Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Why do people write in journals?

Honestly. Why? What do people get out of it? I have read nearly 200 surveys now and I still don't really know the answer. I am not sure I even know why I do. I know all the practical responses around using the journal as a space to be practicing the writing craft and to be at least writing something. I know about the process often being a cathartic one. But why does it become so important in so many of our lives?

I have some really good friends - some of whom are published writers - who just don't consider a journal a tool. They (shock! horror!) don't have blank books all throughout their lives... what would that feel like I wonder?

"So some of us are turned on by journals and some of us aren't."


I wonder what difference it actually makes to be writing a journal. I can't contemplate what life would be like without my blank books. So apart from the obvious addiction solution ... what does a journal really bring to your life?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

journaling/blogging for me is a way to be able to express myself without the worries of others criticizing me. I really don't know how to talk to people that well face to face, but I can express myself so much better with the written word.

Pamela J Weatherill said...

Yeah you are so right Liz ... Isn't it strange how public a blog is, yet it's liberating at the same time? Thanks for helping me work this eternal question out!

Anji said...

I think that there are as many answers as people!

alyceclover said...

Gandhi said 'whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it's very important that you do it' you & Liz may not have thought these posts were 'insignificant' but finding them has some importance to me, (will be writing about it)
: > for whatever that is worth!

Pamela J Weatherill said...

So true anji ... I think the one common theme is that most people I am meeting love thier blank books or blogs!!!

Pamela J Weatherill said...

Hey thanks for that alyceclover ... isn't it great when a few words on a blog you 'discover' has a positive input in to your day? I think this is one of the great things about blogging ... and I am sure it actually keeps the world a smaller place ... will pop over to your blog soon!