As a mom to three kids ages 16, 11, and 10, my days are filled with errands, laundry, carpool, Parent-Teacher Association meetings, and trying to find quiet moments in which to write.
Inevitably, those “quiet writing moments” always seem to present themselves in the carpool line, waiting in the doctor’s office, or in-between activities.
To make my writing time more productive, I spend those quiet moments journaling. Journaling allows me to write with no worries about the casualness or tone of my writing.
My journal is personal and it is a place where run-on sentences, missing punctuation, or messy thoughts have permission to exist. A journal can be as simple as a spiral notebook or composition book. It can also be more art-oriented like a sketchbook or a handmade book. Writing can be done with pens, pencils, markers, paint, and stamps — there are no rules except to have fun and of course, write.
For me, journaling is an excellent way to jumpstart my creativity. Here are a few benefits of journaling:
• A place to record thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A journal is a place to document feelings, thoughts, and emotions as they occur on a daily basis.
A child’s first steps, a rant about an injustice, or an opinion about something seen on television or the internet are everyday occurrences to write about in a journal. Feelings can be revealed openly and honestly, thus eliminating fears of condemnation, hurt feelings, or ridicule.
• Reduces stress and anxiety. When we take time to journal about stress in our family life, work, a pile of laundry, or holiday shopping, we are removing those thoughts from our mind and transferring them to the paper. Author of “The Artist’s Way,” Julia Cameron, suggests morning pages as an exercise in clearing the mind.
“Morning pages are three pages of longhand morning writing,” said Cameron on her website www.juliacameronlive.com. “They seem to have nothing to do with creativity, but what they do is clear your mind.” Morning pages help bring clarity, which can help with prioritizing a to-do list and structuring of the day.
• A way to record and preserve memories. Recording those everyday moments remind us that work, family life, and the more mundane events are important and help shape who we are.
I have journaled about my children’s antics, coffee at Starbucks with a friend, conferences with my children’s teachers, and family vacations spent at Disney World. With the business of living, it is easy to forget how much happens during the span of a year.
• Become more observant. When we journal, we become more aware of habits and events occurring around us. We see birds circling overhead, the colors of the leaves, and the interaction of people in a coffee shop or at the mall as potential story ideas. By recording the more interesting things we see and hear in our journals, we are able to tell those stories through our writing.
• Reflection. Journaling allows us to reflect on repeating patterns in our lives, such as the more stressful and busy times.
Reviewing past journal entries over a span of two or three years can be a great indication of behavioral patterns that may occur during specific times of year. It may reveal the similarities of pregnancies or happy moments spent on a family vacation at the beach.
• Provide answers. In the journaling process, questions are sometimes posed, but there may not be a clear answer. When we journal our thoughts, ideas, and feelings, those questions are sometimes answered as we dig deeper into ourselves and listen to the questions we are asking. By creating a habit of writing and listening, an answer to a question or a truth you have not acknowledged will likely reveal itself.
• Brainstorm. Jotting down ideas, sketching, and recording overheard conversations allow the opportunity to flesh out story ideas, a business plan, or dialogue to be used in a book or script. Ideas sometimes present themselves at the craziest times. Having a notebook or journal handy allows you to capture that thought and make notes to reference at a later time. Writing prompts and list writing are also ways to brainstorm ideas for writing articles, blogging, or art journaling.
• Creative mojo. Using journals for drawing, painting, sketching, and writing are all ways to express our creativity.
Art journaling is a great way to creatively express ideas, thoughts, events, and art. Art journals include all kinds of ephemera, such as movie ticket stubs, letters, receipts, and pictures to convey a message. In my art journals, I use rubber stamps, stickers, tags, junk mail, and a variety of papers to journal my thoughts and ideas. I have also used my art journal to preserve memories such as holiday traditions, stories, or notes my kids have written, as well as time spent with family.
Journaling — whether using prompts or lists, writing morning pages, or art journaling — can be simple and creative. The most important part is just to put pen to paper.
There is no right or wrong way to journal — it is all about the words.
Additional resources
“The Artist Way,” by Julia Cameron, includes additional exercises for those looking to discover or rediscover their creativity.
A great book for those just beginning to journal is “Notes from Myself: A Creative Guide to Journal Writing,” by Anne Hazard Aldrich.
“List Your Self,” by Ilene Segalove and Paul Bob Velick is a fun book full of list ideas to get you writing. They can be creatively incorporated into an art journal or regular journal and help spark ideas for future writing.
In addition, “Rip the Page: Adventures in Creative Writing,” by Karen Benke, and Keri Smith’s “Wreck This Journal” series lists fun and creative ways to generate ideas for writing.
“Journal Bliss” by Violette, “The Art Journal Workshop” by Traci Bunkers, and “Raw Art Journaling” by Quinn McDonald are great for all levels of journalers looking to learn specific techniques to showcase their creative talents.
