In Monday's blog, Journal Treasures/Sweet Fluid of Expression, I shared one of the journals I wrote in 2003, (two years into the writing of my first novel, Between Will and Surrender, and when I was about to start my second, Between Darkness and Dawn) to let readers in on how the mind of at least one writer works.
What I said back then still applies today:
"I enjoy the feel of this form of expression, the artiness of it. Life takes on meaning when I react to it in a way that becomes preserved between the pages of my journal. Words that will outlast me."
My Thursday Two Questions to you are:
- Do you keep a journal or diary (written, pictural)?
- How do feel about this form of expression?
22 comments:
Hi Margaret,
I don't keep a journal in writing/pictures/etc. If this works for others, then I would encourage them to save their ideas in this type of format.
Hello Bernadine. I've been keeping diaries, written journals, and picture journals since I was ten and can't imagine not having a journal of some kind to look forward to each morning with a cup of coffee. But I understand completely that many(or most)people don't feel the need, or have the time. to indulge in this form of expression. Thanks for stopping by.
I used to keep a journal, but the last time was about 12 years ago.
I like the artiness format as long as it doesn't get away too much that one can't even understand what the writer is trying to express. Also it becomes very hard to read when the words are played with so much it doesn't even make sense, or go together.
A journal is considered a therapy, private and fun. I used to have one but doing blogs have somehow replaced it!
i used to keep a journal--since i was 12 until i was about 30.
i like the candid writing when i was writing for myself and not for anyone else.
My Thursday 2 Questions here
Oh, I really wish I had the tenacity to keep a journal. My husband's great-uncle who is now passed away kept a journal year after year. His memory was sharp as a tac, too. He lived to be over 100-years of age and for most of those years, he was quite physical.
I think journalling is an excellent way to express oneself. Writing your deepest thoughts onto paper really is therapy. Although, I didn't share real person stuff, I believe that's why I enjoyed penpalling for years. It allowed that inner creative urge through words to errupt in constructive way.
1) I don't keep a journal, but keep photo albums so when I look at them, I remember.
2) Writing is a beautiful free form of expressions, but some time photos can do the same also!
Hi Self Sagacity. The best journal writing just pours out and expresses what's closest to the writer's heart at the moment. The idea is to NOT play around with the words, just get them down. That's what I like about journals. They're a free form of writing, not messed with as much as when one writes fiction. Also, journals are a great resource for ideas later on, like for a blog.
Hi Lui. Yes, depending on the kind of blog you write, it can be a form of journaling. And if you're careful to back up your blogs (see yesterday's post BACKUP YOUR BLOG!), your musings will be preserved--and shared.
Hi Luna. You're right, journals are often candid to the point we don't want to share them. That's what I like, to be able to get down my thoughts without the need to impress. It's okay to write so-called garbage, which sometimes turns out to be the most real writing we ever do.
Hi Cathy. I like how you put it. Journaling and pinpalling allows the "inner creative urge through words to errupt in constructive way." And I agree, it's also therapy.
Hi DoanLegacy. Photo journals work too. As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words." My favorite picture journals have one-line/one-sentence captions that add another dimension to the story.
1) I have so many written journals from a very young age, and up to the last few years, I just stop. Blogging and writing articles took over :-)
2) It is such a wonderful way to release tensions and emotions in a secret world for me in my journals.
Great questions, Margaret!
Hello Icy BC. Blogging and writing definitely cut back on journal time. I understand completely. My journals have gotten shorter and fewer. But, there are times I feel the need, and then I love where journaling takes me.
While I could probably have filled a few dozen through the years I have never felt the need for a journal or diary. Blogging is about as close as I have gotten and they are more photo journals than anything else. I do have a computer file of some of my writing.
I think journals are great for those who feel the need. I guess my problem is I have never been able to slow down long enough to put my adventures in writing.
Hi Squirrel Queen. Yes, journaling requires that you slow down, and for many, if not most, this is hard. Keeping a journal, like exercise, requires that you set aside a specific time each day for just that, otherwise it just doesn't get done.
1. I usually just write on just about ANYthing, so personally I don't keep anything together..I am getting into the scrapbooking...maybe that will count as a pictural later? *smile*
2. I basically think the expression is someone saying he wants his journals' wordz to out live him..
Thank U for coming by and commenting! *smile*
Stay Blessed..
http://www.thrumommieiez.blogspot.com
Margaret, I don't do a journal now but I did years ago. Not long ago, I read some of the pages and found that I had forgotten so many things that I did in the 70's. It was a fun read to know the dates that I did so many enjoyable things.
Scrapbooking works. Many of my acquaintances do this with some amazing results. Scrapbooks like journals will definitely outlive their creators.
Hi Dorothy. It's surprising what we forget over the years. Journals are a great way to bring back, maybe even relive, some of them. I also like reading parts of my journals to my children, especially the parts about them, their antics, their words, their birthday parties, etc. What a kick.
I've kept a journal sporadically for more than forty years. I became more consistent about it when I used Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way." Since 1996, I've written 3 Morning Pages a day every day.
Hi Shannon. Yes, I love Cameron's "Morning Pages" idea. 3 a day? I'm impressed. It really does help to have an author like Julia inspire ideas to get the engine running.
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