Why A Writing Journal Doesn’t Work For Some Creative Writers

A journal which you carry with you wherever you go, so you can note down those creative writing ideas that come to you at the most unexpected times? So you can capture those amazing concepts and snatches of poetry and prose that hit you when you least expect them?
If not, you’re missing out.
The biggest reason why a writer doesn’t think he or she has enough ideas is not about HAVING the ideas at all.
It’s about capturing them. We all have dozens of great ideas every day, it’s just that most of them drift by as casually as they arrived.
What happens typically when you have an idea? You think “Oh I like that idea, I’ll remember it and work on it when I get home.”
But do you remember it when you get home? No! Do you ever remember it again? NO! That wonderful idea – one of a handful of great ideas you’ve had today and also let drift by – will now be gone forever.
Using a creative writing journal is the best way to overcome this issue, and make sure you capture all these ideas as soon as they come to you.
But a writing journal doesn’t work for all writers.
Here’s one of the biggest reasons why, see if you recognise yourself at all:
So you decided to try using a writing journal.
You shopped around to find something really special, something you’d cherish and look after. And you found it! A gorgeous brown Italian leather journal, hand made from the paper to the stitching to the unique embossed number inside the cover. Wow…
But you haven’t used it!!
So in awe are you of your new journal that you’re terrified of actually writing anything in it, in case you mess up or have to cross something out, or – heaven forbid – you write something that isn’t exquisitely perfect.
That’s the POINT of a creative writing journal.
You use it to gather all the ideas, phrases, characters and fragments of creative writing you have. It’s not there to contain only your greatest work hand written with the care and attention worthy of the finest watchmaker.
If you’re scared or intimidated by using your journal, then get another journal.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a cheap ruled school exercise book, or a spiral reporter’s notebook or your handmade Italian work of beauty.
What’s important is you feel comfortable using it, and don’t just gaze adoringly at it on your bookshelf, along with the 17 other, equally beautiful journals you’ve bought this year.
Don’t fall into this same trap. Buy a journal that you will use at a moment’s notice, that you’ll happily jot down all your ideas in without worrying about being too neat or perfect.
It’s only then you’ll start to see the true benefits of using a writing journal.