A writing journal is only a process by which one looks at life and a way with words and symbols, with the possibilities of image and story, or the unfolding of a sequence of rhythms and discoveries of feeling.

The notebook is not an end, but a means.

The notebook is akin to the author’s other brain, the brain that has the freedom to think and muse freely with total recall.

writer’s notebook is a safe place for such experiments to be undertaken.

I have long believed Keats’s assertion, and later restatements of it by other writers, that writing is selfmaking.

By journaling without constraint, writer’s block ceases to exist. Even if it turns out you can’t use much or anything you’ve written in your current work, it’s gotten you writing. It’s helped loosen you up.

A personal journal can be many things. It can be a record of life events, a sounding board, or a tool for personal growth.

Keeping a journal, if you’re capable of being honest with yourself, can facilitate a deeper understanding of the role you’ve played in some of life’s conflicts.

A journal can be a veritable treasure chest of thoughts and anecdotes. It is not only a place to collect ideas, though, but a place to practice writing and overcome writer’s block.