The Big Bad Blank Page
Since I unveiled the new 'Orijournals' a week ago, I thought I'd share some tips I have found useful in keeping a journal.
The hardest thing to do is simply start.
For some reason most people (including me) seem intimidated by a blank page. Many painters who fear an empty canvas. I think the problem is that we see this pristine thing, this beautiful white page... this bright white field of potential, and we don't want to 'mess it up.'
A technique taught in art school is to simply make a mark. Drawing random lines or a smearing a great gob of paint on the canvas seems to take all the power away from its blank stare. It is no longer 'perfect.' It is flawed. Scarred. Anything we add to it won't hurt, and could (perhaps) even help its appearance.
A recent article by Lori Ritchie in Writer's Digest Magazine shared 20 Ways to Fill Page One. I pasted a few of my favorites below...
1. Blank Page
Skipping the first page may seem like an obvious choice, but I struggled with many journals before the idea occurred to me. No rule says you MUST start with the first page. Give yourself permission to begin randomly anywhere within the pages of your new journal.
8. Practical Matters
Record birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates for easy reference on page one. Or consider using this private place to list pin numbers and passwords for personal and computer accounts. Still another practical suggestion is to use these opening pages to create monthly calendars to keep your appointments and priorities organized.
11. Lyrics
Write the lyrics to one of your favorite songs. Explore what makes the song so special to you. Try www.lyrics.com for a free directory of thousands of lyrics indexed alphabetically by artist.
19. Refocusing
Instead of concentrating on the first page, try randomly writing quotations, prompts or drawings at the top of other pages. This technique will give you inspiration down your journaling road.
You can read the entire list by clicking this link.
Start keeping your own journal today -- order one of the new DTIG OriJournals!
----
Subscribe to Writer's Digest
Since I unveiled the new 'Orijournals' a week ago, I thought I'd share some tips I have found useful in keeping a journal.
The hardest thing to do is simply start.
For some reason most people (including me) seem intimidated by a blank page. Many painters who fear an empty canvas. I think the problem is that we see this pristine thing, this beautiful white page... this bright white field of potential, and we don't want to 'mess it up.'
A technique taught in art school is to simply make a mark. Drawing random lines or a smearing a great gob of paint on the canvas seems to take all the power away from its blank stare. It is no longer 'perfect.' It is flawed. Scarred. Anything we add to it won't hurt, and could (perhaps) even help its appearance.
A recent article by Lori Ritchie in Writer's Digest Magazine shared 20 Ways to Fill Page One. I pasted a few of my favorites below...
1. Blank Page
Skipping the first page may seem like an obvious choice, but I struggled with many journals before the idea occurred to me. No rule says you MUST start with the first page. Give yourself permission to begin randomly anywhere within the pages of your new journal.
8. Practical Matters
Record birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates for easy reference on page one. Or consider using this private place to list pin numbers and passwords for personal and computer accounts. Still another practical suggestion is to use these opening pages to create monthly calendars to keep your appointments and priorities organized.
11. Lyrics
Write the lyrics to one of your favorite songs. Explore what makes the song so special to you. Try www.lyrics.com for a free directory of thousands of lyrics indexed alphabetically by artist.
19. Refocusing
Instead of concentrating on the first page, try randomly writing quotations, prompts or drawings at the top of other pages. This technique will give you inspiration down your journaling road.
You can read the entire list by clicking this link.
Start keeping your own journal today -- order one of the new DTIG OriJournals!
----
Subscribe to Writer's Digest
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