Q: I am currently in the early stages of recording all my ideas (mostly writing projects, some non-writing projects) into timestamped text files; I have configured a immediate shortcut to do this, etc. I worried I am just recording complete garbage and that it will be impossible to sift through later, not even certain how exactly I will be picking and actioning these things. Are there any recommendable checks, measures, bits of discipline to make this whole process workable?
A: i'll tell you the way i went through it. my plan, when i was at the exact same stage as you, is to go through them in order. talk/discuss (record the discussion also) the item at hand and determine where it's at. discuss its origins, discuss your first reactions, impressions, think about its origins, .... contemplate its place in the universe , ... and imagine whether you think it's worth it for it to exist / be finished. if you genuinely determine it's worth it, then start pursuing the next steps. determine what piece of it you have. is it the middle? beginning? something else? if it's the beginning, then your next task is to come up with the next part. this is best done by sheer runthroughs, and cut off right at the end, and listen very closely if the next bit will present itself. it can also be good to think process of elimination. what do you know it will and won't be? (categorically). i.e. will be a zebra/pony ride, or will it not be a zebra/pony ride. etc.... that could narrow it down. and again, continue raw runthroughs and cut off at end. If the initial idea was in the middle, that's probably just a lot of process of elimination. Once you have a significant development done on that item, document/date your progress and move to the next one. Then, aftar about 6 months of doing this (writing a little bit on each item) ... then, organize all the items into a new order, by % completed. appraise them all by % complete you think they are (estimation) and re-sort the list.  Then, look at the top group (90 to 99% completed). choose (genuinely, without random assistance) 1 item from that group. Your next task is to finish the writing on that item. when i say 'finish the writing' i mean know how it goes from beginning to end. know all the bars, how many bars, all melody/lyric, chords, ... whatever constitutes your idea of a song in your mind, finish it so you know all that. mark it done. then go to the next group (80 to 89%). do the same thing. pick one, finish it. keep going like this, to the 70s, 60s, etc, all the way down, finishing (writing) 1 item per group. go around the group 2 or 3 times. Now, it's time to record. take the entire list, it doesn't matter what order, but preferably chronological. go through the list, (this will take a day or two) for each song, check how the song goes (properly consult all your documentation for it, read it, play it, check out all samples, etc. fully check how it goes, even if you think you vaguely remember. look it up for real.) then decide 'would i be excited to record this' or 'would i not be excited to record this'? your list of 'yes's can be as long as you want, so don't worry about 'to the exclusion of all other' just yet, just ask yourself would you be excited on some planet in some universe to record this one. if yes, then add it to a list (this is the semi-finals for recording selection list). Continue going through the entire master items list and add all the ones you would be excited to do. Then, as soon as you've gone through the entire list, IMMEDIATELY numberize the semi-finals list and make a random selection (using computer, like