jml297

Can you have too many lists? I don’t think so. I usually have a few lists on the go, such as:

• Music I want to track down and listen to.
• Song playlists for concerts that I’ve been to and want to enjoy again.
• Books I’ve heard about that might just make it onto my …
• Reading list – but to be honest I don’t follow this one so much, rather than check it out for suggestions if I’m between books.
• Blog posts I want to write.
• Writing projects in progress that need more attention.
• Life lists – shopping lists, chores, things that I need help with, places I’d like to go to when I can.

I use apps to help with some lists, like packing for trips and for keeping track of the books I already have (saves me buying books that already live on my shelves).

Lists give a sense of order, and putting something on a list means it is no longer rattling around in my head. They can also be a good way of gathering thoughts and inspiration. One of my favourite writing group exercises was writing out 50 story ideas. All you need is a page numbered 1 to 50, a pen and go! I still look back on that list and use the ideas.

Another great list activity was 100 things I love. This was an exercise from Julia Cameron’s book The Right to Write. It was a great activity to do and is good to reflect on when your spirit needs a lift.

A list that I’ve been making in my head lately has birds spotted in my garden. These include black cockatoos, eastern spine bills, satin bowerbirds, grey shrike-thrushes, brown cuckoo-doves, superb fairy wrens, king parrots, crimson rosellas, red wattlebirds, currawongs and magnificent magpies.

Do you use lists to keep track of things, big and small, in your life?

Inspired by Discover Prompts – April writing prompts

[Photo: Australian magpie]