Norma Anne is the humble princess of her own domain. Many thanks to all who help and apologies for my mistakes. All artwork and articles copyright Norma Anne Chattin 2000-present. Please do not reproduce with permission. Contact Norma Anne at NAChattin@NAChattin.com
Ready, Set, Journal--Starting points for all levels of journal keepers
Develop a regimen
At its core, journal keeping is an exercise. Like any new exercise program you will need to start from your experience level and work from there. Asses your current experience level and follow these easy tips for beginners, intermediate and advanced journal keepers:
Grab paper and pen—the freedom of pen to paper is typically most beneficial for journal keepers, however, if you can’t seem to get away from your PC or can’t find the time and space otherwise then create a folder in your word processing program and start adding documents.
Choose a first line that can get your words moving every time you start to journal. Make it positive and short. Some examples:
The best thing about this very moment is
Drifting thoughts from my precious mind
Hello superstar—or any other positive nickname
Create a review of who you are in this moment. Describe your physical traits, your family, your friends, your proudest moment, list all your favorites, explain your hobbies and interests---for this first entry avoid discussing your career or defining yourself by your career unless you are 100% satisfied with it.
End on a positive note such as an affirmation, three things you are grateful for today, something you like about yourself, a prayer, or anything else you perceive as good.
Embrace baby steps, don’t overdo it. Start with 10-15 minute segments and progress to 30 minutes per day.
Beginners
Intermediate
Start fresh; don’t think you have to use a partially filled journal just because you hate to waste. We can find another use for that paper down the road, start fresh.
Loose paper is fine, we can work it into a book later on as you progress
Start with any pen or keyboard, but let your mind wander to the best pen for your needs or various journaling formats that appeal to you.
Choose a first line that can get your words moving every time you start to journal. Make it positive and short. Some examples:
The best thing about this very moment is
Drifting thoughts from my precious mind
Hello superstar—or any other positive nickname
Let your first entry be an interview with yourself. Describe where you are, what you want, your relationships, your dreams.
Early on, write about what you enjoy about keeping a journal, what you’d like to try with journaling whether it be a style format (art journal, collage pages, tiny notebook, sketch book,, etc) or personal goals you want to achieve with journaling (healing, research, professional writing, adding more personality and deeper meaning to your communications or art, etc).
Consider decorating your pages with simple techniques like smeared colors, stickers, magazine cut outs, doodled borders etc. Try decorating a few pages in advance and writing on them later.
Explore custom journals you can create by topic or style.
Start a second journal that you go to weekly just for one session.
Create a journal prompt file, jar, or other database to challenge your entries
Make your own journal with handmade papers, recycled cardboard, shipping tags or whatever catches your fancy
Practice visual expansion, use collage, drawings, photographs, and more to add dimension and texture to your entries.
Splurge on the best tools available for your journal
Be grateful in all things
Stretch forward and backward with your techniques, write letters that will never be read by others, make lists of favorites or least favorites, review a book or show, describe an object in extensive detail, leave your comfort zone and return to your comfort zone.
Outline that novel in your head or that ideal career or relationship or budget.
Create character portraits of people you’ve known or imagined.
Advanced
Additional Resources
Reprint from Artful Tourist Blog 12/2010
There’s no time like the present, keeping a journal does not need to wait until you have the perfect moment—there are rarely any perfect moments.
Find paper and pen or use your computer’s word processing program to begin. You don’t have to get the perfect book or font to begin, that can all develop as you go along.
Chose the best time to journal and add it to your schedule as you would a doctor appointment or an exercise routine. Try out a few different time slots to find the one or combination of times that’s best for you.
Begin with 15 minutes a day and work up to 30 minutes a day.
Date your writing at the top or the bottom of the entry.
Create a first line that can get your words moving every time you start to journal. Make it positive and short. Some examples:
The best thing about this very moment is
Drifting thoughts from my precious mind
Hello superstar—or any other positive nickname
Commit to putting down words for your allotted time. Discard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and all the other limitations that prevent you from just going to the page. Lists, questions, key words, quotes, and even doodling shapes among your words are all great starting tools.
End your entry with a point of gratitude—list three things you are grateful for in this moment or write a personal affirmation or just say good bye to your page in a positive way.
Grab paper and pen—the freedom of pen to paper is typically most beneficial for journal keepers, however, if you can’t seem to get away from your PC or can’t find the time and space otherwise then create a folder in your word processing program and start adding documents.
