Journaling Classes

Today I have a question for you, and I would appreciate as detailed answers as possible. 

I have been journaling for years, and over the years I have tried new techniques, developed them, and tried something different. I have figured out good stuff, waste of time stuff, and what works for me. But there is always more to learn. Some new insight that someone else might have that I haven't yet seen. That's why I read books about journaling and follow journal keeping blogs and read published diaries. 

What about you? Do you feel there is always more to learn? 

If you were to take an online journaling class, what topic / what niche would you like it to be the most? What it is about your journaling that you want to work on, and feel that you can benefit from someone else's input, whether it's group participation of journaling together, or an instructor providing a structure for you to follow? 

5 Reasons Why You Should Comment On Blogs

I remember, when I first started reading blogs I used to read a lot of them, and comment on a few. Then as I got more into blogging community, began to appreciate the work and effort people put into their blogs, I stated leaving more and more comments. But eventually, it came to a stage where I simply didn't have time for reading that many blogs if I wanted to do anything else (like writing), so now, I read far fewer blogs every day. But for all the ones I read, I try to leave a comment as often as possible. 


Here is why: 

1. It says that you found the content helpful / interesting / amusing enough to take a minute and leave a comment
2. It encourages discussions amongst others who comment and also between the blog writer and the readers
3. It shows new visitors to the blog that some people do read the blog and leave a comment, which might encourage them to do the same
4. Everyone feels good about being appreciated. In blogging world, comments are an easy way of showing this appreciation of the content someone's providing
5. It's a give and take thing. If you leave a comment on someone else's blog, it encourages the other person to leave one on yours.

Journal Writing Prompt 31 - Priorities

Good things happen when you get your priorities straight. - Scott Caan

But do you have your priorities straight? So often, we end up running around after things that simply stumble across us, or we stumble into them. Whether it's a job you fell into or a relationship or an activity that takes up your time. Have you taken the time to consider if you really want to do this?

Take the time now. You may discover that all the things that take up your time and space in your life, are not necessarily the things you want.

Knowing it is the first step. Once you know, then you can set about doing something about it. You may not be able to eliminate doing everything you don't like (for example, a job that pays the bills, but doesn't necessarily bring you fullfillment). But now that you are powered with the knowledge of what is and what isn't importrant to you, you can make a plan.

What can you do? What are your options? What interests you? How can you spend more and more of your time doing the things you love? What's more important to you?

Action expresses priorities. - Mohandas Gandhi

What are your actions saying about your life?

Does Grammar and Punctuation Matter in Journals?

Whenever I write anything, I try to write it as correctly as possible without obsessing over it. For example, if I'm writing emails or blog posts, I would make the effort to make sure my spelling and punctuations are mostly correct by paying attention to them as I write. After that, I might do a spell check, but I wouldn't necessarily worry about every comma or semicolon. The key is to make sure that everything is readable, and correct for "normal" people, as opposed to Grammar Police.

For my journals, I take the same approach. I don't like reading things without any sort of punctuation or with excessive spelling errors, so I never write like that. I want my journals to reflect my language skills, not my laziness. But I'm little less strict with journals. If I am writing really fast because I want to get the words out then I don't worry about spelling or grammar. I do it as best as I can while maintaining the speed. And that's okay, because in those entries, it's  the emotion that matters. Punctuation on the whole is there anyway (because people who write without commas and periods should be severely punished), and spelling errors are more due to speed. But on the whole, I would say that yes, grammar and punctuation does matter. I believe that if I am going to do something, I might as well do it well. That applies to journaling.

What do you think? Do you care about grammar and punctuation in  your journal entries? How much do you care?

Journal Writing Prompt 30 - Being Busy

"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these needs there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing."

- Thomas Alva Edison

Modern lifestyle for most people is about being busy. We are rushed at work, we are rushed at home, and weekends are usually spent running one errand or another. Being busy, we are told, is good. Being busy means you are doing something with your life. 

But are you really? 

Being busy does not mean we are doing something. Getting results means we are doing something. Being busy is sometimes the biggest time waster of all, which keeps us occupied without getting results, and stops us from relaxing or doing things we enjoy.

So open your journal and write about the things that keep you busy. Are you accomplishing anything, or are you simply wasting time being busy? If so, what will you do to change it? 

Reading Other People's Journals

Before you start shouting "sacrilege" let me assure you that I only mean journals I've permission to read. That means, published journals.

I will admit, reading people's journals hold a strong fascination for me. As a journal keeper, I want to see what they record, how they do it, and whether they can inspire me/teach me to do it better. As a person, I want to learn about their life through the most intimate medium. I know that their journals may not be the most accurate history of their time, but it is their history. Not just of facts, but of their thoughts and emotions. And as an extremely curious (nosy) person, I just want to uncover delicious secrets (which actually most of the time are incredibly boring.)

But, because I am a journal keeper, I would not dream of reading a person's private journal because I would not want them to read mine. That's where published journals are good. Author has given me permission to read them, so there is no guilt or a sense of crime, and I'm free to indulge.

I am always on the lookout for good journals. Of course, it is inevitable that most of the journals I end up reading are from writers/poets etc. because writer's mind holds a fascination for me. I am also more interested in learning about them,  than say a modern politician's diary. Currently, I'm reading "Time Out of Mind", Leonard Michael's diary. I came across this book in a bookshop in New York. Until then, I'd never heard of this guy, and now here I'm reading about his private life.

Some of my favourite journals are Anne Frank's Diary, Virginia Woolf's writer's diary, and Christopher Isherwood's diary. 

What about you? Do you like other people's diary? If so, why? And if not, why? What are your favourite diaries? 

Journal Writing Prompt 29 - Brainstorm

Journaling is not just about recording our life. It's also about evolving it. So today, focus on brainstorm. Whether it is for a particular project you want to work, a story or a play, a poem. It doesn't matter what it is, let your creativity flow. For me personally, it's going to be brainstorming for NaNoWriMo, which starts on November 1. If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, click here and enter a world of insanity. 

But back to brainstorming. What's the point? Well, the point is that our brains are bit like elastic. We need to stretch them to expand them. If you brainstorm, let your creativity drive you, your mind might surprise you. You may find fresh insights, some new ideas, some unlooked for connections. So give it a try. And have fun!