There was a time when "Journal Writing" was a subject to be taken.
In some institutions, journal writing is therapy.
In universities, it is part of the English curriculum.
In writing classes, it is a special project.
Journal writing is a pre-writing activity to generate ideas.
Its history like any other science dates back from the creation of the world - The Bible.
In the present time, journal writing becomes popular because of technology.
Blogging, websites, and spaces online like facebook, friendster, and blogspots are becoming electronic journals.
The more traditional terms of this journals and digital art are diaries, reflections, and short sentences plotting schedules.
Thoughts are recorded everyday, or as often as possible.
And then, this notebook entry becomes a habit and writing practice.
II.
We have many ways how to write journals.
But most often, academic journals are associated with writing classes because they help the students become better thinkers and writers.
An academic journal is a mix of the diary and class notebook.
They are also called learning logs because it records the writers perception of the business of learning, reactions to readings, and ideas for papers.
The diary is a record of everyday events whereas the class notebook is the record from the day's lessons and lectures.
The academic journal is the cross of ideas between the diary and the class notebook.
III.
The Process (You can try this for practice) 1.
Free write a journal about "The Environment" Write for 5 minutes.
Write for 3 minutes.
Write for1 minute.
2.
Timed Journal writing (for 10 minutes) Select another title/theme.
3.
Select a writer or a blog publisher who is known for having written a journal.
Write a report for the purpose they served.
4.
Compile your journal entries for one month and bind into a booklet.
IV.
Check out these examples At Seventy: A Journal by May Sarton The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys The Journals of John Cheever by John Cheever Some people though would not like to log journals.
Other's are not just used to it.
They say it might be an evidence of the person's life.
But take this question: Why would you hide? One has to be brave to face the life he/she lives not for anything, but as a good example and inspiration for others.
So there was a fault? Remember every person has the capacity to change for the better.
Besides, journal writing is practicing writing skills and knowing yourself better.