As I have gotten older, I have acquired more (too much!) unpainted lead and more half-finished projects. I've find that I've had difficulty staying on track to finish anything. That's a problem considering I am often going it alone, having to paint both sides to finish a project.

It is hard to stay on track to complete 200 figures or so per army to complete a venture, especially if one doesn't paint quickly. The past several years I have fiddled with a painting journal, something in writing that allows me to track my progress on projects over a years time. 2002 was the year I was able to keep up with the journal for the entire year.

The journal idea is simple enough. At the beginning of the year I set out my priorities in writing, specific to those projects that I believe I'll be working on throughout the year. I try to paint regularly; my ideal is at least an hour per day, more when possible. After I finish some figures, I make an entry in the journal, explaining what I've completed, and what I'll be working on next. If there is some reason I've been unable to paint, I also explain that to the journal.

Finally, I keep a running total of the figures that I've completed, in the goal areas I've set for myself. Sometimes it is simply to get my thinking down on paper, so I can see it and refer back to it.

Does this work?

I'm not sure, but I think so. I completed two important projects this year. I finished all of the 25mm English Hundred Years War figures that I had, a total of about 90. I also finished all of the 150 or so 15mm WWII Italians that I needed to complete for the 1940 North Africa campaign. In all my painted figures for 2002 reached over 600. In my planning for 2003, I've laid out clearly my existing projects and period, estimated the painted and unpainted figures for each, and my goals to begin the year. It was depressing.

One of my goals is to use this information to deter needless purchases of figures except to complete some of my projects-- projects I still really want to do, but can't get around to because I keep distracting myself with more stuff. I don't know which is more twisted, spending time doing this or buying more figures I won't paint.

I've included a couple of entries as examples:

January 15,2002

I finished six more figures. I also managed to cut bases, mount and putty, and prime the remaining twenty archers. I think I am positioned to finish up all of the remaining foot figures for the 100 Years War by the end of the month. I am pleased. I have also ordered two ACW figures from Shenandoah Miniatures in Australia. They look very nice.

August 26th

I need to do a better job of recording. It keeps me focused and I can see how much I've been straying lately. I traveled to Portland last week to visit Randy Miles and it has renewed my commitment to make the OMTB project playable before the LOTR project. I want to play OMTB at Breakthrough, which will take some doing because it is probably farther away from completion. I have remounted and magnetized all of my Indians, painted figs etc. I will need to paint 20 It. infantry, 8 legionnaires, 46 Indians and 20 pack horse in order to have the project ready by Breakthrough weekend, which leaves little opportunity to play-test a scenario. Still I think I can do it. I don't think 171 get a chance to have an extra plane done for the museum- but I could be wrong. I did finish the first of my RoR mounted units last week. I am working on the lights for OMTB presently. Would like to have them done by Monday, but am also remounting my 25mm ACW figs, which is just a big bunch of work.

Finally, I have also included the cumulative record I kept for this year's projects, again as an example:

Project Figures Completed
25mm 100 Years War 57
1/600 ACW Miniatures 7
54mm and larger 2
1/48 air racers 5
25mm Fantasy 35
25mm AWl 50
OMTB militia/settlers 35
25mm Waynes Legion 20
25mm Indians 20
15mm ACW 40
15mm Rohirrim 91
15mm Fantasy 82
15mm WWII 132
1/300 scale aircraft 4
Total 597

Cumulative records can measure many things, including monthly totals, figure purchases, a "countdown" of figures left to paint on a project-whatever serves your needs best. I'm not suggesting that this is the best or the only way to stay on task, but it has worked for me this year. I am anxious to look back at the more complex journal I am keeping this year, and see if it makes a difference in completing projects and diminishing my piles of lead.

I enjoy plugging this into the computer every time I finish something, even if it is just one figure. It helps to use a computer, but it isn't required. If you're looking for an answer for how to stay productive and focused, you might try this.