As someone who struggles with consistent journaling, this post really spoke to me. I guess I need to realize that there's more than one "correct" way to journal and just do what makes sense for me as the examples you gave did.
Love the excerpts, I envy diarists. The only diary I have been able to keep is a dream diary. If a dream is too vivid, I write down a faithful description of the sensation and emotion of it, rather than an analysis. There is no pressure to write everyday, but reading the previous entries once in a while brings up such great patterns 💖
I am so struck and bewildered by Rickman's diary. I've gone back to look at it again and again today. I have horrible handwriting and not a lick of artistic ability, but I just love it and feel so inspired. Thanks for the great post.
I found this article really inspirational, Jillian. So much so that I'm almost inclined to start a diary myself. I realise that that sounds like a back-handed compliment but it isn't intended to be. I've always liked the idea of journaling, but never enough to knuckle down to the discipline. I can see the value: last year I said to my best friend, who has kept a diary for decades, "Such a shame about X [musician] passing away isn't it?", to which he replied: "Yes, we saw him on 10th April 1964 and there was a girl you fancied called Gloria. We thought he was quite good but too loud". Astonishing. The closest I have ever got to journaling is that I write or blog most days, so I can look back and see what I was thinking about, and what I thought about what I was thinking about, years later. Thanks again for a lovely article.
As a person who loves writing, it's embarrassing to admit that I didn't have a diary or journal for many years. This is because of my laziness, unfortunately. But now, as if regretting that time, I have different journals and notes. I've been using a bullet journal for a few years, started morning pages recently, plan to have a commonplace book, but I also have a habit of interstitial journaling that helps me stay on track nearly every day on my schedule.
Interstitial journaling is not widely known, I think, but it really helps. It's a kind of journaling invented by Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium. Each time you take a break from work, you jot down a few lines on how the previous period of work went and what you plan for the next one. You also note the time at the beginning of each note. This is a way to let thoughts go from your mind while working; it relaxes you, helps you overcome blockages, and also motivates you to go on. I would recommend it to everyone.
I look forward to Darwin's notes and also perhaps yours, one day, who knows? :)
Absolute gem! Thank you for bringing Alan Rickman's diary to light. I can't believe I didn't know this existed. And just this phrase - "What a mercy to use this page to uncramp in!" Amen, sister Woolf!
Can't thank you enough for creating this space to nerd out about note taking. <3
i’ve actually been keeping a literary diary for months and had no idea it was ‘a thing’; i convinced myself i was lazy because i wasn’t writing about my day or producing original content, but going back into my literary diary really helps clarify what i find important in what i read and sheds light on my values
Another beautiful newsletter. I used to be such an avid journaler. I stopped when my health collapsed. In part, it was hard on me to focus enough to write. And, in part, I just didn't want to be documenting those painful, lonely, often terrifying times. And then, even as I healed, I lost the habit. I periodically return for a few days or even weeks, then it's gone again. Sigh. Noted is inspiring me to start back up though I haven't yet mustered it.
Meanwhile: How have you managed to keep the same journal since 2004?? It must be 3,274 pages long. Or else you don't write much in it.
Wow! This is such an inspirational piece and now I want to try out all the different methods. Also, many thanks for sharing your book on commonplace journals. Your work is fascinating!
I’m so glad I saved this post for a quiet morning, Jillian, because it’s too delicious to gobble up! Have you done a post yet on your own diary? Would love to know what size that is and what you do with the pages when you refill it.
I nearly skimmed Holden’s diary entry but am so glad I took the time to read it. Besides the beautiful watercolor birds, her description of the white arum moved me—how strange to be moved by a plant seen only in words!
Very much looking forward to your Charles Darwin Diaries edition, and I’m going to read more about Lynda Barry’s method—how vastly different these two are. And I almost picked up Rickman’s book and now you have me regretting leaving it behind during recent book shopping (have you seen Bottle Shock—he’s magnificent in that movie!).
This year I decided to try Austin Kleon’s one-page method. I’m trying not to be daunted by comparing my finished pages to his because I am definitely more a writer than illustrator!🤣 But so far I am enjoying it. I also started a physical commonplace book this year—a departure from my digital one in Evernote. I love digital archives, but there’s just something about writing on a page…
What a bounty of delightful journals and so much inspiration. I’m on-again-off-again with Cameron’s morning pages. Sometimes they turn into evening pages or weekend pages or 2 hour long mind drifts with pen dangling from my fingers.
Austin Kleon had a great exercise about sketching 3 good things a day which I used throughout 2020. When I returned to look at them recently I was so surprised about how they captured the time in such poignant detail.
Funny about Edith Holden. That was my grandmother’s name. Sadly not a diarist.
Thank you for this wonderful selection and inspiration!!!
Great post. Best one in the series, I thought, which says a lot because I thought your previous posts were just terrific. Keep up the fabulous insights you bring to documenting life. Steven.
As someone who struggles with consistent journaling, this post really spoke to me. I guess I need to realize that there's more than one "correct" way to journal and just do what makes sense for me as the examples you gave did.
Great stuff here, thanks!
