Do you keep a "writer's journal?"

I don't keep a writer's journal. Oh hell, I don't even keep a journal. Then again I don't keep a sketch book either and I am an artist. I guess I'm not the journaling type.

I would think the idea is to simply journal your everyday events but to put more focus on what you see around you during the day. Say for instance you went out for coffee today to relieve some stress because your boss is a jerk. Go beyond that description/journaling and write about what you saw and experienced when you did that. What caught your attention, what conversations did you overhear and so on. I’m drawing on what I know my artist buddies do when they keep a sketchbook journal. It’s sort of like “Viewing the world through the eyes of Jerry Waxler,” --a coffee table book.

Anyway that’s just my best guess at it. Do you think you would find value in doing this or do you already do that sort of thing and just didn’t realize that you did?

Jerry,
Have you read The Artist's Way? It's a spritual tool for fostering creativity. I worked through the book a couple of years ago and found it helpful. It has activities like taking a trip to the mall for the sole purpose of observing other people, keeping "morning pages," artist date. "Think of this combination of tools in terms of a radio receiver and transmitter. It is a two-step, two-two directional process: out and then in. Doing your morning pages, you are sending--notifying yourself and the universe of your dreams, dissatisfactions, hopes. Doing your artist date, you are receiving--opening yourself to insight, inspiration, guidance."

Anyway, journaling and observing are two key tools mentioned in the book.

Bluegate,

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary." Pablo Picasso

Merry Christmas to you all,
RB

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I don't keep a writing journal, per se, but I've recently started a creative journal, which combines art and writing together. Boy howdy, if you want to humble yourself eliminate some of your self-editing tendencies, this is a surefire way to do it!

Here's a link to a few of my blog entries about creative journaling, on the off chance you'd like to see some of my pages--or perhaps see what I've learned about writing in the process.

http://newport2newport.livejournal.com/tag/creative+journaling

If you're doing something similar, I'd love to see your pages, too!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I started blogging last year and didn't keep up with it. I had no followers and I don't think anyone ever read it.....I took the link out of my signature. I have my FB page and that's about it.