What comes to mind when you hear the word “journal”? Most
people think of a diary, a place to write personal thoughts. After looking in
the dictionary, I discovered there are various types of journals.
Types of Journals:
Accountants use the term journal for their ledgers.
Newspapers, magazines, and periodicals are called journals – for example, a
medical journal. For nautical, the ship’s log is a journal. Then, there are
diaries: 1) day-to-day accounts of events and 2) a record of experiences,
ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use – i.e. memoirs.
Here’s a
definition I put together for a writer’s journal:
A writer’s
journal is a record of experiences, ideas, reflections, new words, day-to-day or
special events, and many miscellaneous things which aids one in his pursuit of
the written word.
So why journal?
What’s the purpose of journaling:
~ Brainstorming – journaling is a must for many writers when
it comes to brainstorming.
~ Organization – journaling helps writers to keep their
facts straight. Whether you’re a fiction writer or a non-fiction writer, this
is essential!
~ Ideas – journaling is a great way to stock away ideas for
future topics or stories.
~ Research – any research you do for your writing should be
kept in a safe place with easy access.
~ Feedback – some writers keep feedback files as a type of
archive they can look back into to help them grow as a writer.
~ Stay sane – record vital things, as well as get things out
of our system when we need to be focusing on one thing, but can’t due to other
plaguing thoughts.
~ Word Journal – list words that catch your attention, words
that make you stop and say, “That’s a really good word. I’d like to use that
sometime.”
Methods/tools:
Document Files
Post-its/index cards
Maps/charts/diagrams/floor plans
Physical file folders
Sketchbook
Paper scraps
Journals/diaries
Time-lines (cards)
Facebook
Blogs
On-line private journals
Napkins
Paper and pen in the bathroom
Things to journal
as a writer (non-fiction or fiction):
Sermons/Devotional Ideas
Quotable quotes
Special moments
Conversations you overhear
Moods/body language/expressions/looks
Five senses: Smells/Sounds/sights/touch/taste
Events/News
Actions/reactions – good or bad
Traveling
Submissions/Rejections/Acceptances
Outlines
Scene ideas
Character Sketches
Time lines
Story plot/planning
Maps/floor plans
Sketches/pics
Words you hear
No matter what
forms your writer’s journal takes, make it work for you.
Some plaster pictures and timelines and post-its all over
their wall. Some draw in sketchbooks. Others carry a little pocket size pad in
their purse or pocket. Some cut out pictures in magazines and make scrapbooks
or tack them to their wall. Others have very organized document files in their
computer. Find what works for you and don’t be afraid to try something new.
There isn’t a right or wrong answer to how you journal.
Discussion time!
Do you journal? If so, what? Why? How? When? Where? What does it do for you?
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