How to Reread and Use Journal Entries In Your Writing
Diana M. Raab -- March 9, 2007
Rereading old journal entries can be an interesting and useful exercise for writers, non-writers and wannabe writers. There's much to be learned from examining earlier writings -- everything from studying writing habits, detecting patterns of speech and identifying obsessions and subjects which we repeatedly address in our journals. There are, however, some strong dos and don'ts about the practice of rereading journal entries.
If you stumble across a section where you've written about issues, tensions or problems that have since been resolved, try not to revisit, dwell on or open up those issues. Why tear open an old wound that has already healed? It's best to leave well-enough alone.
However, if you have a need to revisit old issues or if you have an entire journal devoted to past problems with an insatiable urge to read them, then it might be a good idea to have a support person nearby -- a loved one or friend. There's no reason to be tortured all by yourself.
The best time for writers to reread old journals is when nourishment is needed or if their muse is taking what seems like an indefinite nap. It's also a good idea not to fit the project in between other necessary chores. It's better to devote an adequate amount of time to the task. Holidays or rainy days are a good time to dive into this activity.
Many authors view their journals as gems packed with little darlings of writing ideas. Garnering these topics may be done in a few ways. I suggest having your current journal nearby for two reasons. First, you can write down your feelings about your old entries and second, it is a good place to jot down some new ideas sparked by the old ones.
Poets use journals to capture nuggets of information, a passing observation, metaphor, opening or closing line. The journal is the perfect tool for the poet. Prose writers, on the other hand, have more of a challenge using journal entries in future works.
Some writers, myself included, begin first drafts of essays in their journals. There's something about holding my fountain pen and journal which brings clarity to a subject which I can dive into and research later on when my fingers hit the keyboard.
Sometimes I use the story ideas from my journals right away, and other times I simply leave my entry be. Once in a while, if I'm bored with my writing or the sorts of ideas rummaging around my middle-aged head, I will pull out some old journals for ideas. A common way to select usable entries is to color code them in the journal. If you only write in one genre, then one yellow highlighter is probably sufficient. Reread all your entries and highlight the passages that move you. For easy future access, you might want to put plastic tabs on the side of the highlighted pages.
Then I suggest picking one incident or entry and free-writing about it. Free writing is a simple process of writing nonstop for a set period of time, often 10-20 minutes. The rules are simple: Do not make corrections, don't erase or cross out, don't worry about grammar or punctuation, keep writing, write whatever comes to your mind and don't edit or judge what you write. The benefits of free writing are: it can make you more comfortable with writing, it helps bypass the inner 'critic,' it releases tension, indirectly improves formal writing and can be fun! Free writing will help you identify any gaps in your material and can also generate more material.
After free writing, reread what you wrote and if choose to create a personal essay or story, it's important to remember that editors and readers are not interested in rants. The essay should not be considered a therapeutic or cathartic exercise, in the same way that journal entries are. If you are unsure how to craft a personal essay, read and read more. One of the best ways to write personal essays is to read good examples. The New Yorker magazine is a fine place to start, but if you really want to hone your technique, I suggest Phillip Lopate's book, The Art of The Personal Essay, a masterpiece collection. Another idea is to enroll in a class, like the one I teach at UCSB Extension. But remember, no matter how much you read or how many classes you take, practice is the best teacher.
If you are a writer with journal entries in multiple genres, then when rereading your entries, you might want to pick different color highlighters or themes to identify subjects. You might want to use pink for special events, milestones, celebrations or trips taken; green for areas of personal growth, reflections or revelations; blue for story ideas; orange for poetry. You might want to have a master code with these colors kept in your desk drawer, because if you're like me you won't remember from one journal rereading to the next.
It's a rare occurrence that raw journal entries become instant best-sellers, but with some editing and transformation, they might become something unique and publishable. After all, the journal is the place where we write straight from the heart and soul and that's the place where the best stories originate.