How to Build a Journal Entry

Keeping a journal can be a cathartic experience. A journal may also be creatively stimulating and it can even help you better understand a piece of literature. Journals are kept to benefit the writer in a myriad of ways. Learning the proper ways to build a journal entry specific to your needs is the only requirement to reaping the rewards.  

Instructions

  1. Personal Journal

    • 1

      Mark the date of the entry and, optionally, your location at the top of the page. 

    • 2

      Jot down your daily events using the first-person (I, me, etc.). Your daily events don't have to be life changing to create a journal entry, just descriptions of your day. 

    • 3

      Add emotions to your journal entries. Describe how you were feeling at a particular moment during your day as described within the context of the entry. 

    Creative Journal

    • 4

      Write down the first thing that comes to your mind. 

    • 5

      Continue to write "stream of consciousness" style (non-stop) for a set time. 

    • 6

      Avoid fixing errors in grammar or style and concentrate on solely placing words on the paper. 

    • 7

      Write "Don't know" repeatedly until another thought takes over if you lose your focus. 

    • 8

      Edit your entries after finishing them if you like.

    Literature Journal

    • 9

      Write your name followed by the class, instructor and date. 

    • 10

      Copy a direct quote word for word from a publication to your journal. Credit the author and the page number of the quote. 

    • 11

      Start a new paragraph and write why you found the quote interesting. Describe what you think might happen next according to the evidence in the quote; give the quote context by writing about what is presently happening in the story. 

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