Lyle, so glad this one was useful. I know for myself once I opened up to different ideas of what this meant, it became easier. Then the habit was there again. And it's now a go-to place daily. I mine past times frequently.
I have become the keeper of the family stories, some of which include the journals of my grandfather who farmed the Cowichan from a hundred years ago. The entries would have been shocking for family still back in the old country but mundane after a few years for those living it here. I am grateful for these stories and their simple statements of the harshness of everyday life for them. Their priorities and choices which built a path to where I am now.
That is such a gift. The words and stories. The fact that it is family. Your observations of how the old country folk would read. And what your family has built for you. You bring to this, here, a whole other set of reasons for keeping a journal. Thank you.
Thank you for this! I finally started keeping a journal this year and I have already been amazed at how much I forget and how quickly. I started reviewing it once a month and I'm shocked to see I was writing about the same thing maybe 2 weeks ago and 2 months ago and I had completely forgotten. I also see different tones, different emotions, and very different levels of anxiety as I read the different posts. Just found your substance, looking forward to reading more!
Karen--all so true here, the realizations that come and grow. An interesting idea--to review monthly. Do you find yourself writing about that monthly time, some summative thoughts? Thank you for joining us here :)
I do, I write one or two sentences next to the date with my impression of what that post was about (which may be different than what I thought it was at the time). Also ends up being a nice index to the journals if I’m trying to find something later.
Love the idea of such an index! Good to keep it brief, too--yes, an impression. Thank you for sharing this. I'm working on a piece about process journals, the next for the "foundational" series; this--what you've written here--is like "personal process." And would work with the (writing) process journal too.
I read this as an archived post, so thank you for linking to it in the January newsletter! As it happens, in clearing out a bookcase several weeks ago, my husband found a unused bound notebook with a cloth bookmark and a band to keep it from flopping open, and gave it to me.
It seems momentous to start writing in it, but, oh, how I regret not keeping a journal over my lifetime! I need to be less rigorous about thinking I need to have entries be cohesive or written at the same time everyday, etc. I plan to follow your advice of just 15 minutes a day and will see what I end up writing about.
Yes--I think it works best NOT to be cohesive. I find that often some sensory snippet will evoke an entire scene, and is quite enough.
When I went grocery shopping the other day, a young street-person--skinny skinny with piles of bleached and tangled hair, and wearing fishnets--was caught in the area between the two entrance doors, with her enormous bags of cans and bottles. I saw, and went to the other door around the side. Then re-thought, and headed back to offer to stay outside and protect her collection while she shops. She thanked me so politely, but said no. That's when I remembered that this store has a "bottle return" counter.
What struck me though, was her voice. She had this clear and soft voice--beautiful. In my journal, all I had to do was a few notes, and then mention her voice. I know this memory will return easily with that note.
You might consider, on those busy days, what most stands out for you, what resonates. Write to that, and the rest in point-form.
I also read this as an archive, so thank you. I have so many journals and envelopes of paper after 40 years of journaling that I am now trying to makes sense of. What set me off was a visit from two granddaughters for the weekend and the 12 year old, who knows my habits went looking for markers, funky paper and stickers in my studio. The next thing I know she has commandeered the dining room table with all the stuff including glues, fancy pens, water colour paints, brushes and assorted add ons. She pulled out her hand made journal added paper and just stared working on it. It was an inspiration to keep going. She is lucky to go to a School Of The Arts. It would have made my school days earlier.
Oh my! We should have all gone to such a school! How inspiring to see that she does this in non-formal-learning hours! That is the best. Did you "work" alongside her? I hope so.
Thank you, I have been keeping a journal off and on but the one thing I was doing was going back and rewriting for grammar lol … but after reading this I am just going to write my thoughts in my journal the way they come out of my heads and don’t worry about it being publish ready…
Glad you had this insight. I find my journal is my one place not to feel anyone over my shoulder! I work to bring that sense to other writing, so I can write early drafts without censoring my own self.
If you're looking to create memoir or some work from it at a later point, you can throw on your editing hat then!
I very much enjoyed and appreciate your words on journal keeping.
