Writing Practice: Journals

…keeping a journal and writing in it regularly is another good way to practice your writing. Journal writing is less formal and more relaxed. It can also be more formal when used in a writing class. This post is about a writing journal for an English but has useful tips for and kind of journal writing. Don't worry about mistakes. Just write but try to be clear and make sense. 

Writing correctly does matter though and helps you write more correctly. Later, you can think more about being correct. Getting feedback on your writing - even journals - is important. I'll write more about that and journals another time.
 

There are many sites with plenty of topics for your journal. Here are three:

1. Can Teach
2. Journal Topics
3. Freeology.com

For many students, writing a journal is a daunting task. When given a completely clean slate, they wonder what in the world can they write about. Topics generally drift to the mundane:

Today I got up. I really didn’t want to get up, but I had to. I went to school thinking I wouldn’t survive it. English was horrid: Mr. Scott talked about journals and I just hate this thing. Math was okay: Mrs. Merck was in a good mood. Science was fun and social studies was pretty interesting, so all in all, it was a decent day.

One way you can improve your journal writing is to add some details: use literary devices, sensory details, and action verbs to add depth. Next, try adding some background details. Ask yourself, “Why?”; then answer that question. A simple sixty-six word entry, with some thoughtful (re)writing, can actually become much more.

Journal | Our English Class