Showing posts with label journal writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal writing. Show all posts

Keep a Dream Journal


Capture your writing challenges and 
accomplishments in your
Dream Journal

By Linda Wilson  @LinWilsonauthor

A journal can be a writer's best friend. I've kept journals all my life. In grade school I kept diaries to keep track of my daily activities. Later, I kept journals for my innermost thoughts, and I also used the same journals to take notes on books I wanted to remember. But a Dream Journal is different.

A very dear friend of mine gave me a journal for Christmas, similar to a special journal she keeps only to document her Christmases. I’ve decided to keep her tradition of using my journal during the holidays, but in a slightly different way. I’m calling it my Dream Journal, and plan to use it for a time of reflection: to take stock of the past year and look forward to my hopes and dreams for the year to come. 

Looking Back

One side of the page is labelled “Challenges,” and the other side, “Accomplishments.” Then I get to work on my list. 

Challenges

  • I worked on my work-in-progress, WIP, the chapter book, Secret in the Mist: An Abi Wunder Mystery, almost every day all year and yet did not get it finished.
  • I thought I would work on more than one book project at the same time, but had to abandon the idea as my current WIP took more time and effort than I had imagined.
  • I’ve had to face it: my office is messy and unorganized. With only a certain number of hours I can spend on writing, I’ve had to leave my office this way in order to spend the time on my WIP. My guess is that I’m not alone in this dilemma.
  • My latest in-person critique group disbanded earlier this past year. I’ve decided to go with beta readers this go around and see how that works.

Accomplishments

  • I enjoyed every minute of the time I spent on writing.
  • I met two local women, Graciela Moreno and Adriana Botero, who have translated two of my picture books, Tall Boots, and Cradle in the Wild, into Spanish: Botas Altas, available on Amazon, and Adriana Botero has translated Cuna de la Naturaleza (soon to be published on Amazon). Living in the Southwest, parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians are interested in these books as there are so many people who speak Spanish here, or are learning to speak Spanish.
  • Even though my WIP is taking more time to write than I would like, I’ve discovered important additions that I hadn’t thought of before. When the book is finally published, the time it took to write and polish it will be worth it.

Throughout the new year, we can take out our Dream Journals, write down our reflections: how we’ve done, how we can improve, and what we plan to do the rest of the year. By keeping our Dream Journals focused on writing, they could help us identify and overcome our challenges. Who knows? We might even surprise ourselves by taking stock of our growing accomplishments.

Journal Photo: by Linda Wilson

Sweet Pea and Peanut 
are my steadfast writing
buddies every day!

 Linda Wilson is the author of the Abi Wunder Mystery series and other books for children. Her two new releases are Cradle in the Wild: A Book for Nature Lovers Everywhere (2023), and Botas Altas, the Spanish version of Tall Boots, translated by Graciela Moreno and Adriana Botero. You’ll find Linda on her Amazon author page, on her website at LindaWilsonAuthor.com, and on Facebook.


Journaling Goals


There are plenty of benefits to journaling from self-care and emotional wellbeing to problem solving and productivity. It's one of my favorite tools!

Last month on GoalChatLive, I discussed journaling with Jen Jones Donatelli, Creative Groove; Lynda Monk, director of the International Association for Journal Writing; and cartoonist Chari Pere. The panel shared their early journaling experiences, as well as thoughts on the value of a regular practice, options for journaling, and so much more.

Journaling Benefits

  • Lynda: Journaling helps you to know – and craft – who you truly are. It’s one thing to think our thoughts, it’s another to write them down. Plus, knowing yourself improves you relationships with others 
  • Jen: It gives you a reason to carve out time for yourself every day 
  • Chari: You get to say things to yourself that you wouldn’t necessarily say out loud 
  • Jen: Journaling also helps you track synchronicity 
  • Lynda: Manifestation happens when you think about what you want, write it down, and speak it

Journaling Goals

  • Chari: Pick one thing to write about: gratitude, a good deed, etc. Then, put a doodle next to it. The doodle should add to what you are writing 
  • Jen: Find ways to make your journaling routine really juicy: find your ideal spot, snack, or practice to make the entire experience enticing 
  • Lynda: Join a journaling community

Watch Our Conversation:



Final Thoughts

  • Jen: Give yourself some grace around your journaling practice 
  • Chari: Start by writing in 15 minutes sessions 
  • Lynda: Write about your thoughts and feelings, not just what you see and experience
How, when and what you journal about is up to you. Your journal. Your choice. Commit to setting journaling goals and enjoy the benefits that come from it!

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For more inspiration and motivation, follow @TheDEBMethod on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin! 

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What are your tips for creating courses? Please share in the comments. 

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Debra Eckerling is the award-winning author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and founder of the D*E*B METHOD, which is her system for goal-setting simplified. A goal-strategist, corporate consultant, and project catalyst, Debra offers personal and professional planning, event strategy, and team building for individuals, businesses, and teams. She is also the author of Write On Blogging and Purple Pencil Adventures; founder of Write On Online; host of  #GoalChatLive aka The DEB Show podcast and Taste Buds with Deb. She speaks on the subjects of writing, networking, goal-setting, and social media.

Tips for Journal Writing


We push forward to reach our writing goals, experience the pains, and grow through the struggle.  Let’s journal to settle in, put thoughts in order, and explore ideas that can springboard into article, essay or story—stepping closer to our milestones. In addition, journal writing relieves stress and provides a private place to work out issues.

Nine Tips:
• Write for yourself. Write daily, even just a little.
• A digital or handwritten journal is great for recording your thoughts, experiences and observations.
• Journaling helps develop your writer’s voice, write more conversationally, and practice.
• Continue from where you are right now. Capture the myriad of thoughts by free writing, working a book outline, or resolving what your character does next.
• Explore new ideas for promoting your business, your website or your blog. 
• Consider writing a series of posts to connect with your readers.
• Break down goal expectations and schedule milestones in doable pieces, baby steps too.
• I recommend, “The Story Within” by Laura Oliver. Chapter 9 titled “Journal to Freedom”. I find her book and particularly this chapter meaningful in my quest to enlarge my journaling experience and writing practice.
• You might find idea sparks at Creative Writing Now: https://www.creative-writing-now.com/what-is-a-journal.html

Steinbeck was a champion of journaling.  https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/03/02/john-steinbeck-working-days/
Working Days: The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath Paperback – December 1, 1990
“John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath during an astonishing burst of activity between June and October of 1938. Throughout the time he was creating his greatest work, Steinbeck faithfully kept a journal revealing his arduous journey toward its completion."

How do you use journal writing and what tip would you add to the list?

Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author of Creative Non-Fiction. She writes articles, essays and stories. She is passionate about caring for the mentally impaired through creative arts.
Visit her web-blog: Deborah Lyn Stanley : MyWriter's Life

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