Journaling

I’ve been keeping a journal for longer than many of you have been alive. Right now, my journals fill up the better part of a book-case. I don’t revisit them and have no idea what to do with them but some force compels me to hold on.

Perhaps the day will come when I’ll peel out the earliest tome and peruse the state of my soul way back when. I know the journey will lead me through angst, joy, guilt and growth. That’s it. I hope the growth will be the theme I take away.

For the most part my journals consist of the insights and roadblocks I’ve met on my spiritual journey. My dreams are there, too–along with my understanding (at the time) of the messages they’ve imparted. There are periods of time when I journal every day, and then there’s a drought where there’s nothing at all.

I have a smaller stack of writing journals, too. Notebooks overflowing with ideas, descriptions, outlines, writing how-to’s–you name it. Those I have revisited and culled a line here or a description there that makes its way into a poem or short story.

In a way, I guess, posting on a blog is a form of journaling–but doesn’t allow the freedom you have when what you’re writing is a part of your “secret diary.” I don’t think a journal should be shared or written with anyone else in mind except yourself.

If you haven’t tried this practice, I suggest taking a look at “The Artist’s Way.” Journaling is an asset, not only to the spiritual journeyer, but also to the writer, poet, artist–the creative spirit within you.

Wordsmith Wednesday–More About Dialogue

To continue last week’s discussion on effective dialogue, I’d like to focus on creating “natural” dialogue.

In my early attempts at dialogue, the voices of my english teachers strummed in the back of my consciousness: “Speak in complete sentences,” “No dangling participles,” “Slang is not acceptable.”  I’m sure you can add to the list.

The ability to speak and write in a way that shows command of grammatical rules is essential in our day-to-day functioning as adults and I would never disparage it. I confess to cringing when I hear educated, professional people murder our language. However, in day-to-day conversation, it is rare hear perfect usage. My husband and I speak in fragments, finishing each other’s sentences at times.  As a nurse I communicated using acronyms. Text messages have a language all their own. The examples of altered speech patterns are numerous.

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours at a Starbucks with a friend, catching up on the few months that had passed since we’d had quality time together. I’m sure if there was a writer sitting nearby, listening in on our conversation, she would have had ample opportunity to get a sense of the natural flow of dialogue. This is an “artist’s date” you should keep with yourself from time-to-time.

Tonight I’m going to a concert sponsored by a local smooth jazz radio station. My husband won the tickets. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the evening out but I plan on listening to more than the music. My pen and small notebook that I carry in my purse will be there in case I catch snippets of conversation worth remembering.

As an aside, the concept of artist’s date is explained in Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.” If you haven’t spent time with that book, do yourself a favor. It’s a classic.