JournalTalk | Write4Life

I’ve always been successful in keeping my journal private (I think!) but I realize that one reason people may find it difficult to take up a diary or journal-writing habit is because they fear of it being found, and read, by someone for whom it was not intended.

This week, Mari and I explore some ideas for creating safety in your journaling, especially if you have felt your trust was broken by someone reading your journals in the past.

Please join the dialogue. We welcome additional comments and suggestions about “how to restart journaling after trust has been broken”.  Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #9, August 5, 2014)

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Judy Shafarman, lifelong teacher in many public and private institutions, has written a number of journal-prompting books which you may find helpful. In this interview, Judy and I buzz from one stimulating topic to another, exploring some unique ideas and assignments for unsent letters, grief and loss, and cultivating joy through journaling. (JournalTalk, Episode #36, July 29, 2014)

You will find Judy online here, and please click on the icon of her book to purchase on Amazon.com. JournalTalk will get a small percentage (at no cost to you or to Judy!) for the investment in your journal-writing!

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Our journaling question this week touches on a very important concern, especially for those who are using journal-writing to work through some difficult issues. Sometimes we feel we are writing in circles, rehashing the same thoughts over and over, without any progress, relief or resolve. If you have ever experienced this, Mari and I have a few layman’s tips to offer.

We discuss some ways to reframe this process, not necessarily to force change or jump to a false conclusion, but to help find some out-of-the-box ways for you to approach your journaling, so that you get the sense of movement, or progress.

Please join the dialogue. Especially if you’re a therapist or trained counselor, you’re welcome to write your comments and suggestions about “how to stop writing in circles”.  Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #8, July 22, 2014)

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Dust off those notebooks from January! Let’s take a look at what we promised ourselves, and check-in with our progress. July is a great time to make course-corrections, and bring a fresh enthusiasm to our goals. You didn’t set any goals for 2014 yet? No problem, it’s not too late.

I have learned that the biggest factor at play when I fail to achieve my new year resolutions (or any goals for that matter!) is simply going “unconscious” about what I declare important. Call it head-in-the-sand, call it absent-mindedness, or maybe it’s avoidance.

So I’ve used this episode as a “wake up call” to review some goals of my own, and I hope it inspires you to do the same. We discuss the principles from my workbook, The Journal-Writer’s Guide to Staying Started, with some journal-writing techniques that focus attention on actionable next steps, and begin a system for success in the next six months. You may purchase the workbook, right here.  (JournalTalk, Episode #35, July 15, 2014)

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We are all so pressed for time. Busy is the new cool. Our journaling question this week is for all who feel they have such a full, hectic life that that they simultaneously have too much going on and nothing (or no time) to write.

Like Carolyn who brings us this week’s question, you may have heard experts say that just five minutes of writing can have great benefits. But can five minutes of writing really be a productive way to do journal-writing? Where should you start, or how can you narrow down in such a limited time? Mari and I have some suggestions!

Please join the dialogue. You’re welcome to write your comments and suggestions about “what to write in just five minutes”.  Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #7, July 8, 2014)

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My guest this week is Brandon Starnes, the Associate Pastor of Student Ministry at the Church at Clayton Crossings. Brandon is co-author of Impact Journal, a book of Biblical journaling prompts packed with incredible discussion points for each day.

I enjoyed talking to Brandon because:  (a) He is living proof that journal-writing is not just for the female of our species!  (b) He reminds me of how I first started journal writing as a teenager, responding to passages I read in the Bible and other sacred texts of study, and (c) Because he introduces an easy-peasy journaling method called S.O.A.P.

We also get to hear a little about the journal-writing app called Day One, which will be featured in this year’s Digital Journaling Challenge in October. (JournalTalk, Episode #34, July 1, 2014)

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Whether you type or handwrite your diary or journal, you’ll eventually need to answer the question, “How can I preserve and protect all this writing from fire, flood or other natural disasters?”  Unless you are Mari L. McCarthy, who throws all her journals away (wouldn’t you love to be her trash man?) this question is not easy.

As we discuss the implications of converting all handwritten journals into digital format, Mari and I send listeners to our respective sites for more information: CreateWriteNow’s Facebook page, and my other podcast series, “Capturing Life Through Technology” at Easy Journaling.

Fuel the dialogue! Feel free to write your comments below with more journaling questions. Or, provide your own answers and opinions to this week’s featured question. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #6, June 24, 2014)

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My friend Shirley, spiritually bruised as a child by a group of religious fundamentalists, describes her recent experience of writing a letter to Jesus, and Jesus’ reply back to her.

This powerfully healing journal-writing technique, known as the “Unsent Letter”, is one of many that are described in this week’s book spotlight.  (JournalTalk, Episode #33, June 18, 2014)

Book Review: Albert Diaz Cruz shares a brief book spotlight for Journal to the Self, by Kathleen Adams. Click on the cover photo to purchase, and Amazon.com will donate to JournalTalk a 4% commission. Thank you for your support, and for the investment in your journal-writing!

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All the experts agree that privacy is one of the most important factors to getting great benefits from journal-writing. In this episode of JournalTalk Q&A, Mari L. McCarthy and I respond to someone who asks, “How do I keep my journal private from a family member with whom I usually share everything?” Mari and I offer up a few suggestions, and we look forward to hearing yours!

Speaking of privacy issues, in this episode I also share an update on my project to electronically scan all of my hand-written journals into PDF files. You can learn more about that in my other podcast series, “Capturing Life Through Technology” at EasyJournaling.com.

Fuel the dialogue! Feel free to write your comments below with more journaling questions. Or, provide your own answers and opinions to this week’s featured question. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #5, June 9, 2014)

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Despite its revolutionary methodology, and the unique impact it has made on so many well-known writers and artists, I fear that the Progoff Intensive Journal Workshop is no longer as well-known as it once was. After venturing to Arizona to experience it for myself, I returned a new man. In this short episode, I share the three most amazing aspects of the journal-writing workshop, and the one disappointment. (JournalTalk, Episode #32, June 1, 2014)

Book Review: Albert Diaz Cruz gives a brief book review for “Writing Begins with the Breath” by Laraine Herring. Click on the cover photo to purchase, and Amazon.com will donate to JournalTalk a 4% commission. Thank you for your support, and for the investment in your journal-writing!

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