Journals and Papers

Have you ever looked through an old photo album and stared at a photo wondering where it was taken and who the heck was in the photo? Sometimes when we’re on vacation or at an event we take snapshots of something that must have been important to us at the time. Maybe we met someone that day who was really funny and we made a connection so we took their photo. Maybe they are a distant relative from a family reunion. Whatever the story, if it is worth journaling about, then add the photo too.

Is this much different than scrapbooking? Not really. However scrapbooking usually takes into account a complete vacation or event worth recording. I’m talking more about individual incidents or memory journaling, where you can use one or two photos to compliment a journal entry and vice versa. 

If you have some ’snapshot moments or stories’ that you’d like to remember, consider printing your photos and putting them into an album that also acts as a journal. Try a larger format journal - 8″ or 9″x 11 3/4″ to 12″ with blank/unlined sheets. If it is acid free, that’s even better as you’ll be preserving the journals for years to come. Make use of an acid free pen too.

You can get artistic and make it ’scrapbook-like’, or simply write your journal entry around it. You can even consider a theme for your photo journals e.g. Where are my cousins now?  or Favorite tour guides and what made them so special.

I’ve often thought about starting a wildlife photo journal. Living in the country we have so many incidents relating to animals and we take photos. It might be cool to remember years down the road when and what happened when we took the photo. If I do, I’ll share it with you. 

You may not find a journal or work planner for every need. For example, if you are looking for a food diary or food journal, it may not be in the format you require.The same goes for a yearly planner. When I go planner shopping, I always come home empty handed because all the planners are the same! Hourly by day, by week, or by month. Keeping track of my work tasks and needs are different and to that end, I would like to share an article with you on how to turn a journal into a Weekly Work To-Do Journal/Planner Template. Whew that’s a mouthful.

Within this article, is a template that you can incorporate into any journal, lined or unlined. It explains how to use the template and provides some detail on how to keep a weekly work to-do list within a favorite journal. Download this article: Weekly Work To-Do Journal/Planner Templatefor more information.

Are you having trouble getting back into the rhythm of your journal writing? I find having during the holiday season, or actually going on holidays is the biggest disruption to my writing whether it be journal writing or fiction writing. It is so hard to get back into the groove and before you know it, a few weeks have gone by.

If you are sitting looking at your journal and wondering what to write, here are a few fun and simple exercises to get your muse out of the holiday spirit and into a creative one:

• 2009’s Weather seems to be starting out with a bang and hitting all areas with some severe stuff. Describe the weather in your area and how if affects your life.
• Free write about someone from your childhood. Free writing is a technique where you picture your subject and start writing. Continue writing with no interruption, no going back to edit and NO censorship as you write. Kinda like writing from the heart.
• Goals are always a hot topic. What are your goals, ambitions, hopes and dreams for 2009?
• Write a Letter to an editor or someone that you may have an issue with. Is there someone you need to forgive this New Year? You don’t have to send it, just leave it in your journal- for your eyes only.
• Writing Prompts are something you can use to jump-start your journal writing. Check out Journal and Paper’s web site for journal prompts

These few exercises should help. If you are writing everyday, congratulations and good for you!