Comments on: The Creative Benefits of Journal Writing

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:52:01 +0000

Yes, journal writing can be very therapeutic indeed. Throughout my schooling, I had several teachers who required that students keep a daily journal; we were usually given time in class each day to compose our entries. It had a profound impact on me, and I kept at it for a long time afterwards.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:50:35 +0000

Another great page Melissa. Journal writing has to be one of the most wonderful psychotherapy tools on the planet. It keeps people away from cell-phones, TVs and computers and hopefully off the street when things could turn sour for some.
I don’t know if my journal writing amounts to spit. But it sure as hell gets a lot of crapola out my head and heart and onto paper.
For teachers, they ought to be doubling their effort to get adolescent men into writing to get their stuff onto paper. I have no doubt it would be an effective task as the boys take it up.
The story about a teacher in NYC who taught it what was apparently the worst school in the US; had quite a number of tear-jerker stories to tell because of his success with at risk and serious problem students.
A writer was invited to a school and he asked the class who ‘really’ wants to be a writer? A number of hands went up. He then asked, ‘Why are you wasting your time here. Why aren’t you at home writing?’
So why are you reading this pap! Why aren’t you writing?

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:56:24 +0000

@Jessica, I haven’t been faithful to my journal lately either. I think it happens to a lot of writers. That’s ok though, as long as we come back to it eventually! And you did, so pat yourself on the back for that

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:26:28 +0000

Melissa, thanks for writing this post. I love journaling – always have – but I haven’t been very faithful in the last couple of years. Your beautiful post made me want to get it out and create! (By the way, I use the Watson-Guptill Sketchbook too. I love to use markers in it and glue things in.)

Jessicas last blog post..Booking Through Thursday (21)

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:11:47 +0000

@Monika, I’ve been trying to think of a way to incorporate morning pages into my routine and now I’m wondering if I can’t slip in a gratitude journal. Those entries don’t take very long and I could write them while I sip my coffee. Good way to start the day!

@Davina, Sounds like you’ve developed some kind of resistance to your own journal. There are a couple of things you could do. You could schedule an appointment with yourself to sit down and write in it. Or, just go do it right now. Maybe for your first entry, write about why you’re avoiding it. Once you figure that out, it might be easier to pick it up and write instead of staring at it.