As you do on the weekends I had some time to read one of the suppliments that comes in our weekend paper. There’s always something of interest for me. This time I was interested to note a reference to the book Louis Armstrong, In His Own Words: Selected Writings. You can read a review or check out the Amazon listing yourself.

I was particularly drawn to the fact that the jazz legend wasn’t a particularly great writer, but the edition apparently captures a lot about the man. His language was much like he spoke, with creative punctuation which was mostly typed on the portable typewriter he took everywhere he travelled.

I’m sure Armstrong never intended his personal journal to become public reading material, but I think each of us could learn something from this man. While having your journal published might be a great goal, to really use a journal as a tool for your own creativity, or in fact whatever, you should feel free to express yourself any way you desire. Your journal should be a place to play, learn, discover, make mistakes – even intentional ones, use incorrect grammar and basically express yourself without censorship.

Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Wikipedia

Post from: Blisstree

Louis Armstrong

While in the library this morning I picked up a large book about Maurits Cornelis Escher’s drawings. I’m sure you’ve seen the images before. A good example is the drawing above. I had a quick read of the biography at the beginning of the book and learnt Escher kept a visual diary. He believed the daily practice of drawing would improve his skills. I think he might’ve been on to something.

Do you draw daily? Try to just sketch a little if you have the desire to draw. I’m sure not all of us can hope to be as good as Escher, but even he believed in daily practice. I’ve shared how I drew my hand when I was drawing regularly, so look out for my images tomorrow. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Image used with permission from Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Escher on Daily Practice

I wonder if you knew that George Orwell, Samuel Pepys, Charles Darwin & Thomas Hardy were now regular bloggers? It took me reading a news story about these famous journal keepers to learn about at least three of these new blogs. Certainly interesting reading just for the sake of who these men were, but there’s a lot to gain about history and loads more on those blogs. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Heather
Image used with permission from Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Famous Journal Writers Now Bloggers

Jeffery Archer was already a well known and widely published author before he ended up in prison for perjury. Not one to miss an opportunity he spent his prison time well by writing a diary. Later published as three separate volumes, the prison diaries apparently make terrific reading.

A Prison Diary Volume 1: Hell
A Prison Diary Volume 2: Purgatory
A Prison Diary Volume 3: Heaven

Learn more about this fascinating man with the journal keeping habit on his official website & his blog. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Jeffrey Archer

Post from: Blisstree

Jeffrey Archer’s Prison Diaries

Apparently Kimberly Wyatt of the girl group the Pussycat Dolls is considering publishing her journal. Wyatt has been an avid journal writer since she was 17. Have a look at her blog to get an idea of her writing style. While I’m no fan of the group, I’m always interested in a well written journal and life story.

Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Pussycat Kimberly Wants to Publish Journal

Heather

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Meg Cabot Encourages Teens to Write Journals

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

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Jason Donovan

Today I came across this news story about Jimi Hendrix. The article is a review for the book Jimi Hendrix: An Illustrated Experience. This book is an exciting take on material already known & shown about Hendrix; the difference being about 30 interactive pieces, which are reproductions from actual ephemera of the guitar legend’s life, including diary entries.

Image from http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/jimi_hendrix.htm.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

Post from: Blisstree

Jimi Hendrix

I read this news story with interest. Seems somebody thinks Britney Spears is going to publish her diary. Somebody else says this won’t be happening. Either way, Spears continues to make news just for keeping, or not keeping, a journal. I’m sure glad no one wants to read my boring scrawlings. How about you? Please leave any comments or thoughts in the section below.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

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Britney Making News with Her Diary

I have read a couple of Oates novels and enjoyed them, but after reading the review in the link above I feel less like reading her published journals than I might have been. In fact, I haven’t read too many published diaries, anyway. Share your thoughts on writers living up to their writing reputations in journals. Do you feel their journals should reflect their writing talents? Or do you expect their writing to be as banal as your own? I’m eager to know what you think about this. Let us know if you have read the Oates journal at all, too.

Check it out for yourself: The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982.

Heather
Journaling Tools – Go deeper and reach higher with hundreds of journal writing resources.

Life Journal Software

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Joyce Carol Oates