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Do people find keeping a journal helps with their writing? Every once and a while, I get the bug that it would be really wonderful thing to do. And then the motivation lasts for a few days. But the sorts of things I tend to record in those few days are always interesting to look back on, and I think that might be a great way to massage around some of my own thoughts on things that might well be useful for developing stories.
I’ve got the bug again. Even went out an bought a pretty red and gold one (half the appeal is writing in one of those hard-bound blank books with the fancy covers). I’m going to try it again in any event, with the general idea of talking about things on my mind, versus a chronological log (which is what I had sort of tried to do, with commentary last time, but that came to feel like more of a chore). But I'm still interested in what other people's experiences have been.
I think I'll start an electronic story journal in my story folder. (I keep different stories in different folders on my computer. Makes for a more organised briefcase)
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I guess what you're suggesting is that writing a real journal will help you to keep in touch with what you are feeeling and thinking at various points in your life so you can make your characters more real. I never thought of it that way. I probably still will not keep a journal because I give up after only a few days anytime I start one, but if it helps you, go for it!
Posts: 3567 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I've been keeping a journal for a long time, and in it are two areas: 1) My present thoughts. 2) My future dreams.
The second area incorporates how my present doings can/should/oughta help me realize my "want/gotta have" goals.
Does it work?
Yeah, I think it does. Mostly, I think it keeps me focused. And if I've listed a future goal for more than a few months, I start laying out how I can make that goal happen soon so I *won't* be writing about it in the future.
If nothing else, it makes me realize how quickly time moves and if I want something I'd best be laying a plan to make that something happen.
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For several months I have kept a reading journal. A typical entry ranges from several sentences to several pages. My basis is twofold: First, to force me to think about what I have read and respond, at least to myself. Second, I found myself reading a book recently which I had read before, but didn't realize until I was 2/3 of the way through and the author suddenly became way too predictable. <grin>
A friend of mine goes even farther, writing a letter to the author or editor of everything he reads.
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I keep my own personal blog on my machine. It is pretty much an electronic journal for me. I use it to capture my thoughts and daily revelations. I have a category where I write about the books I read, what I thought about while reading, what ideas came up, quotes from the book, sometimes even a review of the book. It's interesting to go back and see what I was thinking during different books and how those books have influenced my writing and my life. I do the same things with movies.
I think another point to note is I don't write in it everyday. Sometimes only once a week. The thing about journals are they are yours to do what you will. Don't make it a chore and feel like you have to write in it. Treat it more as a medium to keep your sanity or lose it for that matter. It's a release from life, don't let the critic be around when you do it, it's your time.
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I love the pretty books too, but have wasted them most of the time. I'll write a daily journal for a while, then it is every other day, then my journaling drops off. I've kept them all though. The one I currently have (grey and blue, velvety) I use for story ideas. If something comes to me I scribble it down quickly. Sometimes I come up with more thoughts on the idea and write them down too. It mostly helps avoid losing an idea. If I want to flesh it out, I use a spiral notebook, or the computer. If I need something new to write about, I go to the journal. A few times I wrote out feelings about something that happened, but not often. I keep it by the bed. I should practice writing by doing so when I wake, but have toddler twins... And no, I don't have the self-discipline to wake up EARLIER!
Posts: 465 | Registered: Aug 2003
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I keep two journals: one for me and a spearate one for work (since any writing I do here officially belongs to the company).
Outside work, I write every day. I try to write at least 15 minutes, concentrating on my stories or poetry. But I always have my journal on-hand in case of sudden bursts of inspiration.
I have a blog, but I don't keep it up regularly. However, I've noticed that the tone of my writing is noticably different between my journals and my blog.
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