Do you?…
Do you keep a journal/diary? I have tried and tried over the years to keep a steady journal…I always have enough to say so I don`t know why I have trouble. Maybe it is because when I reread through what I wrote sometimes i think `Now that is just dumb` so I stop journalling…or rip out pages. But that isn`t the point is it.
I have a journal somewhere of my first year of highschool. I also have a couple of thick journals that I kept aged 14 and 15. Since then I have nothing that has been kept for more than a month or so. I have pages (Ripped out of a journal but still I have them) from when I was in Europe last year. They are in an envelope under my desk that is sealed and has my name and Europe 2006 on it.
I think perhaps I just love the idea of a journal. I never really stick with it. My blog is a bit like a journal but obviously i don`t go into my innermost thought or anything on-line. Nor do I write about every little thing. Is that what a journal is for though? To record every little thing?
What is a journal to you? Does it have only writing? Does it have colour? Does it have photos, pictures and random poems among other things? Your own original artwork?Does it record every moment of your life? Do you ever have a slump, write nothing for 2 weeks, a month, six months, then go back to it. Do you use the same journal then or do you use another one? A newer book? Do you ever show it to anyone? Would you ever show your kids or partner if you had either?These are all questions that are running through my head as I write this because yet again I have decided to start writing another journal.
I was partly-inspired ( to start another journal I mean) by this site which was linked from 52 projects. I have followed Keri Smith`s work on and off over the years…even if you don`t have a journal, and have no desire to keep one then you should still head over to the site and head to the flickr account she has set up because some of the photos of others journals are great!
I was also inspired by Phil over at Skinnylattegirl because she often refers to her journal in her posts and I love the way she writes so perhaps if I kept a steady journal I could write like her too!! I doubt that will happen though….
I was also inspired just by the fact that I love the idea of a journal ( I love the ideas of most things at first though!). I enjoy writing, I like books (and a journal is essentially a book with mainly blank pages…well in my case) and I really would like to keep something that tracks my thoughts and life.
Who keeps a journal? Who doesn`t? What do you use it for ? Or, why don`t you keep one? Share your thoughts? Am I crazy to think that keeping one this time will work for me and I won`t give up after like, three days?
I start a lot of things and never finish them…at least a journal, while it needs a start, could really end anywhere…
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Does a blog count? If so, yes. If not, no.
I treat my blog like a journal, though. All the mundane bullshit I experience — which is all I do experience — goes in it.
Look, I have a grass stain on my ass! Look, the counter people are talking about me behind my back! But it’s okay, because I’m blogging about them behind theirs!
i found my diary from high school recently and was absolutely mortified when i re-read it. Was I really that shallow and that silly??? it was so weird! i almost threw it out in embarassement but thought it might be worth keeping… maybe one day when i have a teenage daughter it will help me to understand her a bit better? who knows? i would never let anyone else look at it though. But it does have stuff stuck in it, like rose petals from a flower a boy gave me and stuff like that. photos, newspaper cut outs etc.
for now, its just my blog that i record my stuff on…
I’ve never kept a diary and my blog is more about things that happen around me rather than to me. If that makes sense.
Some writer said that a good book is life with all the boring bits removed. I tend to see diaries as a list of boring bits.
I don’t keep a journal- I think there were a few periods in highschool where I tried for a few weeks, but it never really stuck.
On the other hand, I’ve been known to spill quite a bit on my blog.
Philippa has an honours degree in English- I think she was probably born a good writer.
Making journals, however, is something I like. I made one for Phil, it might even be the one she’s writing in now. It was really fun making it- I could make one for you too if you like! Just let me know.
I think a journal can be anything you want it to be- I had a friend in the UK who used to stick in anything she found that was interesting, particularly pictures and newspaper clippings, and I just loved it. I think it was the most awesoe journal ever! Personally, I’m a fan of colour and creative stuff, so would have that sort of thing, as well as writing.
I have tried to have diaries, but they’ve only ever lasted a few months, and were mostly about the boys I was in love with at the time (way back in highschool, by the way, not like last month or anything).
But I think my blog is pretty journally, it’s almost always just about me, what I’ve done and what I think about the stuff that has happened and that’s pretty much all my journals ever were.
Interestingly, in almost a year of blogging I could count on one hand the times I wanted to stop or not write for any extended period.
My blog IS my journal - I’ve never kept a paper diary, but have been blogging for about 3 years now. I’m addicted!
I used to keep a journal but i found I only wrote when bad things happened or when I was depressed. So it was a huge downer and not something i wanted to keep.
Having said that, I start a new one every fucking year!!
M. Snay- I think a blog does count. Some people who are anon on their blog can talk about anything…I guess because I am not…and my famliy, friends etc read my blog (and my bf tries but usually has to get me to translate stuff). If I ever stop blogging I think I would feel the need to print out all the pages to keep. I am like that…I hoard stuff.
Deb- A lot of people consider their blogs to be journals. It is the way technology is changing things too…like with electonic diaries taking over paper versions, email taking over post…it was only a matter of time before blogs took over paper journal writing!
I feel the same way about my highschool journals too!!!
Phil- I tend to see journals as a list of problems. That is what mine always tend to be. Me whining about crap…
Amanda- I like the sound of your friends journal. That is what I wish mine would be like I guess…
I can`t beleive you make journals. that is so cool! I would love one, but I will wait until I see if I stick with it this time before you make one. I wouldn`t want your effort to go to waste!!
I am a fan of colour and creative stuff too. Problem is I am not creative at all…No matter how hard I try (and wish and pray!)
Jen- I have never wanted to stop blogging but I do go through phases where I blog more than others. Recently I have being blogging more…but I know it will wear off and I will go back to blogging once a week etc. But for now I am satisfied.
Your blog is similar to how my old journals look. Although I complained a hell of a lot more in my old journals than you do on your blog!
Angela- I wanted to see your site but the link didn`t work. Will have to check it out another time!
Steph- I am the same…my journals are usually a bit depressing. I have started one, and so far it isn`t too depressing…but still has a bit of my moaning in it. And me bagging myself out etc…pretty pathetic really.
I constantly start journals. I constantly start a lot of things though…
I’ve journaled off and on (more on than off) since I was about 12. Blogging too its place about 8 years ago. It’s sooo much fun to pull out old stuff and laugh at myself!