by Julia Asel Thomas
I have kept journals since my first creative writing class, and there is a good reason for it. Even during the long years when I was barely writing anything else, I was accumulating impressions and ideas for future writing.But even if I had never written another word besides the journal, it would have been extremely valuable in its own right, because journaling is a way I express emotions. It’s a way for me to figure out what I do, why I do it, and create a plan for the future. In short, it is a way for me to better understand myself and my life.
That’s why I gave a journal to Cheryl, my main character in Loving the Missing Link. I wanted her to have a way to express her emotions and find her way in life. Although I didn’t include her journal entries throughout the book, by the end it’s plain to see that her journaling has been important to her development.
Selecting a Time to Write
My first years of journaling, I wrote just when something came to me that I wanted to capture or vent about. Now, I have specific times to write. The routine has boosted my output and helped me keep my life on a more even keel.
I write every morning unless I have some urgent family problem that needs attention first. I have to do most of my writing on the computer now, because I have a tremor that makes my handwriting nearly (and sometimes absolutely) illegible. I generally start a new document each week and title the file by the date.
I use my morning journaling to deal with issues and feelings that have come up overnight, either as I was trying to fall asleep or in my dreams. What I do is, I keep paper and a pen beside my bed and scratch out as neatly as I can a few words that will remind me of things I want to journal about in the morning. I’ve found that if I pick up the paper off my nightstand after I get dressed and head for the computer, the memories flood back to me and I can deal with them promptly and appropriately.
I also do therapeutic journaling at times when I want to express my emotions but do not want to burden others with them. This is especially important on days when my husband is in a great deal of pain, which unfortunately happens often. Instead of bringing him down, I write my little heart out and fill several pages of my ongoing document.
Letting It All Out
When I use my journal to deal with my own life, I start by expressing my emotions as accurately as possible. If I am extremely angry about something, I write in all caps. If I am afraid, I write in italics. When I am sad, I tend to use a lot of ellipses. If I am happy, I might use a fancy font to set those thoughts apart from the others. I try to make the appearance of the words match my feelings.
I say things in my journal that I would never tell another person, not even my husband. One of my friends commented that he was afraid Cheryl’s husband would find her journal. My point in not letting him find it is that I wanted her to figure some things out for herself. I know I have, and it has made me stronger.
Rereading the Therapeutic Journal
On the last day of the month, I reread my journal. As I read, I remember how I felt, and I think about how it all turned out. Sometimes, I still have unresolved issues, and this is a time to think of a better plan. But usually this is a time for gratitude and hope. Although my life may seem dismal at times, everything usually works out fine. I live to see a happier day along the way, and it reassures me that I can overcome my negative emotions in time. Besides all this, therapeutic journaling keeps me sane enough to do my best writing. Who could ask for more?
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Julia Asel Thomas writes stories with vivid descriptions, authentic dialogue and revealing narration. Her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, presents the engrossing and moving story of a young, small town girl who grows up, lives and loves while trying to find a balance between despair and hope.
When Julia was in high school, she earned a scholarship for a trip to Cali, Colombia as a foreign exchange student. The experience, although it only lasted a few brief months, had a profound influence on the rest of her life. After her time abroad, Julia realized in a very real way that, although customs may differ from culture to culture, the substance of human emotions is constant. We all need love. We all need to feel secure. We all have happy moments and sad moments. Back from Colombia, Julia become ever more interested in capturing these human emotions through music and writing.
In 2007, Julia began earning her living by writing articles, press releases and website content for a number of clients. As she settled into a routine of working every day on her writing, an old urge to write fiction resurfaced. In 2012, Julia started with a story she had written in 1985 and continued it to create the story in Loving the Missing Link.
After Julia’s husband, Will, retired from the Air Force, they moved back to Missouri and now live in Kansas City, Missouri. Find out more about this author by visiting her online:
Author blog: http://lovingthemissinglink.com/
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7171277.Julia_Asel_Thomas
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