Lyle, so glad this one was useful. I know for myself once I opened up to different ideas of what this meant, it became easier. Then the habit was there again. And it's now a go-to place daily. I mine past times frequently.
I have become the keeper of the family stories, some of which include the journals of my grandfather who farmed the Cowichan from a hundred years ago. The entries would have been shocking for family still back in the old country but mundane after a few years for those living it here. I am grateful for these stories and their simple statements of the harshness of everyday life for them. Their priorities and choices which built a path to where I am now.
That is such a gift. The words and stories. The fact that it is family. Your observations of how the old country folk would read. And what your family has built for you. You bring to this, here, a whole other set of reasons for keeping a journal. Thank you.
Thank you for this! I finally started keeping a journal this year and I have already been amazed at how much I forget and how quickly. I started reviewing it once a month and I'm shocked to see I was writing about the same thing maybe 2 weeks ago and 2 months ago and I had completely forgotten. I also see different tones, different emotions, and very different levels of anxiety as I read the different posts. Just found your substance, looking forward to reading more!
Karen--all so true here, the realizations that come and grow. An interesting idea--to review monthly. Do you find yourself writing about that monthly time, some summative thoughts? Thank you for joining us here :)
I do, I write one or two sentences next to the date with my impression of what that post was about (which may be different than what I thought it was at the time). Also ends up being a nice index to the journals if I’m trying to find something later.
Love the idea of such an index! Good to keep it brief, too--yes, an impression. Thank you for sharing this. I'm working on a piece about process journals, the next for the "foundational" series; this--what you've written here--is like "personal process." And would work with the (writing) process journal too.
I read this as an archived post, so thank you for linking to it in the January newsletter! As it happens, in clearing out a bookcase several weeks ago, my husband found a unused bound notebook with a cloth bookmark and a band to keep it from flopping open, and gave it to me.
It seems momentous to start writing in it, but, oh, how I regret not keeping a journal over my lifetime! I need to be less rigorous about thinking I need to have entries be cohesive or written at the same time everyday, etc. I plan to follow your advice of just 15 minutes a day and will see what I end up writing about.
Yes--I think it works best NOT to be cohesive. I find that often some sensory snippet will evoke an entire scene, and is quite enough.
When I went grocery shopping the other day, a young street-person--skinny skinny with piles of bleached and tangled hair, and wearing fishnets--was caught in the area between the two entrance doors, with her enormous bags of cans and bottles. I saw, and went to the other door around the side. Then re-thought, and headed back to offer to stay outside and protect her collection while she shops. She thanked me so politely, but said no. That's when I remembered that this store has a "bottle return" counter.
What struck me though, was her voice. She had this clear and soft voice--beautiful. In my journal, all I had to do was a few notes, and then mention her voice. I know this memory will return easily with that note.
You might consider, on those busy days, what most stands out for you, what resonates. Write to that, and the rest in point-form.
I also read this as an archive, so thank you. I have so many journals and envelopes of paper after 40 years of journaling that I am now trying to makes sense of. What set me off was a visit from two granddaughters for the weekend and the 12 year old, who knows my habits went looking for markers, funky paper and stickers in my studio. The next thing I know she has commandeered the dining room table with all the stuff including glues, fancy pens, water colour paints, brushes and assorted add ons. She pulled out her hand made journal added paper and just stared working on it. It was an inspiration to keep going. She is lucky to go to a School Of The Arts. It would have made my school days earlier.
Oh my! We should have all gone to such a school! How inspiring to see that she does this in non-formal-learning hours! That is the best. Did you "work" alongside her? I hope so.
Glad you shared this!
Thank you, I have been keeping a journal off and on but the one thing I was doing was going back and rewriting for grammar lol … but after reading this I am just going to write my thoughts in my journal the way they come out of my heads and don’t worry about it being publish ready…
Glad you had this insight. I find my journal is my one place not to feel anyone over my shoulder! I work to bring that sense to other writing, so I can write early drafts without censoring my own self.
If you're looking to create memoir or some work from it at a later point, you can throw on your editing hat then!
Got it thank you 😊
I was just reading another article about this, earlier this afternoon… https://annkroeker.com/2023/07/21/want-to-become-a-better-writer-journal-before-you-write/