Against Journaling
Almost every book you read on writing tells you to keep a journal. “Write in your journal every day.” “If you’re feeling stuck, go write in your journal.” “Whatever your problem is, writing in your journal will make it go away.” “You’re not serious about your writing if you don’t keep a journal.”
It’s all lies.
Photo by dutchl, via Flickr
Now, I keep a notebook (several, really) to jot down ideas I get or for planning the books and articles I’m working on. But it’s not a journal. I never write about events in my own life. I don’t put bits of conversation I overhear with no idea of where they might fit into a later project. I don’t chronicle my writing life or any other part of my life. I write down concrete story ideas. I write down character sketches. I write down scene ideas. I write down dialogue if it sparks an idea for a story. I write down things that pop into my head for books I’m working on, books I’ve already written, and books I’m considering writing. But it’s a notebook, not a journal.
Why am I so against journaling? In the simplest terms, journaling is an excuse to procrastinate. When you’re feeling stuck on a novel, or a short story, or any other bit of writing, how often do you say, “I’ll just go write in my journal a bit until I’m feeling inspired”? How often do you say the same thing when you’re trying to start a new project? You’re using your journal as an excuse not to write what’s really important. Instead of writing a thousand words on your novel, you’re writing a thousand words in your journal. Instead of spending an hour writing something worthwhile, you’re scribbling meaningless drivel in your journal.
And so often writers are made to feel inadequate if they don’t keep a journal. That’s just ridiculous. Keeping a journal does not make you a writer. Not keeping a journal doesn’t not make you a writer. The two have nothing to do with each other, besides the fact that not keeping a journal may free up more time for important writing.
There’s nothing wrong with an occasional brainstorming session if you’re stuck. Mindmapping and freewriting can both be great ways to get unstuck. But a journal is not the best place for either of those things. Get a spiral bound notebook or open up your word processor instead. Keep a notebook handy for writing down those brilliant ideas you get. But whatever you do, don’t call it a journal and don’t use it for anything other than keeping track of those flashes of inspiration you don’t want to forget.
If you want to keep a journal for yourself, to pass along to your children, and completely unrelated to writing, go for it. There’s nothing wrong with journaling for the right reasons. My father has kept a journal every year since the late 70s. He writes in it every day, covering any major events, the weather, and how his gardens are doing. Those journals will become family heirlooms someday. He journals for the right reasons.
