The Daily Stand-Up: Because “What Was I Doing Again?” Isn’t a Writing Strategy
You don’t have to make excuses for talking to yourself. It’s encouraged here!
You’ve got your backlog. You’ve built your Kanban board. You even sprint like the focused creative force you are.
But then... real life happens. You miss a day. You open your document and suddenly, you have no idea what you were doing.
This is why you need a Daily Stand-Up, or daily check-in—the simplest habit that keeps your writing moving forward without losing your mind (or your plot).
What Is a Daily Check-In?
In Agile teams, they call it a Daily Stand-Up: a super short meeting to make sure everyone’s still on track.
Since it’s just you (and possibly your cat judging you), the daily check-in is your personal way to stay connected to your writing without overthinking it.
It’s three quick questions:
What did I work on last time?
What am I working on today?
What’s standing in my way?
That’s it. No meetings, no awkward icebreakers, no corporate jargon. Just you, your project, and a moment of clarity. We aren’t here to circle back. This is low-hanging fruit. It’s totally okay if you don’t have the bandwidth, you rockstar. Okay okay, no more jargon. Synergy… now I’m done.
How Daily Check-Ins Help Writers
Daily check-ins aren’t about cramming more into your day. They’re about making it easier to sit down and pick up where you left off.
They help you:
Remember your momentum (so you’re not constantly re-reading and second-guessing)
Focus on one next step instead of the entire overwhelming book
Catch blockers early (like "oh right, I needed to research sword wounds before writing this fight scene")
Plus, they give you a tiny sense of progress even on the days you only write a few lines.
How to Set Up Your Daily Check-In
You don't need an app, a spreadsheet, or a complicated system.
Here’s a ridiculously easy way to start:
Open a notebook, sticky note, or blank doc.
Answer the three questions before you start writing.
Answer them again (very quickly) when you finish, to leave future-you a breadcrumb trail.
Example:
Last Session: Finished scene where the main character storms out.
Today: Start new chapter — main character and love interest argue at the river.
Blockers: None (unless caffeine counts).
That’s it. Two minutes of your time, tops.
Make It a Ritual, Not a Chore
Light a candle.
Put on an inspiring instrumental song.
Bribe yourself with tea, snacks, or those weird TikTok breaks.
Make your check-in feel cozy or quick—whatever keeps it feeling like a creative touchstone, not another guilt trip.
Your book doesn’t need you to be perfect every day.
It needs you to stay connected—even if it’s just with a quick check-in before you dive in (or doom scroll).
Consistency beats intensity every time.