Don’t Know Where To Start With Your Writing Journey? - Start With A Journal.
Journaling is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.
Upcoming episode on Becoming A Writer podcast this Saturday — we are going to talk about writing is not just a nice hobby. It’s more than that.
Journaling is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.
— Mina Murray, Bram Stoker's Dracula.
About 6 years ago, I was one of those people who would have stacks and stacks of unused diaries in their cupboards with the hope of one day using them.
The diaries I had were the simple kind - some spiral, some hardcover, and some softcover. I never bought anything too fancy or expensive because I'd feel it would be a sin to write in them and tarnish their pure, pristine pages.
Also, I would buy the New Year diary every year and give up on it by day 7.
Then, in 2018, I found everyone in the self-help arena recommending journaling as a means of understanding and healing oneself. So, I decided I had to figure this "journaling" thing out.
It was, without question, a bumpy ride, and I quit a gazillion times. But somehow, I kept coming back until one day, I realised I had reached the last page of my journal. I can't even describe the utter shock and pleasant surprise I got seeing the final page. I had never been here before, so I didn't know how to react. So I did the next best thing - I started my next journal.
I am proud to inform you that I am on my 26th long-hand journal, 7th gratitude journal and 2nd writer's journal.
And the most incredible gift journaling gave me? - It helped me become the writer I am today.
How Writing In A Journal Kickstarted My Writing Journey?
As a newly-born writer, I had trouble sitting down and writing my novel. I didn't feel competent enough, smart enough, experienced enough, or worth enough to put on the page the story that was brewing in my mind. My inner critic was screaming at me to make my novel right on the first try, or nobody would love me. With such negative emotions swirling inside me, my writing was going nowhere.
But with journaling, it was a slightly different story.
I still had the negative self-talk blabbering away. Still, it didn't matter because while writing my novel was for others to read, writing my journal was a private affair. Nobody would read my journals except me if I wanted to.
This act of writing in a journal kickstarted me having a conversation with myself. It’s a private and safe space where I can be frank and explore my inner thoughts, ideas, doubts and feelings without judgment. My journals know what I like and don’t like. It patiently hears my complaints about life. And I also let it know how I feel about my writing life, which is not always rosy. Doing this has reduced my depression and anxiety significantly, therefore clearing my messy head and healing my broken heart. Over the years, this self-reflection has freed up the space for me to be a writer.
Journaling also gave my thoughts, ideas and feelings free and open space to run wild. I don’t have to worry about structure or coherence, and I don’t care how ugly my handwriting looks. This, unconsciously, helped me overcome the initial hurdle of perfectionism and writer’s block that often hinders the creative process and got me into my writing momentum.
Journaling has also helped me develop a consistent writing habit. The more I wrote, the more comfortable I became with my writing process. I started to understand my writing capacity — how much I can write and for how long before my energy and cognitive capacity begin to fall. Many times, I would journal a couple of pages before starting my writing session as a warm-up for my creative muscles, and this would make the time spent on it as smooth as a hot knife on a block of butter.
Also, now that I have been journaling regularly for the past six years, I realise I am essentially building a written record of my life. This record is becoming a rich source of material for future writing projects. My experiences, emotions, and observations can be woven into stories, characters, or essays. It’s like having a reservoir of raw material waiting to be shaped into something more polished. My journals are my creative goldmine, making me excited to keep writing in my journals and my writing projects.
How I Made Journaling A Fun Process?
One of the lessons I have learnt in my 29 years on this planet we call Earth is that whatever you do make sure it’s fun to do it. This applies to life, work, family, hobbies, habits — essentially everything. And in my case, it applied to journaling as well. Cutting myself some slack freed me to embrace journaling and its benefits fully.
My point of journaling is simple — there is something on my mind or heart that I need to talk about. That’s it. I don’t overcomplicate the process with a set template, a tracker, or a format. That means it’s okay if I don’t write every day, and it’s okay if I just write a couple of sentences. No hard feelings. I don’t want journaling to become another checkbox on my ever-growing and never-ending to-do list.
Also, I found my perfect journal and pen. After much experimenting, I found the laser-cut spiral notebook by Archies and the fiber-tip pen FiberPoint by Rorito. The journal is the perfect size, smoothness, and roughness for my comfort, while the pen glides on the paper like a dream. This combination makes me want to journal — a win-win for all.
Common Complains People Have Regarding Journaling.
"I don't have enough time to journal regularly."
- Even I don't, and I am okay with it. Life happens, priorities shift, and some days need a different version of you or more or less of you. I adjust my journaling accordingly. But yes, if I go a week without journaling, I feel cranky; I try not to do that.
"I feel like my writing is too boring and repetitive."
