Saturday 31 October 2020

The Benefits of Journaling for Writers

 


There's nothing like a brand new notebook to get a writer's heart pumping. Unless it's a brand new top-of-the-range MacBook of course. However, even the most expensive notebook is considerably cheaper than that. Writers love notebooks. They love buying notebooks. Then, they decide the notebook is far too nice to write in, and they buy another notebook. And, so it goes. Piles of notebooks and not a jot of writing done. My blog today is to exhort you to crack open that brand new notebook and actually do some writing on those pristine pages. 

Why am I encouraging you to do this - because I am talking about journaling in today's post. In order to embrace journalling, you actually need to write something. Or draw something. Or past something. You get my drift. 

What is Journaling?

It is simply, the practice of writing, without pressure, on a regular basis. 

Why Journal?

Why am I encouraging you to journal? The benefits are both well known and numerous. 

  • Improves brain power.
  • Improves mood. 
  • Improves memory.
  • Aids focus. 
  • Reduces stress.
  • Record day to day events. These may come in useful in your current or future WIP.
  • Gets you writing every day.
  • To practice stream of consciousness writing.
  • Opens up the brain to new ideas.
  • Declutters the brain.
  • Write without pressure.
  • Motivation.
  • Practice new or different writing techniques.
  • Increases your daily word count as you will be more likely to write

In order to get started, I would suggest you pick a time you will journal each day. Open a notebook and pick up a pen and spend fifteen minutes writing, on any topic which comes to mind. Do this for a week and see how your writing has changed over that time. You will be surprised at how far you've come. 

Now, my Bookaholic friends, if you'll excuse me I'm off to buy another notebook ready for tomorrows writing session. See you soon and until then, keep on reading and keep on writing.