historylass
sallyduchessWhy You Should Keep a Journal
October 26th 2006 04:11
If you want to write, keeping a journal is a good idea. It's a place to record your thoughts and feelings, without putting them out in the big wide world for someone to read.
All of us have thoughts that we really wouldn't like anyone reading. Often, we keep those thoughts inside and don't even think about putting them on paper. But it's those very personal thoughts that can lead to some great writing. Our private thoughts are usually more intense and real than the type of stuff we write about. It's that intensity and reality that can lead depth and substance to the stuff we write.
Even if a journal is never designed to be read by anyone, it can help bring certain emotions and new ways of writing to the surface. These can then be used later in more public types of writing. You can also return to your journal at a later date to recapture the feelings you had in the past. Or excerpts from your journal can be edited and changed to help create or initiate a piece designed for publication.
Writing in a journal is also a good place to try out different approaches to writing and different styles. Without the thought of publication, you can feel free to just write - without any thought of whether it's good enough to read. You may find that freeing yourself up like this really helps in the creative process. You may also discover new ways of writing that you never thought you would use.
I don't believe there should be any rules for writing in a journal. The only rule I go by is to write in it when I feel I have something to say. Sometimes I don't even keep what I write. Occasionally, I will write what might be considered a journal entry on my computer and then delete it. If you do want to discipline yourself to write every day, then by all means do. But don't feel you have to. A journal is a place to record personal thoughts and it should reflect your personal needs.
All of us have thoughts that we really wouldn't like anyone reading. Often, we keep those thoughts inside and don't even think about putting them on paper. But it's those very personal thoughts that can lead to some great writing. Our private thoughts are usually more intense and real than the type of stuff we write about. It's that intensity and reality that can lead depth and substance to the stuff we write.
Even if a journal is never designed to be read by anyone, it can help bring certain emotions and new ways of writing to the surface. These can then be used later in more public types of writing. You can also return to your journal at a later date to recapture the feelings you had in the past. Or excerpts from your journal can be edited and changed to help create or initiate a piece designed for publication.
Writing in a journal is also a good place to try out different approaches to writing and different styles. Without the thought of publication, you can feel free to just write - without any thought of whether it's good enough to read. You may find that freeing yourself up like this really helps in the creative process. You may also discover new ways of writing that you never thought you would use.
I don't believe there should be any rules for writing in a journal. The only rule I go by is to write in it when I feel I have something to say. Sometimes I don't even keep what I write. Occasionally, I will write what might be considered a journal entry on my computer and then delete it. If you do want to discipline yourself to write every day, then by all means do. But don't feel you have to. A journal is a place to record personal thoughts and it should reflect your personal needs.
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Comment by sallyduchess
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
Comment by Kerrianne
The question is, would you let someone else read your journal? For the ultimate challenge would you put it on the internet?
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
Comment by Wendi
Great insights!
W