Using Journals To Write Your Novel

On the first day of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, I eagerly pulled out my memory box with its treasure trove of journals that I’ve been filling since I was eleven-years-old.

I figured that this primary resource would be invaluable in recalling the details of my family history; thereby enriching a novel based on aspects of my life.

Now, I wasn’t expecting much from the early years.  I recently shared my first Five Year Diary with my children, and I remembered that it’s filled with such scintillating details like, “Didn’t do anything today.” or “Didn’t do anything today either.”

Unfortunately, my journals didn’t get much better as I matured.  Mostly, my journal entries alternate between complaints (and not about the real sources of sorrow in my life) or reflections on arts and culture (that I would be embarrassed to share in public.)

Mostly, I self-edited as I wrote, avoiding the messy or embarrassing stories that would most interest me today.  I didn’t even provide any detail as to what was happening around me, at home or in the world.

I’m resolving now to improve my journal writing, by finally following through on the advice in Sheila Bender’s Keeping a Journal You Love.   I’ll even share her final list of ideas to get us started.

9 Journal Entry Ideas From Keeping a Journal You Love

1. Record the weather, inside and out.  Describing the weather can help you access the emotional weather in your life.
2. Write a “Things I learned today” list.
3. Use prompts.  Find prompt ideas on Can Teach, Creative Writing Prompts, or Writer’s Digest Writing Prompts.
4. Play the alphabet game. Select a daily subject based on a letter of the day, write 26 meditations, or create alphabetized titles.
5. Create persona entries.  Write stories from the point of view of different, sometimes unexpected, persons.
6. Play the “and then” game.  Build a story by adding and elaborating, not necessarily plausible, but interesting add-ons.
7. Philosophy of life. Describe your philosophy of life.
8. Dispense advice.  Write imaginary letters to someone you feel could benefit from your superior knowledge.
9. Write definitions.  Collect words.

A few more suggestions, discovered after being disappointed by my journals:

1. Record the price of a gallon of milk, a movie ticket, dinner out, or another frequent expense.  When you look back 10, 20, or more years later you will be amazed.
2. Make a list of your favorite foods, friends, activities, or anything else that seems obvious now, but may be forgotten later.
3. Describe the joyous events in your life, and also the disturbing items.
4. Describe the people and places in your life, but include photos too.
5. Keep a weekly record of minor and major events, or describe a snapshot of your life.  Choose one activity to describe thoroughly each week; for example, a music lesson, a grocery run, a sibling squabble, or a family dinner.
6. Write a monthly or quarterly newsletter to record significant events in each family members’ life.

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it?  However, if you’re keeping a journal anyway, it’s just a reminder to add those items that seem so obvious now, but may be forgotten later.

What are you including in your journal?

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Tagged as: Journal, NaNoWrimo, writing