web content describes how to use the "Folder for Reaching the End of your Draft" (FRED) method and an Erin Condren Monthly Planner to track writing progress and reach novel-writing goals.

Abstract

The article introduces FRED, a tool designed to help writers maintain daily writing habits and complete their drafts. It explains how the Erin Condren Monthly Planner, with its monthly calendar and ample note pages, can be used as a physical FRED to track writing goals and deadlines. The author, Shaunta Grimes, shares her personal experience with the planner, detailing how she logs her daily writing, manages multiple projects, and captures new story ideas. Additionally, Grimes provides a printable PDF tool for readers to monitor their writing progress, which can be obtained by subscribing with an email address. The planner is available through an affiliate link, with a $10 discount offered to new customers.

Opinions

Shaunta Grimes highly recommends the Erin Condren Monthly Planner as an effective analog tool for writers, emphasizing its utility in keeping her focused and accountable.
The author believes that the FRED system is the best accountability tool she has ever used, having been downloaded thousands of times.
Grimes acknowledges her struggle with staying committed to a story once reaching the middle, but she finds that using a writing log helps her maintain focus and avoid being sidetracked by new ideas.
She values the planner's versatility, noting that the note pages are useful for developing and testing new story ideas using her H2DSI (How to Develop a Story Idea) system.
The author provides a positive endorsement for the printable PDF progress tracker she created, suggesting it as a practical tool for writers to use alongside the planner.

How to Use a Notebook to Reach Your Writing Goals

FRED will help you finish your novel

First let me introduce you to my friend. FRED is the Folder for Reaching the End of your Draft. It’s an analog tool I use to keep track of my daily writing. It’s been downloaded thousands of times and is the best accountability tool I’ve ever used.

So, when I found this notebook and realized that it was essentially not only a full year FRED, but could also hold the story notes for a novel, I bought it. And it’s awesome!

The notebook is the Erin Condren Monthly Planner. It’s a lined notebook with a monthly calendar in the front.

A couple of years ago, I made a video showing how I have my annual FRED set up. The notebook has changed since then. It’s spiral bound now. But it’s basically the same layout and I use it the same way.

The notebook is available here. (This is an affiliate link.)

When you get to the site, first sign up to get your $10 discount.

Then click “Planners & Books” and then “Monthly Planners.”

Here are some pictures:

Monthly calendar. To use it like a FRED, just give yourself a star everyday that you meet your writing goal. I usually use stickers, but I ran out. These boxes are big enough to make note of things like goals and deadlines if you want to.

On the right side, I keep a list of current projects.

After each two-page calendar there are four note pages. I use them to keep a writing log, like below. And to take any notes that are specific to that month.

You can see from my log that on the 11th and 12th, I was sidetracked by a new idea. This is my biggest struggle as a writer — staying with a story after I hit the middle, instead of being lured away by something newer. Keeping a writing log really helps me stay on track. I spent two days on that new idea, instead of two months.

And then the rest of the lined pages. I use them to keep track of my new story ideas. I use a system I call H2DSI (How to Develop a Story Idea) so that those sparkling new ideas don’t fall through the cracks. Here are my notes on the story I spent some time on this month.

I made this little printable PDF thing for you. You can print it, use double-sided tape to stick the two sides together, then laminate it. I tell my printer to print it in A5 size. The lamination makes it so that you can use a dry erase marker (or wet erase, so it won’t smear. That’s what I do.) to keep track of your writing progress.

I use mine as a bookmark.

One side has a sort of bar chart thing you can fill in for a week. (Make sure the plastic is totally dry after you clean it before you write on it, or you get wonky letters!)

And the other side has a chart where you can write down your word count everyday for a month. And a space for notes.

If you’d like the PDF, leave me your email address below. I’ll get it right to you.

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the original Ninja Writer.