Who you are writing for makes or breaks your ability to find your voice, to continue writing or to complete a writing intention. I have been writing in journals since the age of 16 (40 years now!), and am the author of ten books. My journals create a sacred temple for me to explore my spiritual questions and to write my first drafts.
Back in 1989 after I landed Doubleday as my first publisher, I gave myself 6 months to complete the manuscript. They had accepted my book proposal which had two chapters written, I had six or seven more to go. It was all there, in my head and in my notes and journals but it lacked cohesiveness. Besides, I was still quite green with the whole book writing and this was my publishing debut. I lacked the confidence and skill I have now. I came upon my 5th month having hardly written a word on my manuscript. (My journals where still filling up). The deadline loomed ahead of me like the threat of extinction.
So, what did I do? I attended several motivational workshops as an attempt to ignite myself. Alas, not a spark in sight.
So I went to my beloved spiritual teacher at the time and asked her – What to do? She calmly said to kill all thoughts of the readers and write the book for myself.
“Duh!” (A response I borrow from my teenage daughter).
It took me the next thirty-some days to get most of the first draft complete. It took me another four to complete the manuscript. (The book is Hidden Victims: Hidden Healers.) I find this approach of writing for ourselves first helpful anytime we are stuck on writing a project or book.
Forget the reader and write for yourself.
Now I write from my life, most times the first drafts are still just for me, sometimes, like in the case of some blogs– I write with an audience in mind. However, everything I publish is harvested from my journals and field notebooks. Most of my material for my books, including my novel, is written first for myself in my journals and field notebooks.
When you find yourself not writing I would recommend you come back to writing for yourself. Your motivation to write may be diverse -- to solve a problem, to explore some possibilities, to receive the kudos of completing another piece in your work, to listen to your protagonist, or to release emotion (to name a few). Our journals are a great place to hang out and explore our ideas and the words that can communicate these ideas.
The rewrites can then be with the reader in mind. Even so, have each rewrite to be written in a way that satisfies you.
Be careful about sending out the piece that was written just for you (the first draft) without some rewriting and editing. (Rewriting after all is writing). When I find someone who sends the personal draft out, I feel as if I have snuck into their bedroom and opened their personal journal. The journal-essay typically holds content that is just meant for the writer (like too much backstory in a novel), and is best left off the published page.
Journal writing gives you the freedom to write it all down in whatever form or voice helps the words (and worlds) spill across the page. Then, you can harvest the best of it for public consumption.
Here are some journal writing prompts:
• Take a written piece from your journal and rewrite it with a readership in mind. Then find a place for it – a blog, your website, your collection of prose or poems, or your book.
• Write a letter to someone. Have the first draft be in your journal, then rewrite one you could (and may) actually send. (This could be a letter to someone you have difficulty talking to, or have some concern you want to communicate with them.)
• Write about being warned using the following words (the piece can be fictional, personal essay, or combination fiction and nonfiction): siren, possibility, hawk, tail (or tale), hypnotized, reluctant, tourist.
ABOUT
Julie Tallard Johnson, MSW, LCSW is the author of ten books, including Spiritual Journaling and Wheel of Initiation. She is a transpersonal counselor, writing consultant and presenter. For more on Julie visit her website: JulieTallardJohnson.com
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