Monday, November 30, 2015

Confessions of a Bullet Journaler by Marcie Flinchum Atkins

What to Do, What to Do


I’ve always been a to-do list maniac. I use lists in every aspect of my life, but I especially use them in my writing. I have written about my incessant list making here.

My problem has always been lots of to-do lists running around on different pieces of paper, but somehow I needed a way to keep them all together. Then I heard about the bullet journal. 

Bullet Journaling 101



After almost a year of using my bullet journal, it really does work with how my mind thinks. I like being able to flip back to the beginning and see my goals for the year. 

Planning Ahead

The downside of the bullet journal is that is doesn’t let you plan far ahead, like a traditional pre-printed planner does. I typically keep my planning ahead on Google Calendar and then transfer the writing aspects into my journal every month. However, in 2016, I’m going to try to put these calendars in the front of the bullet journal for the whole year

Bullet Journal Contents

I do not keep my "day job" to-do’s in my bullet journal. I have a separate planner for that at school. Here are the features of my writing bullet journal. 
  • Table of Contents
  • 12x12 page. I list the titles of books that I wrote and the titles of books that I revised.
  • Writing goals for the whole year. I break these down by picture books, middle grade, business, professional reading 
  • Month by month goals
  • Lists of mentor texts by category. I have found this is the best way for me to keep up with my mentor texts lists without losing them. At the end of the year, when I fill up my book, I will transfer them to a Google Sheet. In bullet journaling speak these are called “collections”.



  • Monthly to do list. This usually just includes big projects I’m working on. 
  • A book of stars. This is a list of celebrations—no matter how small. Last year I posted about my “book of stars.” I just did a monthly page in my bullet journal. When I am discouraged, I can look at those pages and see that I’m making progress, little by little. 



  • Picture books read



  • Books and Audiobooks read
  • Writing project to-do lists. I break up a larger project into chunks and write down the list of to do’s. 
  • Weekly or daily to-do lists. 


I moved this year and changed jobs. While I didn’t come anywhere close to meeting all of my writing goals for 2015, I did keep my sanity. I was able to make lists of places I’d applied for jobs, dates they followed up, lists for what needed to be done for our move, and important phone numbers. It was all together. I was also able to keep writing.

Nitty Gritty Supply Details

I prefer the Leuchtturm 1917 with dots. The pages are already numbered, it has a built-in ribbon bookmark, and elastic closure where I clip my pen. The downside is that is expensive, but it’s lasted me a whole year. So, in my opinion, it was worth the money. 


I am a member of the Bullet Journal Junkie Facebook group. This group is great about posting pictures of their bullet journals. Almost all of them are more artistic than mine. My book is more function and less frill. But it works. And this group is a great resource for finding out where to get deals on supplies and how to think of to-do lists in different ways. 

How Do You Bullet Journal?

Are you a bullet journal junkie?

If so, please let me know how you use yours. What types of lists do you make? 

27 comments:

  1. nice! Great ideas.....I'm intrigued enough to consider.

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    1. Thanks, Linda! I like having everything all in one place. I think I'm hooked. :)

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  2. I've just discovered bullet journaling and had a plan to adapt it for writers. . . You're way ahead of me, Marcie! Maybe I can glean more from your post. Thanks for laying it out so well.

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  3. I've kept a bullet journal all year. You've given me some new ideas. I wondered why you are going to put the printed monthly calendars all in the front? I'd considered putting them facing a my monthly list. But I like your idea of having them all in the front, too. I may do both. This past year I had no actual printed calendar so as I plan my 2017 journal (which I already have) I'm trying to decide where to put my printed calendars.

    Thanks for the post!

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    1. I put them in the front to plan ahead. I can't plan out how many pages I'll need for each month. I also utilize Google Calendars, but I like having writing deadlines written down in the bullet journal.

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    2. I split my journal into 12 equal number of pages. I use pages in between also and just note them in my Index. So my index is not perfectly chronological. All my months are at the top and then the rest is hodpodge depending on what page/s I use for notes, ideas, etc. It's interesting to see what works for other people. I joined the FB group so I might get some new ideas. Thanks again for this post, Marcie.

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    3. That makes sense. I could probably swing that. I was a bit worried that I'd need more than one journal each year, but I was able to fit everything in one in 2015. I've always thought I'd love a separate section for collections. I might try that this year. As it is, my mentor text book lists are spread out all over the place.

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  4. I don't Bullet Journal, but I do Calendaring, which is basically the same.thing. I have a file titled CALENDAR on my computer where I have individual documents for each month. I type in things i want to accomplish forn each month and then further breakdown each week. I've been don this for over a year now and it keeps me right on track.

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    1. Awesome! I used to do a paper version of the calendar thing. I just kept it in a binder. Someone told me today about Smashbook.

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  5. I don't Bullet Journal, but I do Calendaring, which is basically the same.thing. I have a file titled CALENDAR on my computer where I have individual documents for each month. I type in things i want to accomplish forn each month and then further breakdown each week. I've been don this for over a year now and it keeps me right on track.

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  6. Thank you, Marcie, for sharing a great way to keep track of my time :)

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  7. wow - I guess I've been doing something like this for about ever. I call it: morning pages but with some planning and to do lists and oh yea, list of books... but yes - the index - necessity! Some things here that I'll likely include. GREAT POST! Thanks.

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    1. Yes, I do morning pages in a separate composition NB. But I think there are many bullet journalers that do that.

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  8. Once again you have shared more useful information to help everyone stay organized. Time to turn my "To Do Lists" of many pieces of paper into something more manageable Thank you, Marcie.
    ~Suzy

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    1. With my Thanksgiving to-do lists (which were loose), my husband said, "You need a to-do list to organize all of these to-do lists." :)

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  9. Thanks for sharing Marcie! I like your Book of Stars idea, I'm definitely in need of that. Also like that your write down the stories you wrote and revised. Do the Paper Mate Flair Pens dry quickly. I'm looking for pens that don't smudge. I did the bullet journal for the year and use it for collections and yearly and monthly to-dos. For the Calendar what works better for me is to print out a calendar at the start of the month, write-in events/deadlines and stick it to my wall in front of my desk. I use the Post-it Display boards to easily hang papers up.

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    1. I've never had trouble with them smudging. I really like them. Someone recommended Staedtler pens to me today. The BJ Junkies FB group always has lots of supply tips. I love that you do what works for you!!! :)

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  10. WOW! Interesting. I may have to consider something different for 2016, this is a LOT of food for thought. . . . .

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    1. It's worth a try. I use an Erin Condren planner at work and I like that too, but my planning is a bit different for school related things. Definitely do what works for you! :)

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  11. So fun to see these bullet journal pages & what they represent.
    Thanks for the fb link to the bullet junkies!

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  12. Total list fanatic here! I usually have several going at once!

    Thanks for the tips, Marcie. I need to read this more thoroughly!

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  13. Love my Bullet Journal! You've got me thinking of other pages I could add.

    Did you see BulletJournal.com has a new video? Added a way to handle the long-term planning stuff.

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