One of the hardest things about writing a journal is feeling like you’ve got anything to write. You need a purpose, beyond just an aimless chronicle of your thoughts. Even the most creative person will have off days, and those off days can add up to off weeks and then you have a half-finished journal and no idea how to get restarted. Here is a tip: write with purpose.
There are many ways to get a purpose for your writing. Maybe you make a schedule: like Poetry Sundays and Memory Tuesdays. Anything to keep you on task. Or maybe you decide you will write at least one page of free writing every week. No thought, just pen to paper and words flowing. Or, better yet, make your persona journal important to you.
What do I mean by making it important? Well, I was never a very passionate journal writer. I can’t tell you how many false starts I made. I even got a purpose once, but it didn’t last because I lost the passion behind it. Then I thought I’d share my experiences with the world by blogging my journal. But why would anyone want to read what I wrote?
My first thought was to share my thoughts on my favorite TV shows. Well, that meant commitment. That meant actually taking notes during the show or recording it and re-watching it later. That meant screen caps and quotes. Eventually, I got burnt out. I lost all my pizzazz and was just going through the motions. After taking a lengthy break, I came back with new purpose.
I entered the world of online dating. And I ran across some… interesting… people. Knowing how much interest people have in dating exploits and advice, I figured I would share my experiences. I turned the terrible into the hysterical, but I still dreaded blogging. It felt like a chore rather than something to look forward to. Sure, I had fun sharing the stories, but I only went on so many dates. What did I write about in between?
Again, I fell off the writing wagon. Oh, I popped back in to share particularly gruesome or gritty tales, but nothing regular. Not like a real personal journal. I had no drive, no purpose, no love behind it. And then I found my purpose. I found The One. But how did the perfect guy give my blog new life? I have one word for you: scrapbook.
Say what? Yeah, you heard me, a scrapbook blog. As I have about as much artistic talent as a drunken hippo, a real scrapbook is out. My friend, a photographer, chronicled her relationship with her fiancé in a photo book, but I do even worse with pictures than I do with crafts. But I knew I had to save these memories and not lose them to the faulty, forgetful corners of my mind. So my blog became my scrapbook.
From then till now, I post more often than ever. And not just bits and pieces, but whole days filled with dialogue, drama, and adventure. Pictures of places and gifts, travel destinations and favorite meals. Transcripts of text messages and emotional upheavals. All the small things that add up to a relationship. And I intend to keep writing, keep chronicling my… our… journey. For some things are worth remembering, even if, eventually, they do not last.
Author Bio
This Guest post is by Christine Kane, a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about a wide-variety of subjects including internet service for different blogs. She can be reached via email at: Christi.Kane00@gmail.com
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