Diary or Journal?

[grace86]

Who has a journal, diary or something of the sort that they vent out on? Who writes their frustrations with life, their fears or their hopes out on paper? Do you write it in first person, as a story, an autobiography or in the form of letters to someone who will never receive them?

And, what do you use to record your thoughts? A spiral, a composition book, the computer?

To what extent do you keep your thoughts hidden/shared and do you ever think one day you might let someone read your thoughts?

Just a meddling curiousity. :D

[Bii]

I have a book which I use in the morning to write 'streaming consciousness' - basically I write three pages of whatever enters my head at that point in time no matter how bizarre it is. It was something I read about as a way of releasing creativity, basically it is a way to clear the decks (so do it in the morning) and then you can concentrate on getting on with your day. I write it in the form of a narrative to myself, as though I am talking to myself, which is what I do anyway, just not usually on paper. I also find that it is overwhelmingly negative and self-critical, and sometimes when I read back, say from a few months ago, there are recurring themes, usually based around something I wish to do better like, be kinder, or spend more time with the children, or be less defensive, etc. I guess what it's taught me about myself is to be less self critical, and accept myself as I am, because dwelling on your failings doesn't actually make you a better person, just a more miserable one.

I don't do it every day, but I have found that when I do I am more productive/focussed that day.

That being said, I still find that I 'edit' so sometimes I don't always write down what I really think or feel. I think this is partly because of the 'fear' of someone else reading it and mis-interpreting (or not) my random thoughts. I also think that part of this is because some things I'm not entirely willing to admit to myself and so I don't write them, because writing them would force me to admit/confront those thoughts.

I use a notebook because somehow writing always seems more real on paper, and I can always carry it with me.

[mtpspur]

I've been using my blog--which start was encouraged by Logos--as a sort of diary of the day to day activities. Lately I think I've been writing in some sort of 1st/3rd person style--not sure but I know I'm not just writing strictly for myself anymore but partly to entertain anyone that looks in. I have found in reviewing the forums that there are many people who have put an incredible amount of thought into their postings on life in general and are more proficient with quips and jokes then I profess to be so any dreams of imparting great wisdom died months ago. Will be content if readers see that each day can be special even in the routines with the occasional interesting soap opera event or light touch on things. As my pastor once said God is still good.

[Nick Rubashov]

I do write in a spiral with just a regular pencil sometimes, when I feel I need to. It's hard for me to write on a computer, I just don't like it for some reason. Maybe because it's so easy to get distracted :crash:

[Pensive]

"What are you thinking now" thread.

Poetry which I never show to anyone.

Poetry which I show to people sometimes.

A diary (hardly use it)

A quotation book (contains some of my thoughts about a few matters)

An autobiography (:p)

Other stories

Random pieces of paper/note-pad on computer when I am out of my mind

Yesterday, even I started writing my feelings about the crappy day on my English class-work note-book (not knowing whatever I was doing) and then suddenly I realized that what I was doing. I had to tear the page, otherwise it would have been in the hands of the teacher. :p

[grace86]

Pensy you sound like me, I write on and about everything. I've been trying to keep a book of my favorite quotations, but they make it only so far as a piece of paper in the book in which they are found (page numbers - no dog earing for me!)

As for me, I used to write all the time. At the end of my highschool career I must have had somewhere along a dozen journals - all very beautiful covers. When a certain incident happened, I threw them all away (to think someone out there might have found one) and stopped writing for the longest time.

I'm trying to start up again. My journals now are split between trying to put them online (I get my thoughts out faster) and putting them in another paper journal. It would (because past ones have) be compiled of pretty much my thoughts, prayers, song lyrics, letters, quotations, thoughts about what I read....a jumble of things. But I admit I am a little hesitant to start writing again.

But I am probably going to do so, so I want to go out and find one of those really nice leather journals that you can refill - because once I start writing again, I'm going to write a lot :D

[Shannanigan]

I used to have three different "diaries" or "journals"...one was a collection of poems and short stories I would work on (spiral notebook), one was a more "normal" diary where I would vent about daily events on almost a daily basis (composition book) and another was a journal I was writing for my "future daughter," should I ever have one. I always wanted to read my mother's missing childhood diary so I decided to write one just for my future daughter...I stopped writing when I went to college...

Now I have a "dream journal," which is very neglected (it is a small spiral notebooks with a hardcover with a moon and stars...) I used to write my dreams in it every morning, but all my moving lately has caused me to abandon it. I also have my blog here, my Notes feature on Facebook, and an online journal/diary at a-freak.diaryland.com (also fairly neglected).

I miss writing. I need to get back into it.

[grace86]

I am debating now if I should have multiple journals for multiple reasons, like you Shann, although I am not too sure I wouldn't neglect all of them except one anyway :p

[Nightshade]

and another was a journal I was writing for my "future daughter," should I ever have one. I always wanted to read my mother's missing childhood diary so I decided to write one just for my future daughter...I stopped writing when I went to college...

.

I was just thinking of something like that the other day, only it was an idea for a story with switching bits a pregnant mother's diary to her baby and then the grown up baby later on and other bits and bobs.

:D

I do get strange ideas while im trudging in the cold.

[Lioness_Heart]

I write my 'diary' in a random kind of way. Like Bii, though, I don't really write down exactly what I feel, because it seems so strange and somehow... well, just kind of wrong to see all of my feelings written down like that. I don't exactly write what has happened that day either, because it's kind of boring to look back on. Instead, I have a notebook (I could NEVER write these things on the computer) in which I write down random quotes that I have found... it's quite scary really, because I was looking through my grandad's books the other day and found that he did the exact same thing! I also write random thoughts that come into my head. Yesterday's entry, for example, began 'My mother has started washing my gloves; how could I have thought that my family could stoop no lower'. It's so random - I would hate anyone to read it. If I need to get my emotions out, I write poetry, or work on my story, which has now become kind of semi-autobiographical in a weird medieval/magic/damsel in distress type-thing.
But I really admire people who manage to keep 'proper' diaries - I wish I could/

[grace86]

No proper diary here either Lioness. One subject turns into another and the whole subject of the journal just morphs into something else.

I'd hate for anyone to read what I write, though someday someone might.

[livelaughlove]

I've kept a consistent diary since last summer. I try to write every day or every other day- but it gets hard with school and feeling miserable about life. However, my favorite before bedtime relaxation is reading through old entries, and reliving the memories, the laughter, the tears...

[Miss Darcy]

I have a paper journal which, during the uni (and orchestra) year, I have a strong urge to scribble in every time something happens, or I have a strong emotion, etc.

Well, why not? It could be future literary material. :p

[Lily Adams]

I have a black leather journal and I write in it with a black pen with that nice silky liquid. I usually write down events in the news (Maybe for posterity's sake, I hope?) and I add my own commentary. I guess it's supposed to be a kind of "I remember this, I lived through it, I was a witness." I also record the time, place and weather of the day of the entry. Sometimes I write my feelings or what is happening in my own life, but unless I'm travelling somewhere, it's rare for me to do that.

6/30/08-Whoah, look how much I changed here! My journal is now nothing but my emotions!