Love the excerpts, I envy diarists. The only diary I have been able to keep is a dream diary. If a dream is too vivid, I write down a faithful description of the sensation and emotion of it, rather than an analysis. There is no pressure to write everyday, but reading the previous entries once in a while brings up such great patterns 💖
I am so struck and bewildered by Rickman's diary. I've gone back to look at it again and again today. I have horrible handwriting and not a lick of artistic ability, but I just love it and feel so inspired. Thanks for the great post.
Wow, what a pleasure Holden’s pages are to look at! Wish I could write in her font -- probably time to work on mine.
What a joy to see another post from you. These are great inspirations, and I can see how you have fallen in love with studying them!
Sometimes I wonder if my journal is too mundane but these excerpts show me that there's no wrong way to keep a diary/journal
I found this article really inspirational, Jillian. So much so that I'm almost inclined to start a diary myself. I realise that that sounds like a back-handed compliment but it isn't intended to be. I've always liked the idea of journaling, but never enough to knuckle down to the discipline. I can see the value: last year I said to my best friend, who has kept a diary for decades, "Such a shame about X [musician] passing away isn't it?", to which he replied: "Yes, we saw him on 10th April 1964 and there was a girl you fancied called Gloria. We thought he was quite good but too loud". Astonishing. The closest I have ever got to journaling is that I write or blog most days, so I can look back and see what I was thinking about, and what I thought about what I was thinking about, years later. Thanks again for a lovely article.
Brilliant and inspiring, again! Thank you!
As a person who loves writing, it's embarrassing to admit that I didn't have a diary or journal for many years. This is because of my laziness, unfortunately. But now, as if regretting that time, I have different journals and notes. I've been using a bullet journal for a few years, started morning pages recently, plan to have a commonplace book, but I also have a habit of interstitial journaling that helps me stay on track nearly every day on my schedule.
Interstitial journaling is not widely known, I think, but it really helps. It's a kind of journaling invented by Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium. Each time you take a break from work, you jot down a few lines on how the previous period of work went and what you plan for the next one. You also note the time at the beginning of each note. This is a way to let thoughts go from your mind while working; it relaxes you, helps you overcome blockages, and also motivates you to go on. I would recommend it to everyone.
I look forward to Darwin's notes and also perhaps yours, one day, who knows? :)
Absolute gem! Thank you for bringing Alan Rickman's diary to light. I can't believe I didn't know this existed. And just this phrase - "What a mercy to use this page to uncramp in!" Amen, sister Woolf!
Can't thank you enough for creating this space to nerd out about note taking. <3
i’ve actually been keeping a literary diary for months and had no idea it was ‘a thing’; i convinced myself i was lazy because i wasn’t writing about my day or producing original content, but going back into my literary diary really helps clarify what i find important in what i read and sheds light on my values
Another beautiful newsletter. I used to be such an avid journaler. I stopped when my health collapsed. In part, it was hard on me to focus enough to write. And, in part, I just didn't want to be documenting those painful, lonely, often terrifying times. And then, even as I healed, I lost the habit. I periodically return for a few days or even weeks, then it's gone again. Sigh. Noted is inspiring me to start back up though I haven't yet mustered it.
Meanwhile: How have you managed to keep the same journal since 2004?? It must be 3,274 pages long. Or else you don't write much in it.
Alan Rickman's journal pages are enchanting.
Brilliant. So many great ideas to use a journal. Very inspiring. I hope to pick up mine again!
Wow! This is such an inspirational piece and now I want to try out all the different methods. Also, many thanks for sharing your book on commonplace journals. Your work is fascinating!
I’m so glad I saved this post for a quiet morning, Jillian, because it’s too delicious to gobble up! Have you done a post yet on your own diary? Would love to know what size that is and what you do with the pages when you refill it.
I nearly skimmed Holden’s diary entry but am so glad I took the time to read it. Besides the beautiful watercolor birds, her description of the white arum moved me—how strange to be moved by a plant seen only in words!
Very much looking forward to your Charles Darwin Diaries edition, and I’m going to read more about Lynda Barry’s method—how vastly different these two are. And I almost picked up Rickman’s book and now you have me regretting leaving it behind during recent book shopping (have you seen Bottle Shock—he’s magnificent in that movie!).
This year I decided to try Austin Kleon’s one-page method. I’m trying not to be daunted by comparing my finished pages to his because I am definitely more a writer than illustrator!🤣 But so far I am enjoying it. I also started a physical commonplace book this year—a departure from my digital one in Evernote. I love digital archives, but there’s just something about writing on a page…
What a bounty of delightful journals and so much inspiration. I’m on-again-off-again with Cameron’s morning pages. Sometimes they turn into evening pages or weekend pages or 2 hour long mind drifts with pen dangling from my fingers.
Austin Kleon had a great exercise about sketching 3 good things a day which I used throughout 2020. When I returned to look at them recently I was so surprised about how they captured the time in such poignant detail.
Funny about Edith Holden. That was my grandmother’s name. Sadly not a diarist.
Thank you for this wonderful selection and inspiration!!!
Great post. Best one in the series, I thought, which says a lot because I thought your previous posts were just terrific. Keep up the fabulous insights you bring to documenting life. Steven.