One benefit of rereading your journals is how you pick up your own annoying writing habits. Overuse of certain words is one of my annoying habits. While it’s easy to roll your eyes at your repetition and read on you might want to investigate why you’re using those particular words so often.
Is it sheer laziness? Could you find a better word to describe precisely what you’re writing about? Or does the word have some significance for you?
During a rereading session note the words you repeat often. In your next journal writing session make a concentrated effort not to use any …read more

Today is Friday and that means it’s Freaky Friday for the readers of this blog. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read the First Freaky Friday entry.
As the year draws to an end a journal writing prompt suited to the occasion might be best. Today write a journal entry as if you are writing it at the end of 2007 instead of 2006. Look back as if you’ve already lived through the year. Sum up your achievements and emotional highlights. Think of this exercise as writing your goals in reverse. Write about what …read more

Ok, you caught me. I know I’m supposed to be researching something fine to share with you about journal writing. I was doing something related to journals and diaries, though. I swear. If you enjoyed That 70s Show you may also have fun reading their character diaries.
You might want to write something similar for each of your characters if you’re writing a novel. The exercise helps you get into the head of the characters by writing in their voices, from their perspective. Or you might just have a giggle as you read, like I’m doing now.

After reading this news story about writing your holiday newsletter I realised that journals are the perfect resource.
One of the tips suggested for writing a more interesting newsletter was to keep a journal about your kids and then pick out the best parts to share in the yearly newsletter. Any journal makes an excellent resource if this is something you do each holiday season. If you intend to write up a family newsletter to circulate among those you love you might want to keep this in mind while writing in your journal.
Here are a couple more tips to help you …read more

Eric Clapton’s ex-wife Lori Del Santo is writing her memoirs. Apparently the work will focus mainly on their son Conor, who fell to his death in 1990, aged only four.
The tragic loss of his son inspired Clapton to write Tears in Heaven. Del Santo isn’t concerned how Clapton will view her writings.
Would you be concerned about the other people you might include in your memoirs? Please share in the comments section below.

After reading this entry on Notebookism recently I did a little research into James W. Pennebaker. I’ve known about his previous studies linking healing to journal writing, mostly through the book Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives, but his interest in romantic relationships was something new, for me.
My research led me to his website, which I was delighted to discover has plenty of interesting and useful things for journal writers. Read Pennebarker’s tips for effective journal writing, learn more about his online research, or download the questionnaires to fill out later, and …read more

Susan Neri-Friedwald has declared September 23 Dear Diary Day. Find out more by following the link to the news story or visit Susan’s website.
While I may not agree with everything this lady does, it sounds like a great way to get more people writing in journals.

Today marks an entire year since I began keeping this blog. One year! Somehow, amidst the madness of looking after my baby, then seven months old, and my two teens I managed to begin writing and sharing my passion for journal writing world wide.
Here’s that first entry. To keep things updated; I’m about to celebrate my 20th anniversary; my teens are 18 & 16; and my baby is now 19 months old.
The major highlight was the change to b5media last year and the step-up from me adding six entries each week. I hope you have enjoyed these entries. …read more

Freaky Friday has turned up again. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read the First Freaky Friday entry.
Today I want you to imagine you have just received the sum of one million dollars. It matters little how you imagine this came to be. What does matter is that you are suddenly endowed with this windfall. Spend time writing your reaction to this money coming into your life.
Each of us has seen people win lottery or other prizes. Today step into their shoes, just for a day, and express in your journal your initial reaction …read more

I’m in the middle of reading Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, by Ruth Reichl, which is a tasty chomp through many New York restaurants during the nineties.

Although I have read two of Reichl’s other books, Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table and Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table, one thing has impressed me. Each time she writes about food the descriptions are fresh and feel new to me.
This can’t be easy. While reading these sumptuous meals on the page certainly goes down well for me I …read more