- Same with me! Sometimes, I complain so much about the same thing again and again that I ask the journal to forgive me for my whinny behaviour. Since a journal is a kind and patient friend, it listens to everything I have to say until I get it out of my system. And that's when the magic begins for then, as I continue journaling, solutions start to form on the page.
"I'm not sure what to write about."
- Write whatever is on your mind; nothing is off-limits. And if nothing else works, write about your day - the good, bad and ugly. Let your journaling journal start rolling. Eventually, you'll have more to write about than you have the time to indulge in.
"I'm afraid someone might read my private thoughts."
- I had this same concern when starting my journaling journey. With my six years of experience, I can tell you that no one in my home has ever come near my journals, even though they are within arms' reach. But if it still makes you nervous, keep your journal locked or (if digital) password-protected.
"I get bored easily while journaling." or "I get distracted easily while trying to journal."
- This is quite normal to happen. When this happens, I do one of two things - either put a 30-minute timer and write until the timer rings, or I'll write as much as I can, even if it's just half a page and move on.
"I started a journal but can't maintain the habit consistently."
- This took me a couple of years to learn - consistently doesn't mean daily or of a specific output. I don't journal daily and don't have a set number of pages I want to journal. Consistently can be once a week, too, which is good enough. There will be days I write only a few sentences, and I have also had days where I can't stop myself (22 pages in 3 hours is my record). Just show up as often as you can.
"I don't feel inspired to write most days."
- This does happen quite often, especially if your current days are emotionally, mentally, and physically taxing. Know it's okay to take a day off. On days like this, I would write - "Sorry Journal, I don't feel like writing to you today. But that doesn't mean I am not thinking about you. Talk to you later."
"I feel pressured to write something profound every time."
- No need to feel any such pressure. Feel free to be as silly, crazy, wacky, whiny, complaining as you want. That being said, stay ready to be shocked by your own journaling. There will be days when you are writing nothing but crappy stuff, and suddenly, you'll end up writing a sentence or a thought that will be so magical that it'll blow your mind. It will make you wonder, "This came out of me? Wow!"
"I find the process of journaling emotionally draining."
- Yes, it can be. When using journaling to heal your inner child, coming to terms with yourself and sharing your anxieties about what the future holds can be emotionally draining. But I feel it's a good thing because one of two things will happen. First, you have emptied your heart and mind of all the burden you were carrying, therefore allowing yourself to finally rest. You may not have a solution to your problem yet, but it feels good to lighten the load. Journaling is just like talking to your best friend - you feel good afterwards. Second, when journaling about emotionally draining topics, now you know what you are dealing with and, therefore, have the opportunity to find a remedy. You don't know what you don't know; journaling helps you find that out.
"I'm too self-conscious to be completely honest in my journal."
- I was too but after a couple of years of consistently journaling, I felt loosening up my tense muscles. Once I realised that journaling wasn't as bad or scary as I thought, I became more confident to open myself up. There are still things I am uncomfortable talking about to myself in my journal, but I know over time, as I get to know myself on a deeper level, I'll have that conversation. Being self-conscious about journaling is the same as being self-conscious about your first date. Slowly, over time, you'll feel comfortable enough to lay some of your cards on the table.
"I don't know if my journal has any real impact on my life."
- Neither did I. To be honest, in the first couple of years, I thought I was wasting my time, paper and ink. It took me a few more years to realise that journaling is actually not good for me. At least I get to bring my thoughts onto paper - that gives me the mental space to think about the thought I just wrote. Like most good things, journaling is not about instant gratification. It's about the calmness you get over the long haul. It's about going on an archaeological dig on yourself and finding what treasures you are hiding. And that takes time, so give it time.
Some Help To Get You Writing In That Journal.
Personal Prompt List
This is my go-to whenever I feel like writing in my journal but don't know what to write about. On the last page of my journal, I have a list of personal prompts, topics, thoughts or ideas I want to write about someday. Some of the things my list includes are - quotes or dialogues I want to dive deeper into, movies or shows I was to review, a storyline that popped into my head, some comments I disagree with - to mention a few.
General Prompts
Google the phrase "prompts for journaling," and you'll be showered with hundreds of prompts to write about. Here are a few I use from time to time and find fun to write about:
write a letter
to your past self, letting them know you made it through all the ups and downs of life.
to your future self, sharing with her the dreams you wish to be living.
thanking someone - teacher, parent, friend, even the journal itself.
forgiving someone.
to your favourite celebrity - dead or alive, real or fictional - letting them know how much you love them and why.
have a conversation with your inner critic and let them know the negative self-talk isn't working.
have a conversation with your inner child and let them know you are there for them.
imagine someone finds your journal 50 years from now. Write an entry that captures who you are, your dreams, and the current state of your life. What pieces of advice would you want them to know about?
write about the next chapter or writing project you are working on.
if you are a fiction writer, have a conversation with the characters of your novel. This is a great way to get to know them better.
