During last night’s #scrapchat conversation via Simple Scrapper, we touched on an important facet of any “real life” scrapbooking page … the journaling.
As important as it is to telling the story, many scrapbookers find journaling to be a real roadblock.
Perhaps it started back in grade school with the dictate “get out a piece of paper and write 500 words about… ” (Or in some cases… “Write this sentence 500 times.”) For some, journaling is tough because they feel like they just don’t have anything important or “interesting” to say. Many would-be storytellers have found it difficult to find their voice, that style of writing that feels authentic to the way they live and speak and share.
But whatever the reason, journaling can often be that part of the scrapbooking process that we just don’t like … or worse yet, that we avoid altogether.
Let’s work a bit on changing that, shall we?
How to Make Journaling Easier …
I am going to share one tip today for making journaling easier … and then I’d like YOU to jump in and share your best tip through a reply below. If we get lots of great ideas, I’ll even put them all together in a nice little download for you to use … but that’s only going to work if we get lots of participation. So … you get the picture.
1. Make it a habit … Pick a system, any system, and just make it a part of your regular daily routine. Just like brushing your teeth or reading the daily newspaper, the more you do it, the more natural it feels – and the better you will get. There are all kinds of options out there … check out the Memory Logbook if you prefer an actual book to write in or perhaps an online service like OhLife is more your style. It doesn’t matter HOW you do it … it just matters that you DO.
2. Ok… you’re up!
More on Journaling …
- “10 Things” Journaling
- What Do You Sound Like? by Guest Blogger Darcy Baldwin
- Let’s Talk About Journaling by Calendar Girl Sarah Hirst
Capture YOUR everyday, real life memories the quick & easy way with our new six-month edition of the Memory Logbook! Now in a convenient smaller size for easy portability. Click HERE to get your copy now.
Comments
Posted On
Aug 27, 2010Posted By
Carole N.I try to remind myself that I am trying to preserve my family’s history and that the written word is really more important than any photo. I don’t have photos for many of my fondest memories growing up as I was born at the end of WW II and film was very scarce and families didn’t take a lot of photos during my growing up years. I create layouts by journaling about a story that I want to remember and will add some clip art or something to go along with the story. Two examples:
1. Learning to dance by standing my my dad’s shoes as we danced around the living room. I added music notes to the layout.
2. I loved the movie “Singing in the Rain” and found a cute clip art of a girl in a raincoat and boots holding an umbrella and wrote about my bother taking me to see the movie. I, also, included the cost of the movie ticket, popcorn, and a coke….all for 25 cents. My grandchildren were amazed when they saw the layout and we had a great conversation about how expensive it is now to go to a movie compared to the early 50′s.
Without journaling these memories would be lost to me and my family.
Another tip that I have read so often in this digital world is to be sure to do some of the journaling in your own hand so you preserve your handwriting along with your stories.
Posted On
Aug 28, 2010Posted By
Carole N.I try to remind myself that I am trying to preserve my family’s history and that the written word is really more important than any photo. I don’t have photos for many of my fondest memories growing up as I was born at the end of WW II and film was very scarce and families didn’t take a lot of photos during my growing up years. I create layouts by journaling about a story that I want to remember and will add some clip art or something to go along with the story. Two examples:
1. Learning to dance by standing my my dad’s shoes as we danced around the living room. I added music notes to the layout.
2. I loved the movie “Singing in the Rain” and found a cute clip art of a girl in a raincoat and boots holding an umbrella and wrote about my bother taking me to see the movie. I, also, included the cost of the movie ticket, popcorn, and a coke….all for 25 cents. My grandchildren were amazed when they saw the layout and we had a great conversation about how expensive it is now to go to a movie compared to the early 50′s.
Without journaling these memories would be lost to me and my family.
Another tip that I have read so often in this digital world is to be sure to do some of the journaling in your own hand so you preserve your handwriting along with your stories.
Posted On
Aug 27, 2010Posted By
StefanieI write my journaling in the same voice that I would use as if I were leaning over my children’s shoulder’s talking to them about those photos.
Do you remember when we …?
I was irritable because it was so hot and you said…etc
I also blog everyday and find that really helps me to remember the details and the interesting snippets that I may have forgotten with time.
Posted On
Aug 27, 2010Posted By
StefanieI write my journaling in the same voice that I would use as if I were leaning over my children’s shoulder’s talking to them about those photos.
Do you remember when we …?
I was irritable because it was so hot and you said…etc
I also blog everyday and find that really helps me to remember the details and the interesting snippets that I may have forgotten with time.
Posted On
Aug 26, 2010Posted By
AngelI keep notebooks/journals EVERYWHERE. Right now I have 3 journals in my backpack that I carry to and from work everyday. I’ve got little notebooks scattered around the house. I do this because a story may occur to me at any moment. Thoughts that I want to record. I find that if I wait, I most likely forget to record them later. And even if I don’t forget, the esssence of what I wanted to say often escapes me. At these times, I also just write. I don’t concern myself with complete sentences or spelling. I just jot down what is coming to me. I can always clean it up later if I feel the need. And if I never get a chance to scrapbook these stories, at least they are written down somewhere for my children or grandchildren to find someday.
Posted On
Aug 26, 2010Posted By
AngelI keep notebooks/journals EVERYWHERE. Right now I have 3 journals in my backpack that I carry to and from work everyday. I’ve got little notebooks scattered around the house. I do this because a story may occur to me at any moment. Thoughts that I want to record. I find that if I wait, I most likely forget to record them later. And even if I don’t forget, the esssence of what I wanted to say often escapes me. At these times, I also just write. I don’t concern myself with complete sentences or spelling. I just jot down what is coming to me. I can always clean it up later if I feel the need. And if I never get a chance to scrapbook these stories, at least they are written down somewhere for my children or grandchildren to find someday.
Posted On
Aug 24, 2010Posted By
Rebecca (mamabee)Hmm… for me, it’s just not putting pressure to make sure that the grammar is correct… I look at the photos and talk as if I was telling someone what the photos are about… my thoughts maybe random and all over the place, but that is me… that is the way I am in real conversations. LOL!
Posted On
Aug 24, 2010Posted By
Rebecca (mamabee)Hmm… for me, it’s just not putting pressure to make sure that the grammar is correct… I look at the photos and talk as if I was telling someone what the photos are about… my thoughts maybe random and all over the place, but that is me… that is the way I am in real conversations. LOL!