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created: 2024-02-21 10:54
updated: 2024-03-03 19:53
aliases:
  - Motivation momentum
---
> [...] Hemingway was known for a particular writing strategy, which I call the “Hemingway Bridge.” He would always end a writing session only when he knew what came next in the story. Instead of exhausting every last idea and bit of energy, he would stop when the next plot point became clear. This meant that the next time he sat down to work on his story, he knew exactly where to start.
>
> Tiago Forte, “[[Building a Second Brain]]”, p. 186

You can think of a Hemingway Bridge as a bridge between the islands in your [Archipelago of Ideas](Archipelago%20of%20Ideas.md).

How do you create a Hemingway Bridge? Instead of burning through every last ounce of energy at the end of a work session, reserve the last few minutes to write down some of the following kinds of things in your digital notes:

- **Write down ideas for next steps:** At the end of a work session, write down what you think the next steps could be for the next one.
- **Write down the current status:** This could include your current biggest challenge, most important open question, or future roadblocks you expect.
- **Write down any details you have in mind that are likely to be forgotten once you step away:** Such as details about the characters in your story, the pitfalls of the event you’re planning, or the subtle considerations of the product you’re designing.
- **Write out your intention for the next work session:** Set an intention for what you plan on tackling next, the problem you intend to solve, or a certain milestone you want to reach.