A Slice of Writer's Life

"Twenty Reasons Why Journaling Is A Writer's Best Friend"

Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depth of your heart; confess to yourself you would have to die if you were forbidden to write. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Keeping a journal is good exercise for writers. Here are twenty good reasons why writers should keep a journal.

1. Good opportunity to clear your head of distractions before working on writing projects

2. Good source of story and poem ideas

3. Serves as a personal history that helps you learn from your past

4. Excellent place for exploring a wide range of emotions without judgement

5. Allows for deep self-observation of habits and patterns that can either be supportive or destructive

6. Creates awareness of growth and change

7. Opportunity to function in the present moment even if you are writing about the past

8. Serves as self-counseling to work through problems

9. Good place to explore boundaries, how to set them, when to break them

10. Allows a writer to connect with herself and the world in a deeply satisfying way

11. Great place to discover what you believe in and what your personal truth is

12. Discover what truthful writing is

13. Great practice for shutting down the inner critic before working on a writing project

14. Teaches you how to focus intently on something until it is finished

15. Helps you understand patterns of behavior in your life and allows you to explore changes and consequences in the journal before trying them out in real life

16. Repetitive themes and motifs enable you to identify your passions

17. Helps you to recognize your purpose in life and in writing

18. Teaches you patience and acceptance of the time it takes for things to evolve and change

19. Journal writing teaches you to appreciate form, space, and design necessary to visualize successful writing projects

20. Teaches compassion toward yourself and others as you recognize your own flaws and how those traits make you special.

There are no "journal police" and no specific rules about how to journal. Just grab something to write with and explore the many benefits a writer can experience by keeping a regular journal practice.

Be well, write well.
Joy Held
Copyright 2010