Starting Point

What it wants in front of it

• The situation as it actually is, including the parts that are only in your head
• What you know, separated from what you are assuming
• What you feel about it, named rather than argued with
• A finish condition — the thing that would let you say this is done

The move it makes

Turns a mood into a written question with an answer, then sorts the contents of that question into what is known, what is assumed and what is felt — so the assumptions become a short list of things to check.

Where it breaks

• Sharpening the question so far that it no longer touches what was actually bothering you
• Filing a strong feeling under 'assumption' so it can be argued away
• Rewriting the question again instead of answering it — the third rewrite is usually avoidance
• Calling something known because you have heard it often

When not to use it

When the thing in front of you is not a problem to be solved. Grief, exhaustion and a decision that is already made do not have finish conditions, and pushing them through this move mostly produces a tidy sentence and no relief.

The check it closes on

Is there a sentence on the page that was not there an hour ago?