I’ve been doing a short daily summary of my writing progress for the past few books. Originally, I shared these at the end of each day on Twitter (RIP), but now on Bluesky (@gbralph.com) and Threads (@gbralph_). I’ve been doing this to keep myself accountable and to have something to regularly share with readers during the writing process when I might otherwise go weeks or months between updates.
I tend to pick out three bits from the day’s writing, bullet point each with a vaguely relevant emoji, and then update the progress percentage (aiming to nudge that up by at least 1% each day). Here’s today’s example:
I liked this approach but couldn’t help thinking it only captured one aspect of my working day. When that’s distilled down to three pithy bullet points, I sometimes wonder what I’ve been doing all day. Most often the answer to that is a lot, actually, not that it looks like it. I have to remind myself there’s more to it.
The writing is the skill. The job is being an author.
That’s how I think about it, anyway. The job of being an author involves so much more than just getting words down on the page. Doing the writing is critical – top priority! – but being an author involves so many other important aspects too. I’m talking business things like emails, meetings, spreadsheets, marketing, promotion, professional development, etc, but also reading, watching, listening, and observing.
There is no output without input.
Whenever I grind to a halt in my writing, it’s almost always because I’ve tipped my output/input balance too far towards output only. How do I rebalance? I read a book, watch a movie, listen to a podcast, pay attention to other people and my surroundings while out and about, go to the theatre, visit a museum, chat with friends at the pub, and do all sorts of good things like that. I’ve heard V. E. Schwab refer to this as ‘refilling the creative well’ which is an analogy I quite like.
What does this have to do with a daily debrief?
I heard author David Goodman speaking on a recent episode of the Writers’ Routine podcast with Dan Simpson about his habit of writing “Day Notes” where he records what he’s got up to each day.
The idea resonated with me and I wondered if I might adapt it for my own ends, specifically using it as a prompt to make sure I’m remembering to do the input side of the equation. So, I thought I might expand my current daily writing update into this daily author debrief.
All right? All right. Let’s give it a go…
Daily Debrief: 14 April 2026
Output
Write: It’s been a slow start after an extended Easter with various friends and family. Currently at just over 45,000 words on Killer on the Kelvin Explorer (The Milverton Mysteries #5) with our titular steam train about to pull into Featherston Station for a long lunch stop.
Admin: Updated my author website to add some praise to my About page, including: ‘If you love cosies with small town vibes, quirky, lovable and relatable characters, and a slow burn MM romance thrown in, then I suggest you give this series a go.’– Jay Hogan (author of the Mackenzie Country series) on The Milverton Mysteries.
Share: Posted about my weekend away in Wellington (Instagram, Facebook).
Input
Read: Continued Human Error by Patricia Dunmore (Upstart Press), refreshing my memory before our upcoming Mysterious Manawatū panel (blog post).
Watch: Mark Stay’s Creative Differences podcast livestream recording with guest Karen Storey (YouTube). They discussed Karen’s debut novel The Approval of Sheep, writing short stories, recruiting her cat Tiffany to write her author newsletters, and so much more.
Listen: Raye’s new album This Music May Contain Hope (Spotify).
Travel, social, theatre: We spent the weekend in Wellington where we explored Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui – i.e. the capital’s newly earthquake-strengthened and refurbished central library – where we spotted a very familiar book on the shelves (psst it was Death in Douglas Glade). We also joined friends for drinks in the sun, ate deep-fried chicken, went to a dance party, ate bagels, drank coffee, perused second-hand bookshops, joined Andi C. Buchanan at Toi Pōneke (to hear a work-in-progress reading as part of their d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency), watched Ride the Cyclone at Circa Theatre, and then finally ate too much pasta before driving home the following morning (once MetService’s Cyclone Vaianu watches and warnings had lifted).
I’ve taken a shot at some likely categories that I reckon I’ll want to cover each day, but these are very likely to change. I also have no idea whether this will prove too onerous and too much like a chore, but I do like the casual bloggy nature of it which is something I’ve missed doing recently.
So, I’ll give it a go for a week or two and see how we get on.
Prefer 1–2 emails per month?
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