How to Start a Writing Journal

One of the most important things to remember about writing is it's a skill. And like any other skill, writing needs to be developed through practice. A great way to do this is to keep a writing journal. Here are a few suggestions of what you can do in your own writing journal.

Choosing a Journal

It may sound silly, but the journal you choose can have an impact on your writing. Depending on where you want to write, the size of your journal can make a huge difference. If you are only going to write at home in a specific place, feel free to choose as big a notebook as you want. Larger pages mean more writing space and less interruption to turn the page. More pages mean more ideas can be put down in one place for easy reference. However, if you do plan on writing anywhere and everywhere, it's probably better to pick a smaller journal. The portability of a smaller journal more than makes up for any shortcomings in length or writing space. If having everything in a larger space really does help your thought process, you can make it a habit to transfer your notes and writings from the small notebook to a larger, at home journal. Don't forget: writing doesn't have to be about the pen and the pencil. You can easily keep a writing journal on a computer. A notebook computer can add portability, or a thumb drive can be used to to transfer your writing from one workspace to another. Whatever you choose in the end, it's important to actually write in it.

The Daily Grind

Since writing is a skill that needs to be developed, practice is important. Writers get that practice in by writing something - anything - every day. It doesn't need to be perfect, and it certainly doesn't need to be profound. Sometimes, little daily exercises are all you need. Here are a few suggestions:

Write a detailed description of an object near you during writing.

Write whatever you are thinking.

Write about something that happened to you during the day.

Write about a childhood memory.

Write about a favorite person or character.

Write about a song.

Write about a bad job experience.

Whatever you write about, make it a habit to write every day. Some people have success forcing themselves to write the same time every day. Other people can be more flexible and just write at some time every day. The process, more than the time, is important for practicing writing.

Dream it, Be it

Dream journals can be a great resource for writers. Dreams can reveal many subconscious ideas that can be the basis of good writing. It does take practice to remember dreams, but it is more than worth it to help develop ideas. Try keeping your writing journal and a pen next to your bed every night. As soon as you wake up, write down your dream idea. It can be just the inspiration you need for some great writing.

Inspiration

When you are stuck on what to write about, you can look back at your writing journal for ideas. Why not write a story about that bad day at work? Why can't the woman in the blue blazer on the subway be the protagonist in a story? Why not write an essay on the cultural impact of a specific TV character? By writing every day, you will begin to develop more ideas. You might not even realize how important a simple idea can be at first, but it could turn into a much larger piece. The journal is a tool used to improve your writing. Do not be afraid to look back through your journal to come up with more ideas.