7 minute read

“You don’t have to be a writer to be a journaler, but journal keeping will make you a writer anyway.” 

— Robert Moss

what is journal writing?

I THINK OF JOURNALING as freewriting self-discovery venting therapy storytelling remembering zeroing in on ideas and crafting whatever thoughts pop up. And since nobody’ll ever read it, we can write more freely when we journal. Log whatever we want: our experiences, reflections, moods, dreams, activities, ideas, insights, notes, habits, lists, goals . . .

I’ll tell you a secret: though it was insane, raw, and unreadable by anyone but me, half of my book came from what I’d written in the first year after my son Sam died. I didn’t realize that was a form of journaling then, I was just vomiting my grief onto the page. Much, much later, after years of rewriting and editing, a good portion of those vomit pages ended up in Willower: Rewriting Life After Unimaginable Loss.

So, you never know, your journal may turn out to be material for that story you need to tell. Or maybe journaling will help you clear your mind before your morning meditation. Or perhaps, you’ve been wanting to start a writing practice but don’t know where to begin? What I know now: Keeping a journal is a solid first step!

in fits and starts

OVER THE YEARS, at the beginning of each year, full of motivation and fresh New Year’s resolutions, I’d start journaling. Hoping, this time, to make it a habit. But I’d peter out after a week or two, every time. 

“What is my problem?” I’d beat myself up. “Why—if I like to write—is the habit of journaling so hard for me to keep?” 

I’ve petered out enough times over the years so that I’ve accumulated a collection of soft-covered journals. Pretty ones in different colors. All bought—with good intentions—at the end of each year at a Michael’s fall sale. The one with the cute sloth on the cover I bought as a joke. I’m a little slothy (slow-moving), what can I say? But, like all the others in the pile, its pages remained empty too.

I really, really did want to keep a journal. So why the friction, or the forgetting? 

a different approach

IT WAS MIDYEAR (2023) when I remembered, again, that I’d forgotten to write anything in that colorful little journal of mine; except for those few entries back in January. 

After beating myself up, again, for not sticking with it, I decided it was time to try a different approach.

Maybe writing by hand, pen to paper, wasn’t the way (for me) to journal? I’ve always used a word processor to write, so why was I journaling on paper? Though I do love those soft-covered journals, especially the one with the sloth on it. 

Maybe I just had nothing to write? Not possible; there are always thoughts swirling in my head that I’d like to get rid of. Maybe I just wasn’t doing it right? 

I Googled how to journal. And landed on the DayOneapp.com blog and . . . BAM! 

That June (2023), I hit refresh on my New Year’s resolution and started journaling, again. 

Maybe, instead of using pen and paper, using an app on my phone was the approach I needed. I just hadn’t realized it yet. 

starting again 

JUNE 18, 2023. I wrote my first journal entry in the DayOne app.

And then? 

I kept writing, journaling. 

And then? 

By September, I was in a groove. My entries were growing longer. My writing muscles were growing stronger. I showed up every morning. This was my chosen writing time when I sat with my coffee, opened the app and started writing. 

Whether thumb-typing the words or dictating them, I was learning to let my thoughts, ideas, dreams, memories, experiences flow—good, bad, ugly, whatever!

I noticed, too, that keeping a journal was making me a better (freer) writer!

a new routine 

FOR OVER A YEAR, I’ve been journaling in the DayOne app (still using the free version). I’m addicted. There’s no friction or forgetting; I actually look forward to it. The way one might look forward to having a cup of coffee and a chat with a close friend. 

Almost every morning, I spill it. Not my coffee, but my guts, how I’m feeling, my thoughts, deep or shallow, it doesn’t matter. I can complain, spew my emotions, list things I want to do, or go back and check off things I’ve done. I can bitch about those people I’m angry at, or lament those people I miss.

I can even talk to them, those whom I’ve lost over the years. 

In my journal-writing practice, I’ve gotten into some pretty deep conversations. Sometimes with myself, that voice inside, and sometimes I write dialogue with the dead (wow, that sounds like a title for my next post). 

journaling wrap-up

A few things I love about using DayOne:

• How easy it is to add a thought. Anytime, anywhere, I can grab my phone and write. 
• I can tag entries so they’re easy to find when I want to take a look back and see/remember something. 
• I can include images and photos in my journal. 

And WOW, have I got some NatGeo level pics to show you (below)! Along with some examples I wanted to share with you from past journal entries.👇

metamorphosis

journal entries (2023)

Caterpillar in jar 🐛
Oct 27, 2023. Day 20. Still waiting. Things in the jar still look the same. No sign of life. We’ll see…

The moth is gone 🐛
Nov 3, 2023. After finding it in the jar yesterday morning, taking pics, leaving it outside, jar open, it finally left. Maybe sometime in the night? How cool was that experience? 

metamorphosed

FOR THE LAST SEVENTEEN MONTHS I’ve been keeping a journal. It’s a habit now.

How ‘bout that, I’ve metamorphosed into a journaler. 

Wanna strengthen your writing muscles? Try journaling. With a little patience, after about 26 days (wink wink 🐛—>🦋), you should start feeling the results. And, you’ll look even more fabulous in those comfy sweatpants you’ve been dying to wear!

Find what works for you—pen and paper and colorful journals, or digital options like a word processor or an app—and give it a try. You can start by writing one sentence a day. Or just use an emoji to sum up how you’re feeling and see where it goes from there? And be sure to let me know how it’s going. Comment below or send me an email.