How to Keep a Writing Journal

A while ago I talked about keeping a journal (you can catch up with that post here). Have you ever thought about using a journal specifically for your writing? It’s a great way of bringing together your ideas and helping you move forward in whatever you’re working on.

What can you include in a Writing Journal?

• Ideas. Whenever you have a good idea get it written down in your journal. Over time you’ll build up a bank of ideas that you can turn to during creative dry spells.
• Specific notes. If you’re a writer that likes to make a lot of notes, then having key points to help you in your writing is a good use for your journal. This could include an extensive guide to your plot and character profiles.
• Activity Log. I’m a big believer in small, daily acts of progress. If you assign yourself a particular amount of words each day keeping a work log will track if you managed to do that. Use your log to note down problems you encountered, actions you need to take and things you want to work on the next day.
• Quotations. As you’ll see in this post I love a good quote. I like to scatter inspiring quotations across my journal as encouragement.
• Visual Stimuli. Images can be as powerful as words for creative inspiration. Use photos, paintings, magazine cuttings etc. to capture the mood of the thing you’re trying to write. If you need to write a vivid description of a place, object or person having a visual reminder of your subject can be really helpful.
• Research notes. Keep any notes you make from research in your journal, this way you have all the information you need for handy reference. Keeping notes is also a great way of whittling down stacks of research into its most important points.
• Reference. Consider having a reference page of websites, books and blogs that you find helpful. Be sure to include The Literary Lady!

• Schedule. If you’re in the final stages of finishing a big project a schedule can help you to focus on particular chapters or scenes that need your attention. Try assigning yourself a different chapter to work on each week.

 

Do you have any ideas for what to keep in a writing journal? Let me know in the comments below!