Just Write
If my house were on fire and I only had time to grab one item to take with me, I would make a beeline for my box of journals. Pictures and home videos are great, but they don’t capture everything. Journaling, for me, is the best way to capture the essence of both the important and mundane events in life. I’ve kept a journal for 15 years, and most of the things I’ve journaled about would have been long forgotten had I not written them down. My favorite thing about re-reading entries are the specific details—what things looked like, sounded like, smelled like, felt like, tasted like. Having an awareness of what’s going on around you and incorporating that awareness into your writing can make your journaling a richer experience. You’ll be better able to recall past events and you’ll be better equipped to see how you’ve changed over the years.
Daily journal challenge includes:
An example
A focus
A prompt
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Writing with an emphasis on sound and words that imitate sounds.
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Capture the experience of a moment or mood of a place with sensory details.
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Describe an experience by comparing it to a more common experience.
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Working from a list of fears.
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Working from a gratitude list.
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Use a specific sound as the central element.
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Use a metaphor to tie many elements together.
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Draw attention to what is outside the scene.
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Pay attention to natural movements.
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Write with the sounds of nature.
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Become mindful of your experience.
Boost your journaling practice with curated excerpts, related prompts, and mindfulness practices to support descriptive writing and expressive journaling.
Meet your instructor
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Meet your instructor ✳
Journaling, for me, is the best way to capture the essence of both the important and mundane events in life. I’ve kept a journal for 15 years, and most of the things I’ve journaled about would have been long forgotten had I not written them down. My favorite thing about re-reading entries are the specific details—what things looked like, sounded like, smelled like, felt like, tasted like.
STEFANIE
Writer, Teacher, Editor