I talk. I talk to everyone I know. I ask very non-technical people how they'd approach the technical challenges (if this project has a technical aspect). I ask very technical people how they'd approach the creative/artistic challenges (same comment). I buy a sketchbook and fill it with doodles and diagrams and notes and random, scatterbrained ideas. And I never look at it again. I'll read up on material related to the subject. I'll read up on material unrelated to the subject, and figure out how it could apply (the works of Joyce are great for this). I'll meditate (with or without aids). Sometimes — and I'm not joking about this — I'll pick some completely arbitrary activity and assign it ritualistic significance, with pertinence to the project I'm about to begin. (Once, prior to recording a song, I showered myself with a carton of orange juice while hopping to and fro on alternating legs, ululating wildly — it was significant, by assignment.)
Why all the nonsense? In some sense, it helps clear my mind of other projects. It helps me build up energy and excitement in anticipation of this new project.
It reminds me that I'm still alive, and that there are many things I could be doing in my life. While I may be a conduit or wellspring from which projects spring forth, there's no reason I have to be, except for the amount of love I feel for the work that I do.
I am under the impression that the purpose of voting is to reward interesting contributions to the discussion, whether or not you agree with what has been stated.
EDIT: To respond to the issue of the arguable merits of my post — I made my post because the majority of comments here are describing preparatory activities performed on one's computer. I wanted to give some of my non-computer related warmups, since they can also apply to projects that aren't necessarily software-oriented.
Whatever others may say, I like you. I actually do as you do, regarding the notebooks. I have a dozen moleskines of all kinds, and my select fleet of "Idea Pens and Pencils" specific to the task. I rarely ever read what I write- the act of putting it safely in its place cement the threads together into an increasingly intricate web of the whole. While your OJ story is out there, I'd happily work with someone like you. Cheers-
They say that you're an expert in something when you can clearly explain it to others. The "throwaway notebook" strategy is, in my opinion, a great way to quickly and safely test (and refine) how much of an expert you are about the idea for your new project, at any level of granularity you care to attack it.
All very true (although I have a "scary" memory from my paternal grandmother that lets me remember just about anything I can slot into a framework/taxonomy/whatever).
But I always find myself going back tot he notebooks once or twice to refresh myself on one detail, look up a particular incantation, whatever. It's nice to have them in reserve for that.
Why all the nonsense? In some sense, it helps clear my mind of other projects. It helps me build up energy and excitement in anticipation of this new project.
It reminds me that I'm still alive, and that there are many things I could be doing in my life. While I may be a conduit or wellspring from which projects spring forth, there's no reason I have to be, except for the amount of love I feel for the work that I do.