So I’ve been talking a lot about journals lately but for those of you who like blank books but get intimidated by a blank page how do you start filling your pages? Or maybe you just need a bit of spark to get back into journaling – I know I could use a bit of spark myself right now.
I have been checking out these books which I think will be good companions for anyone who enjoys journaling.
- Note to Self by Samara O’Shea. From the book jacket: “A tribute to the healing and reflective power of the written word, Note to Self demonstrates that sometimes being completely honest with yourself is the most dangerous and rewarding pursuit of all.” I like that this focuses more on the why it’s important to journal. This was a book sent to me by the author and I’m very excited to start it soon.
- 1,000 Artist Journal Pages by Dawn DeVries Sokol. This is one of those books you ooh and ah over. If you like to draw, collage or do more of the visual journaling then this is a book for inspiration. I hope to add this one to my collection soon.
- True Vision by L.K. Ludwig. If the 1,000 Artist Journal Pages book inspires you but you don’t know just how to go about doing visual journals, then this might be the book for you. It offers techniques and prompts to get you into telling your stories with some art.
- The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel. Ok, so this is not necessarily a how-to but from what I’ve heard from some friends and reviewers of this book, it’s a good story about a discarded diary and the story it contains. See, get writing, maybe one day your journals will be discovered and talked about. Or, is that what’s keeping you from writing? heh. I hope to read this book sometime this year, thanks to Isabel who shared her copy, it’s waiting for my on my bookshelf.
If you have some other favorite books on journaling I’d love to hear about them.
14 Comments
I love that you shared all these links for journaling. I would love to start a journal. I still have the one from when we traveled in Europe. I pull it out every once in a while to think back to that time. I think I would like to create one that includes some of my photographs and written word.
Good stuff!
Thank you for these links! I’m actually really afraid to journal, and I think this kind of book might help me break through my mental barrier about it. Thanks for pointing out something I didn’t even know I needed–very helpful!
Try Rosemary Daniell’s The Zona Rosa.
I just wrote a review about it.
Don’t great minds think alike?
Thanks for the links. I browsed your etsy store and those journals are gorgeous! I’ll have to pass the link to your store on to my hubby. Good thing my birthday is coming up!!
I love books about books or books about journaling. I’ll have to look at Note to Self.
I love the books that you make — they’re gorgeous! I’m always afraid to write in books like this because I don’t want to mess them up. I have terrible handwriting and can’t draw at all. 🙂 I highly recommend The Red Leather Diary. It’s a good example of how something so intimate can become an important social history in later years.
Thank you for the recommendations, Iliana. I don’t have any of my own, I’m afraid.
I keep a reading journal, which I am very faithful about using. I also have a travel journal that I keep to jot down notes when I am on vacation. It’s been a long while since I’ve had a chance to fill any of those pages.
Hello,
I love your blog and you have some interesting comments to make.
As a journaling advocate and teacher I agree that you should just write because ‘you never know!’
A perfect example is my memoir which I think you might also be interested in reading, “Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal (2007). I learned a lot about her life and suicide by finding her journal.
Keep writing!
Cheers,
Diana
http://www.dianaraab.wordpress.com
I have a really good book by an Australian author Stephanie Dowrick called Creative Journal Writing – very helpful. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I try to use a journal but I also encourage my students to use one for personal/professional development so it is always good to find new resources to suggest.
Your handmade journals are gorgeous – any chance they will eve be available in Australia??
I think a good fiction book that’s good for journallers would be The Pink Forest by Dana Dorfman. It’s about a woman’s search for passion and is classed as interactive fiction. It really makes you think, and I’ve found it to be a great jumping off point for some really good journalling sessions.
My journal entries are mostly thoughts and reflections on my reading. Sometimes what I read provokes so many thoughts that I veer off to personal writings. Now I encourage my students to keep a journal of their thoughts and comments–sort of like a conversation with self. These books all sound very good and I’ll make sure to look them up at the bookstore.
Christine – Ah, I remember that European adventure 🙂 Maybe I’ll have to unpack my travel book for when we see each other soon!
Gentle Reader – It’s amazing how scary the blank page can be isn’t it? I think sometimes I just get so frustrated by lack of time/organization and then that’s when I stop writing. Which is probably when I should be writing the most to calm that monkey mind! Hope you find one of those books to be helpful.
Isabel – Ooh I love it when we are on the same page. I’ll check your post soon.
Anna – Glad you liked the links and thank you for stopping by my shop! 🙂
nik – I do too. I have a good collection of them too and have always found them to be so helpful.
Lisa – Thank you! And, I’m sure your writing is just fine. One trick I’ve learned about writing is to print rather than use cursive. Or how about using some rubber stamps or maybe even magazine cutouts. Not for everything but to break up your writing. Give that a try. I’ve used that and it’s fun and doesn’t allow you to focus too much on how your writing looks.
Literary Feline – I have some reading journals too but now with the blog I rarely use them. I kind of miss that though. and, when I travel I always take a journal and a glue stick. I can journal and do a sort of scrapbook style page on the go 🙂
Diana Raab – Thank you so much for stopping by and for the info on Regina’s Closet. Sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to check out the link you gave me!
Karen – I’m writing down your suggestion too and will look for that. I love to journal and am always on the lookout for new sources on how to approach journaling. Oh and yes, I’m offering international shipping on my journals! You can check that on my Etsy shop.
Ruth – Thank you for the suggestion and I’ll also be checking The Pink Forest soon. I like the sound of it already!
As a writer I can say that journaling is a great way to loosen up your creativity and get new story ideas. I keep journals and have been doing it for years, and for folks who want to be writers but don’t know “where to start,” journals are a great place.
Best,
John
http://www.johnmarco.com
John – Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on journaling. Do you ever go back to your journals for an idea on a new story?