Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

 

Tips for Starting a Journal and Staying with It

by Kris Underwood

 

A journal, to me, is something that is personal, a place where I can let it all out, stuff that I would never share with other mothers, let alone the world, or a place where I can work through my issues (definitely much cheaper than a psychiatrist!) I got my first journal as a birthday present when I was 12 and have been writing ever since. Those first few are quite painful to read now, 15 years on. However, a little further down the line, I can see how my writing has developed, how I have honed my skills as a writer. Journaling can be quite useful for writing material as well.

Have you ever thought of starting a journal, but just don't know where to start? Maybe you find there isn't enough time in the day, or perhaps you find yourself faced with the question: What would I even write about?

Here are a few essentials to get you going:

1. Find a journal you would enjoy writing in. It could be a simple hardback book, one made of leather, cloth or plain notebook. There are so many choices. Try Clairefontaine for simple designs or the legendary Moleskine® brand for a sleek leather look. You can always stop in your local bookstore and browse!

2. Writing utensils. What do you like to write with? Pen, pencil, blue, black or multicolored ink? Fine tip or something a little heavier? I use the uni-ball® Vision™ finepoint. It's water-proof and fade-proof.

3. Carve out some space and time to write. This may be impossible for most of us, especially if there are young children running around. Let me just say naptimes and bedtimes: prime time for writing! On the go all the time? Take it with you for quick, jotting ideas. Try getting on a journaling schedule if you can. Set aside some time, perhaps 10 minutes to start, before you go to bed to write and reflect upon the day.

4. What to write. The subject(s) about which you write in your journal can be as varied as you want. It's truly up to you. To start, record the events of the day. What did you do? Was there a specific story on the news that affected you? Write about it. How and why did it affect you? Writing can be incredibly therapeutic. Got some issues you're trying to work through? Write about those in the journal. Just get through a break-up, a divorce? Write about it! Like I said earlier, it's much cheaper than a psychiatrist. You'll be amazed at what a little free writing can do. Who knows, maybe you'll get some story material out of the journaling experience.

5. Stay Inspired. Read, read and read some more. Read everything you can get your hands on: magazines, newspapers, other people's writing and their journals. There are plenty of published journals of writers and others available. Get to the library and check out Virginia Woolf's journals, or Sylvia Plath's. Anais Nin, Tennessee Williams, or Frida Kahlo are some other examples. Most importantly, take a look at what's happening around you; pay attention.

Out of ideas? There are plenty of places around the Web to find writing prompts that could easily adapt to journaling. A few to try: Literary Mama prompts and Gwendolen Gross' The Other Mother –  for moms who write. Writer's Digest always has prompts in the magazine.

In this age of computer laptop journals, live journals and the blogosphere, I still prefer to draft things out with paper and pen. My handwriting is still decipherable, not yet reduced to chicken scratch. Besides that, I just love the feel of pen in hand. I don’t know why, but it seems I can put things together more efficiently that way. Plus, I’m a doodler. I like to scribble all over the page, cross out words and whole sentences, make squiggly arrows directing this sentence or paragraph to go all the way to the top (or bottom). After what seems to be sufficient doodling, I can go to the computer and make the final draft. I’ve always done that with poetry as well.

 

For me, journaling is a ritualistic process. There is a certain meditation in actual writing with pen and paper that cannot be found in banging out words on the computer. The blue-glow of the computer monitor can surely trance me out, but it’s just not the same. So it remains, paper and pen for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kris Underwood is the Managing Editor of Mamazina. She blogs at krisunderwood.blogspot.com.