Earlier this year, we released The Write Gym Workbook—part planner, part paperback writing coach. You’ve watched Racquel show off all three editions and seen me unbox my copy on Instagram. But those videos move so fast, you’d never be able to get a good look at what makes this workbook so special.
In this blog post, I’ll give you a tour of the spreads that make up every month in the workbook, and to really give you a glimpse inside the magic, I filmed myself as I planned out March of 2023!
At the top of April, I’ll post a flipthrough of what my completed month in the workbook looks like. But for now, you can watch me set up March below, then read on to get the breakdown!
A Tour of One Month in The Write Gym Workbook
The Monthly Quote
Every month in The Write Gym Workbook begins with a timely, perfectly-worded quote to lead you into the next chapter of the year. That might sound like I’m laying it on thick, but I’m really not.
Take March’s quote, for example: “You are allowed to take the time you need to perfect your craft.” I don’t know about you, but right around the end of the first quarter, I always experience a moment of panic. The question bouncing around in my head is, Have I been wasting my time? But this quote at the start of March is the reminder I need that it’s okay to go slowly. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a novel.
You must admit that the level of intention Racquel Henry put in this workbook is beyond impressive!
Project Pros and Cons
I did not need to weigh the pros or the cons of any project this month because I’ve already decided what I want to work on in March, but believe me when I say this would’ve very much come in handy back in January and February!
Before I received this workbook, anyone close to me will tell you I struggled for months trying to decide on what my new pet project should be. As fate would have it, I figured it out a week before I filmed the video. I’ve decided to stay mum about what my big project is exactly, but for the purposes of the the video and this blog post, let’s call it Project Blue Quartz.
The other writing-related project I want to get done this month is typing up two blog posts for my website. I can post on WA’s Insta and write WA blog posts all day long, but I neglect my personal digital life too often.
Writing Project Planner
No surprise that this is where you’re meant to notate your project’s start and end dates as well as all the associated tasks you wish to accomplish during the month.
At first glance, I thought this section would be better for those of us who would work on short story writing or poetry in a given month—that is to say, writers with shorter projects that need a month or less to complete. But it only took brainstorming for a few minutes to realize that this section would be equally as valuable for the novelist. Books, after all, are complex, and they go through several stages during the creative process. I am only just now starting the draft of Project Blue Quartz, but I can already picture this page being immensely helpful during revisions and editing!
The Writer’s Monthly Planner
This page, I think, is where you can really get intentional about what you’re going to accomplish during the month. This is where the magic happens—where you write your monthly focuses and goals for your writing life (or select one of the many suggested goals in the front of the book), plus jot down notes and reminders. You’re able to get a bird’s eye view of the whole month from the one page!
Of course, this workbook is meant to organize your writing life, but for my money, it could do so much more! I’m not taking full advantage of that because I am very much attached to the bullet journal I’ve been using since October 2020, but I have no doubt that this dashboard-style page combined with the section that follows could prove to be everything a writer needs to plan every other aspect of life, too—particularly if one is a full-time freelance writer or author.
Weekly Planner
You’ve seen weekly planners before, but there are two things about this workbook’s weeklies that make them special.
For one thing, they are exactly how I like them, personally: undated, with a Monday start. Perfect!
The other is the genius bookends of the “goals this week” and “accountability” sections. That a-word just has more weight behind it than “reflection” does, and it’s a solid reminder that you’re making promises to yourself, and that you’ve got to keep them if you want the results you’re looking for.
Project Evaluation
It’s one thing to make goals and plan projects. It’s quite another having to report back to yourself! As a recovering serial project abandoner, the section would’ve once intimidated me into shelving the workbook and never looking at it again.
Now, I see its immense value. It’s only natural that some projects go unfinished for one reason or another, but that doesn’t mean it should go unexamined. Reviewing the successes and areas of improvement of anything we create can provide valuable insights, and I can’t wait to complete these pages for Project Blue Quartz and my blog posts!
Monthly Word Count Tracker
What writing planner/tracker/workbook would be complete without one of these?
Obviously, like the Project Evaluation pages and the spreads that come after this one, I won’t be able to fill them out for all to see just yet. Check back on the blog in early April!
Monthly Reflection and Beyond
Again, I’m not yet able to fill out these pages, but I did take the time to peruse them. Every one of the questions is worded to get you thinking about propelling yourself forward despite any setbacks, and the same holds true for the Quarterly Reflection and Yearly Reflection spreads.
Since I began this workbook in March, I could gather data from 4thewords and comb through my bullet journal to see if I can remember what I did in January and February, but just between us, I think it makes more sense for me personally to skip this quarterly reflection, and proceed through the rest of the year as normal. When it’s time to circle back to January and February in 2024, then I will decide my next steps.
FAQs for The Write Gym Workbook
“Is The Write Gym Workbook right for me?”
After watching the video, you’ll probably have a pretty good idea whether the workbook is right for your writing life, but if you’re still on the fence, here are a few signs that you may want to purchase your own copy in mint, pink, or black.
- You’re already part of The Write Gym. This workbook makes a great companion!
- You’re curious about The Write Gym. There’s no substitute for the group coaching, live Raiden’s exclusive, master classes, and all the other perks included in the right gym membership. This workbook is the next best thing as it is the younger, paperback brainchild of Racquel Henry.
- You’re a full-time writer, or aspire to become one. This workbook was designed with fiction writers in mind, but there’s nothing stopping you from using it for nonfiction and blog posts, as you can see in my own case study!
- You’re dedicated to making writing a priority in your busy life. if you’ve had an old on your head for years and you just can’t find the time to put pen to paper, look no further for a tool that motivates you while holding you accountable.
“Should I wait until January to purchase The Write Gym Workbook?”
At the time of publication, it’s the beginning of March. It might be tempting to bookmark this page or pin it to a Pinterest board for later. But as someone who told herself she’d “get serious next year” for ten years before publishing her first book, let me tell you one thing.
You owe it to yourself to start working on your dream without delay. You can do hard things, and the satisfaction you’ll feel after doing those hard things will be so sweet.
I get that it might feel weird starting this workbook somewhere in the middle, but that’s the only way to start getting the benefits—namely, a healthier and more fulfilling writing life—right now. You can always go back to the months you missed when they roll around next year, and maybe even hold off on completing the Yearly Reflection until you’ve come full circle. It’s up to you.
But if I were you, I wouldn’t wait another minute. I’m already so in love with mine!
The Write Gym Workbook is available now!
Let us know in the comments below which section you’re most excited to use (or even which of the three colors is your favorite), and be sure to tag us on social media after your purchase!
