Journal Writing Techniques
So youve decided to start writing in a journal. You went out, got a beautiful journal to write in and a fancy pen to write with and you are now ready. You sit down, pen in hand, journal open, and are ready to go. Then, you feel stuck. What are you supposed to do? What are you supposed to write?
For some, journal writing comes naturally. They feel like they could write forever if they wanted to. If you look in their closet they have stacks and stacks of full journals that they went through last year. You dont feel quite the same. You havent written a journal entry in your life, or your only experience is the princess diary or marble notebook you wrote with when you were a kid. Now you are writing in a real journal. What are you supposed to write?
I can't tell you exactly how to keep a journal and exactly what you should be writing. There is no manual on how to keep a journal because journal writing is all about you. You decide what you should write. If you still can't think of anything, start by figuring out why you are keeping a journal in the first place.
Why are you keeping a journal? Do you want to improve your writing? Do you want to sort out your feelings and emotions? Are you trying to reach a goal? Do you want to record your travel experiences?
Now that you know why you are keeping a journal, write down a list of topics. For example, if you are trying to improve your creative writing, write down a list of possible short story ideas. Even writing down these ideas can be a journal entry.
If you are trying to keep a weight loss journal, come up with a plan and writing frequency. For example, you can write each day about how well you stuck to your plan and how you feel physically. The bigger list of ideas you have the easier it will be to stick to.
There are no rules with journal writing. Nowhere does it say you have to do it this way or that way. You can, however, develop your own journal writing techniques. Make a plan to follow if you can't get yourself to write or if you keep getting stuck.
Often people use journals to help discover who they are and their purpose. You might start your journal one way and slowly watch yourself grow throughout time as your record all that is happening. Dont make journal writing too constructed and planned. Just write whatever comes to you and let it flow. You will be happy that you did!
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