Journaling is the one part of my writing life I *have* kept up with, mainly because the publishing part has been so hard to attain, but no one but me can keep me from publishing in my journals. The year my third was born I only wrote three times, which told me something. So much of what I'm writing now is based on what I wrote in my journals back then, so I'm grateful I kept them. Which is all to say: yay! I'm so happy you found something that's working for you! Journals should never be tied to guilt. They're for when you've got a feeling. <3
Lovely thoughts! As a visual artist, I have similar feelings about keeping a sketchbook. I’m horrible at it.
A teacher I once had talked about the work you do when you can’t or aren’t doing the work you want to do. Like reading or thinking or conceptualizing or going to a museum when you can’t create art. It’s as informative and valuable as making the actual artwork, and sets you up in the future to make said artwork. This is something I’ve been reminding myself lately, as I hold my 6 month old for another nap...
Jun 25, 2023·edited Jun 26, 2023Liked by Molly Wizenberg
I love this and so relate to the journaling aspiration and the elation of finishing my first period of regular journaling! It was the Passion Planner Daily that got me journaling as well — simple unsexy prompts like “self-maintenance,” “best thing that happened today,” and “today I learned.” As you said the journaling often turns into more. Your essay is all the more timely because it was only last week Wednesday that I realized that I *am* already a writer, not just a wannabe writer, because of my journaling practice. Thank you as always for putting this human experience to words.
Fantastic article. I really appreciate the nuance of how motherhood and life both influence our writing and interferes at the same time. Question regarding the writing workshop in January, I am currently a PhD candidate and doing academic writing. Would that venue be appropriate for the type of writing I am doing?
Love that Ursula k le guin quote, like the important thing is the care and regard you afford yourself by doing it.
I’ve never really had this with writing but definitely with drawing and always have a sketchbook on the go, I now might write in the front that whole last paragraph as a reminder and permission slip….
Also why does showering have at the same time a disproportionally good effect on your day and that fact be so easily forgettable??
Ah yes… I am currently at week 16 of baby boy 2.0 down here in Aotearoa/New Zealand and I feel these feels. I’d write more about the rest of what you wrote but, you know, something something tired something.
Love and relate so, so much. As a fellow never-been-fully-committed journaler, thank you for the glimpse into your process -- and the babaà reference made me giggle out loud.
oh my god I love every word of this so much. the 8-11 week purgatory. the finagling of the stroller/tea/dog & the worrying the dog ate the airpod (our dog has eaten batteries, a litany of items from the bathroom trash MANY times, dirty diapers, socks...and the list continues). the journaling. the prompts. the friendship. the behind-the-scenes glimpse. handwriting!!! you have somehow wrapped everything I love into a newsletter that makes me want to write!!! so how about that. 🧡
“I can begin again anytime, as often as I want.” !!!! This is about the most affirming and empowering thing I can imagine reading and oh! Thank you for writing it. (And thanks for sharing this connection you retain with Ben, about whom those of us who have been reading for a long time have, I think, some fondness). I have struggled with journaling for.ever. And this made me feel interested and even excited to try.
So excited to be signed up for From Memory to Story!
Journaling is the one part of my writing life I *have* kept up with, mainly because the publishing part has been so hard to attain, but no one but me can keep me from publishing in my journals. The year my third was born I only wrote three times, which told me something. So much of what I'm writing now is based on what I wrote in my journals back then, so I'm grateful I kept them. Which is all to say: yay! I'm so happy you found something that's working for you! Journals should never be tied to guilt. They're for when you've got a feeling. <3
I love these prompts. I’m on day 5. Always appreciate your writing here, thank you.
Lovely thoughts! As a visual artist, I have similar feelings about keeping a sketchbook. I’m horrible at it.
A teacher I once had talked about the work you do when you can’t or aren’t doing the work you want to do. Like reading or thinking or conceptualizing or going to a museum when you can’t create art. It’s as informative and valuable as making the actual artwork, and sets you up in the future to make said artwork. This is something I’ve been reminding myself lately, as I hold my 6 month old for another nap...
I love this and so relate to the journaling aspiration and the elation of finishing my first period of regular journaling! It was the Passion Planner Daily that got me journaling as well — simple unsexy prompts like “self-maintenance,” “best thing that happened today,” and “today I learned.” As you said the journaling often turns into more. Your essay is all the more timely because it was only last week Wednesday that I realized that I *am* already a writer, not just a wannabe writer, because of my journaling practice. Thank you as always for putting this human experience to words.
Really enjoyed this one.
Lovely.
Fantastic article. I really appreciate the nuance of how motherhood and life both influence our writing and interferes at the same time. Question regarding the writing workshop in January, I am currently a PhD candidate and doing academic writing. Would that venue be appropriate for the type of writing I am doing?
Love that Ursula k le guin quote, like the important thing is the care and regard you afford yourself by doing it.
I’ve never really had this with writing but definitely with drawing and always have a sketchbook on the go, I now might write in the front that whole last paragraph as a reminder and permission slip….
Also why does showering have at the same time a disproportionally good effect on your day and that fact be so easily forgettable??
I look forward to these newsletters; ty.
Ah yes… I am currently at week 16 of baby boy 2.0 down here in Aotearoa/New Zealand and I feel these feels. I’d write more about the rest of what you wrote but, you know, something something tired something.
Love and relate so, so much. As a fellow never-been-fully-committed journaler, thank you for the glimpse into your process -- and the babaà reference made me giggle out loud.
oh my god I love every word of this so much. the 8-11 week purgatory. the finagling of the stroller/tea/dog & the worrying the dog ate the airpod (our dog has eaten batteries, a litany of items from the bathroom trash MANY times, dirty diapers, socks...and the list continues). the journaling. the prompts. the friendship. the behind-the-scenes glimpse. handwriting!!! you have somehow wrapped everything I love into a newsletter that makes me want to write!!! so how about that. 🧡
Same here. It made the task seem much less daunting. And maybe even... helpful!
“I can begin again anytime, as often as I want.” !!!! This is about the most affirming and empowering thing I can imagine reading and oh! Thank you for writing it. (And thanks for sharing this connection you retain with Ben, about whom those of us who have been reading for a long time have, I think, some fondness). I have struggled with journaling for.ever. And this made me feel interested and even excited to try.