Comments on: A Messy, Liberating Guide to Journal Writing

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:36:35 +0000

Ha! That’s awesome Deb. I can understand how messy journaling would be unappealing. After all, I used to be over-organized. But if you want to try it, it’s really just a matter of changing your mindset a little bit. Several years ago, I was at a friend’s house. It wasn’t dirty but there was a little clutter here and there. She apologized and remarked that sometimes they were just too busy living to keep everything organized. That struck me and stuck with me. It got me wondering: how much time was I spending organizing my closet or alphabetizing my books/CDs/files that I could have spent writing or doing other things? Since then, I let up on being so rigid. I can’t say I prefer one way or the other. I still like things organized! But I also like spending my precious time on projects that matter a lot to me. To each her own, right? Still, I say it’s worth a try (hint hint).

By: --Deb

--Deb — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:53:38 +0000

Incidentally, I spotted this at the bookstore the other day when I was out with my almost 21-year old niece, and we both just flipped through it, enthralled. The difference is that I still really don’t think I could DO this (grin). She, on the other hand? Well, let’s just say … guess what she’s getting for her birthday next month?

Did you know there are other, similar journals also by Keri Smith?
.-= –Deb´s last blog ..MM: Don’t Say That! =-.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:42:16 +0000

I didn’t notice a particular smell, but I haven’t started using mine yet.

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:00:59 +0000

I’m using my first large moleskine now, too. Does anyone else find the smell off-putting? It was bound in China and it smells to me like cheap, toxic glue… Kinda crazy, I know, for an “upscale” journal to have that problem. Oh well. I’m keeping on with it.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:17:08 +0000

Thanks for your insight, Nacho. I think that in presentation, white space is important, particularly with poetry and online publishing. When we write things down immediately, we can capture the immediacy of our emotions (especially if they’re intense). On the other hand, if we wait until we cool down, we may be able to capture a different (or more objective) perspective. It’s interesting to think about these two approaches and consider how they affect our writing in different ways.

By: Nacho Jordi

Nacho Jordi — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:22:12 +0000

Thank you for the post, and very especially for the imaginative 25 ways to journal. I’ve been journaling for a long time and only recently switched to digital format; I intend to make words as “transparent” as possible, so experiments with the page setup looked like an additional “distraction” to me more than a possibility to increase creativity (maybe because I am not a very visual person).
Regarding the technique of writing some sentences and leaving some blank space to expand the writing later, it made me recall the oven metaphor: I have the need to write things right away, I cannot go back to the events later, with a very different mood: the oven has “cooled down”.
.-= Nacho Jordi´s last blog ..Exclusive: left brain (kind of) explains itself =-.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:37:59 +0000

Hi Friar’s Mom! I’m so glad you stopped by. Your Happy Compartment must be leaking because it made me feel happy when you shared some of its contents. I’m sorry I misunderstood and explained it as a written journal. At the same time, I can’t think of a better idea for journaling. So many writers and artists depend on hard times and misery for inspiration. But your Happy Compartment is a great way to show artists that joy can lead to brilliant art, if only they would take time to take note.

If you wrote a book of all your HC memories, I would love to read it.

Your comments reminded me of some of my own happy times, one in particular was so simple — I was on the beach at night with some friends and we just lay there looking up at the vast night sky and listening to the waves crash against the shore. I remember thinking to myself that I must remember the moment and how it made me feel (so small and yet at the same time, a part of something so big), and I have always remembered it vividly and fondly. I guess I have an HC too Hopefully, we all do.

By: Friar's Mom

Friar's Mom — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:24:06 +0000

Melissa, you misunderstood my Happy Compartment. It is not a written Journal, yet it’s with me all the time. I make a conscious effort of storing my memorable happy moments in my mind. I can dig into my HC whenever I wish. I can share it with friends. It came in handy when I was convalescing for three months this summer in a Rehab Centre.

Some of the moments stored: Holding my firstborn in my arms for the first time. Remembering how tiny and soft his little hands were, how perfect his tiny feet were. I can picture my hospital room, I remember his baby smell.

Listening to the silence at the top of Kindersley Pass, and hearing a bee buzzing in the alpine forget-me-nots. This conjures up a panoramic view, and enjoying a hiking lunch with my husband.

My Last Slow Dance with my husband in the living room of our winter suite, overlooking distant pink/mauve/orange snow-covered mountains, as the sun was setting.

Recently when Friar and I were riding a T-bar we noticed an intense brilliance in the snow. We inspected the snow at the top of the T-Bar, upon closer inspection we noticed that the overnight fog had created two-inch large flat ice crystals of hoar frost (no two alike). These unique crystals reflected dazzling sunshine.

A HC moment can be as insignificant as feeling the gentle wiry claws of a chickadee landing on my finger to feed on sunflower seeds in my palm.

My Happy Compartment is overflowing with a lifetime of memories. The secret is making a conscious effort to tuck away these moments. When retrieved, these moments bring a happy feeling and memories

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:55:34 +0000

Hi Wendy! It sounds like you started journaling around the same age I did. As I get older, my journals become more alike, especially since I’ve started using the same sketchbook for journaling (I think I’m on my third or fourth blank book). I love the idea of incorporating the mundane into journal writing, and I agree that it adds as much insight as emotional material.

By: Wendy Sullivan

Wendy Sullivan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:19:11 +0000

Melissa, I love this post! I’ve been journaling since I was 14, and rarely are two of my journals alike. Some are written as books of letters-never-sent. Others have day to day thoughts, along with more mundane items like doctors’ phone numbers and appointments with the lawyer. The reality is that journals are books of memories, and if I want to look back on what my life was like at a certain period, that trip to the doctor adds just as much insight as my feelings do.

Wendy
.-= Wendy Sullivan´s last blog ..When the Words Hurt =-.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:33:47 +0000

I find that writing without purpose allows me to purge my brain of all the crap and get to the good (best) stuff. You’re an extremely talented writer, Matthew. Sometimes I worry that you’re too demanding of yourself. You’ve got it, so just let it flow.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:32:08 +0000

Thanks Seth. I keep a glue stick handy too, but I haven’t used it in awhile. It looks like I”m going to have to plan a few hours to glue my random notes and ideas into my journal. It definitely adds a nice (inspirational) aspect to my journal.