Journal Jottings
Louisa May Alcott kept a journal, or diary, from the time she was old enough to express her thoughts on paper. Her parents kept extensive journals of their own and required the same of their daughters. Bronson's journal consisted of 61 volumes by the time he stopped writing at age 82. Abba frequently read Louisa's journal and left encouraging notes for Louisa about her writing and keeping her temper in check.
Try keeping your own journal for a month. Get a notebook and start writing about what is going on in your life and how you feel about it. Here are some tips for keeping a journal:
1. Write something every day. The more you write, the better you will get.
2. Try to set aside a special time to write each day. Early morning is a good time for some people. Others like to collect their thoughts just before bedtime.
3. A journal is a private book, so concentrate on recording your thoughts and ideas and do not worry about spelling and punctuation at first.
4. Do not throw anything away. A journal is a record of your growth. What you write today may look silly a few months later, but it was important at the time.
AND CONSIDER THIS…
* A journal can be a record of important occurrences: Big and small events may be happening in your life or in the world around you.
* A journal is a great place to write down dreams and nightmares. Putting them on paper may help you to understand yourself and the visions you have when you sleep. When Louisa was ill, she had some very strange dreams and frightening nightmares, which she recorded in her journal.
* A journal helps you analyze your beliefs and opinions. It is a private book, so you can make mistakes, freely express your feelings, and change your mind as often as you like.
* A journal is a storage space for story ideas. The next time your English teacher requests a story. or a poem, your journal can provide you with a month's worth of ideas. Louisa's most successful novels are about the people and things she knew best: Authors stick to subjects they know.
* A journal is an excellent way to get to know yourself better. When you reread it, you may be astonished at how much you have forgotten. Or, you may be impressed with how your ability to express yourself has changed over time!
By Mary Baldwin, Cobblestone
Try keeping your own journal for a month. Get a notebook and start writing about what is going on in your life and how you feel about it. Here are some tips for keeping a journal:
1. Write something every day. The more you write, the better you will get.
2. Try to set aside a special time to write each day. Early morning is a good time for some people. Others like to collect their thoughts just before bedtime.
3. A journal is a private book, so concentrate on recording your thoughts and ideas and do not worry about spelling and punctuation at first.
4. Do not throw anything away. A journal is a record of your growth. What you write today may look silly a few months later, but it was important at the time.
AND CONSIDER THIS…
* A journal can be a record of important occurrences: Big and small events may be happening in your life or in the world around you.
* A journal is a great place to write down dreams and nightmares. Putting them on paper may help you to understand yourself and the visions you have when you sleep. When Louisa was ill, she had some very strange dreams and frightening nightmares, which she recorded in her journal.
* A journal helps you analyze your beliefs and opinions. It is a private book, so you can make mistakes, freely express your feelings, and change your mind as often as you like.
* A journal is a storage space for story ideas. The next time your English teacher requests a story. or a poem, your journal can provide you with a month's worth of ideas. Louisa's most successful novels are about the people and things she knew best: Authors stick to subjects they know.
* A journal is an excellent way to get to know yourself better. When you reread it, you may be astonished at how much you have forgotten. Or, you may be impressed with how your ability to express yourself has changed over time!
By Mary Baldwin, Cobblestone
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