BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Journals How to Start Journaling (was - OK, let's try...)

No idea why the converstation was cut off on the welcome thread. So be it.

Anyway, where does one START if they've never journaled before?

As I stated in the now locked thread, I'd just like to kind of clear out my head and work out some life direction issues.




Thanks in advance.

I closed (rather than deleting it entirely) it because it was started by a previous editor, with hopes people would just start a fresh post. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Buy a book, a good pen and start writing. For clearing your head you might want to try morning pages. The train of thought for this is to write three pages no matter what on what ever pops into your head at the moment and keep writing. It's really good at clearing out the mind.

Sorry, as a moderator I just usually denote why I lock a thread.

<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, got any book suggestions? There are tens of thousands!

I obviously didn't think it would be a problem. I've now added a note to prevent futures issues.


I highly recommend The Artist's Way as it goes into greater detail about morning pages and despite the title isn't just for artists.

Although, not personally familiar the following books have been recommended to me:

*A Writer's Paris - Eric Maisel
*Drawing from Life Journal as Art - Jennifer New
*Journaling Your Past - Aisling D'Art
*Sark's Creative Companion
*The New Diary - Tristine Rainer

Maybe some other visitors can suggest some other onces for you.

I just remembered there's an online course (free) for the Artist Way. It's meant to be a companion to the book but you definitely don't need. Here's the link. I think they have another one starting in the summer:

http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/WRW_AW

I've been journaling before I knew that's what it was called. I have one on my computer that goes back 12 years. I started it out of a desperate need to release my emotions when my mother first took ill and I was caring for her. That is the first entry, so I've read it many times, and even though my life is in such a different place now, it brings me back to a younger version of myself. I have an appreciation for the peace in my life now and how much I've changed. But that habit took root. I use my journal to vent feelings. No rules needed. But for that kind of journal, you need a computer with a password. I hope no one ever reads mine!

Thank you Moe and Trevy! Sorry, I've been rather incapacitated, another issue to journal about.

A journal on my computer would be safe, it's only me, mom, and the 2 dogs. She doesn't even know how to turn the computer on, work a mouse, or anything. I couldn't even walk her through turning it off over the phone one time.

I'll have to check out that course as well, and the AW books are practically being given away on eBay.

So, which is better? Computer or hand-written?

I see all kinds of journaling software out there, and LifeJournal comes very highly recommended.

Thoughts?

Try both!

I do a combination of both to. We all grow up writing with pens and paper so there is a different connection there. I also find if you can't type fast your train of thought is able to go faster with hand writing.

Get a nice book and pen though. Play with it. I would skip the Life Journal thing for now and just use whatever wordprocessor you have on your computer.

I'm a visual and "bells and whistles" kind of person, and I don't think I'd stick with plain old word. But we'll find out.

LifeJournal just looks so inviting........

I have also tried both...I find sometimes when I'm really worked up about something, I am better off on the computer - I am such a faster typer than handwriter...

However, for me, it's much more fun to look through my handwritten books. I love being able to flip, read into my handwriting, etc.

I also am a sort of stop and go journal-er and I find that when I'm traveling I'm much better about it, so obviously in that case I have to write by hand...