Wednesday, April 11, 2012

J for Journal

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge! You can visit the Home Page HERE.

Do you keep a journal? Recently, I decided to take a class on fiction writing and the first thing that was insisted on was that we keep a journal. I almost dropped out of the class! I have attempted to keep journals in the past and have failed horribly to follow through. Why? I don't know, but part of me was jealous of the time that could be spent writing.

Something has happened, however, since I started keeping a journal again. I'm using it to really think about things. My thoughts and ideas are becoming more solidified and concrete. I am challenging myself to use it to complete ideas that flit around in my head but never really become clear otherwise.

Two days ago I wrote about making habits. This is what I'm doing with my journal. I'm working on making it a habit so it will become a natural everyday thing. Right now, it's still an uphill journey and some days I drag myself away from the computer, kicking and screaming. "I have to write in my journal!"

What are your thoughts on journaling? Do you keep a journal? For how long? Please share with me...

Courtesy of Loretta Stephenson (Art By Retta)

8 comments:

  1. Keeping a journal is new to me. It's only been about 4 months. It's not very big, as you can see from the pic, and I resisted for the same reasons as you... why write and sketch in IT when I could be doing "real" stuff.

    But it's turned out to be fun, and where I can catch bits and pieces of ideas, and there's no need to make it look nice. I just scribble and scratch, and "catch butterflies" before they fly away never to be seen again. :-)

    Loretta

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    1. The nice thing about my journal is that those ideas are there later for me to go back to and use as needed for stories. Yes?

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  2. Second post I've come across in the span of ten blogs that mentioned journaling. :) I think it must be some kind of message that I should do it more regularly myself!

    Great post.


    The Golden Eagle
    The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

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    1. I'm not one to throw rocks at anyone. If I wasn't in a class, I wouldn't be as regular myself. But since I have to do it, I'm going to make the best of it.

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  3. One of my New Year Resolutions was to start keeping a proper journal, which I much prefer to hand write. I would write until I'd filled two sides, putting down whatever was going on in my head, be it story ideas or everyday life.
    I managed it almost every day for nearly 3 months, but unfortunately I have a severe case of RSI in my writing hand and haven't done any since. It's just not the same typing it.
    After reading your post I may try and pick it up again, maybe only one page until my hand is better.

    Thanks for the nudge!

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  4. Heather: I think even a paragraph or two of thoughts is good. Wow! A whole page! I'm impressed!

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  5. Oh. I stink at keeping a journal. I want to ... sometimes ... but just don't seem to get it done.

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    1. Margo: Don't beat yourself up over it, we all have our priorities. If you ever see a necessity for it, you'll probably start doing it. I'm struggling right now for what to say. It's only because I'm expected to do the writing that I'm getting it done.

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