After reading a number of books (Al Brooks, Mark Fisher, Peter Brandt, etc.) and trading with a low level of success as I decided which components of various trading systems/styles worked for my personality, I've decided to start a journal to keep track of my trades and hopefully get feedback in order to improve my trading.
I will be trading across various futures markets using 5 minute charts with no indicators except a 20 period EMA. My entry and exit signals will be based on bounces off of existing trendlines (what I like to call simplified, conservative price action). At this point my goal is to cherrypick trades where the trendline is not too steep as I've been burned by quick reversals on steep lines in the past. As I get more comfortable, I'd like to incorporate more type of trades but for now that will be all.
Trades back into the "meat" of the day's range will aim for at least a 1:1 risk to reward ratio, risking max 20-25 ticks. I'd like for this ratio to increase as time passes, but for now a min of 1:1 is good enough as I build comfort. Trades that are pushing into uncharted territory for the day will have half the position closed for profit at 1:1 ratio, with the other half to exit at 2:1 or 3:1, or at breakeven if the market pulls back against me.