Maintaining a journal is a big cliche in writer world, but it is also helpful. If you're a write-every-day person, it can provide you with opportunities to do that during those times when you're overwhelmed or traveling. Some of my most serious journal work has been done on vacation.
Lisa Catherine Harper has an excellent piece on writers' journals, Using The Writer's Notebook: A Practical Guide at Ploughshares' website. What's particularly good about her article is the variety of suggestions she has for notebooks/journals. You really can do anything with them.
While I do understand her point about handwriting with a journal, a journal computer program has the benefit of being searchable. Writers can go either way.
Here's some particularly good advice from Harper: "Be recursive. Don't write in your notebook and forget about it. Go back to read, underline, annotate, or dog-ear. Use Post-it notes to indicate important passages." I say this is particularly good advice because working on my journals is something I've failed to do. I've definitely been a dump-and-run writer. Paying more attention to my journal could oen a whole new world.
___________________
Remember to comment in order to have a chance at winning an eBook edition of Saving the Planet & Stuff.
new posts in all blogs
Author Gail Gauthier's Reflections On Children's Books, Writing, And The Kidlit World
By: Gail Gauthier,
on 4/19/2014
Blog: Original Content (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writers journals, The Weekend Writer, Add a tag
Viewing Post from: Original Content
Author Gail Gauthier's Reflections On Children's Books, Writing, And The Kidlit World
By: Gail Gauthier,
on 4/19/2014
Blog: Original Content (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: writers journals, The Weekend Writer, Add a tag
0 Comments on The Weekend Writer: Writers' Journals as of 4/19/2014 10:59:00 PM
Add a Comment