Keeping A Journal
A journal is a place to write for yourself. Your instructor may collect and read your journal and respond to some of what you have written, but he or she will not evaluate your writing. Thus, in your journal you can write what you want in the way you want. You can feel free and relaxed when you write because no one will judge your work.
What To Write In Your Journal
A journal is not a diary, because in it you do much more than record the events of your day. Writing a journal lets you think things through in the following ways:
- You can explore ideas just to see where they take you.
- You can react to the events of your day and write about an issue or event.
- You can write about your feelings and unleash emotions.
- You can experiment with writing styles and drafts.
How To Keep A Journal
To keep a journal, do the following:
- Buy a sturdy notebook about 8 1/2 by 11 inches. The best notebooks are sewn at the binding, but a spiral notebook will do.
- Write in your journal each day for at least ten or fifteen minutes. Many writers like the discipline of writing at the same each day.
- Date each entry and begin each one on a new page. This makes rereading your journal easier.
- Use a good-quality pen to avoid ink and pencil smears.
- Do not worry about grammar, spelling, or how good your writing is. Just write the best you can in a way that satisfies you.
Click here, to view a sample journal entry.