Five journal prompts we ask every attendee to answer after a losing trade
Losses carry more information than wins when you write about them the same day.
In our Journal Workshop at 362 Hung Vuong Street, we reserve the final hour for reviewing losing trades. Attendees often arrive with detailed notes on winners and a blank page for losses. These five prompts standardise what we capture — each takes one or two sentences.
1. What did the MACD show at entry?
Record the MACD line position relative to the signal line, histogram direction and size, and whether the cross had just occurred or was several candles old. Be specific: "bullish cross two candles ago, histogram expanding, MACD below zero" is useful. "MACD looked good" is not.
2. What did the MACD show at exit?
Many traders log entry indicators but not exit context. Did a bearish cross appear before you closed? Did the histogram contract while price was still moving in your favour? Exit MACD state reveals whether you left early, late, or in line with your rules.
3. Did you enter because of the signal or despite it?
Honesty matters. Sometimes a trader enters on a cross that failed filter checks because they felt impatient. Writing "I knew daily MACD was bearish but entered anyway" prevents the same rationalisation next week.
4. Was your position size appropriate for the setup quality?
A marginal MACD cross below zero with shrinking histogram is a lower-conviction setup. If you sized it the same as your best A-grade cross above zero with expanding histogram, note that mismatch. Size and signal quality should correlate.
5. What one MACD behaviour will you watch for next time?
End with a forward-looking observation, not self-criticism. Example: "Next time I will wait for histogram expansion after a below-zero cross before entering long." This turns the loss into a concrete rule for the next trade.
Building the habit
We print these prompts on the back cover of the SparkWork workbook. Filling them immediately after closing a losing position — before opening the next chart — keeps details fresh. If you prefer a structured template, see our Journal Workbook page or attend the Trade Journal Workshop.