"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show
"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind
»More Reviews
Buy Perseverance
Pen & Paper: Journaling E-Course Giveaway!
Welcome to this month’s Pen & Paper: Living Between the Lines written by the amazing Hope Wallace Karney. To learn more about Hope and the column, please check out the announcement post!
Journaling E-Course Giveaway
A lot of people tell me they want to journal, but don’t do it for one of the following reasons:
1. They don’t know what to journal about.
2. They don’t like their handwriting.
3. They don’t know what supplies to use.
4. They don’t have the time.
Well, I thought it would be fun to have a giveaway to help work through these issues and get journaling! The more the merrier – after all, journaling is a healthy habit.
To enter into the giveaway, just leave a comment telling me what is holding you back from journaling, or if you are already are an avid journaler, what do you love journaling about the most?
One random winner will be chosen, and they will win the following:
A spot in one of my four journaling classes. They all, to varying degrees, give you ideas of what to journal about, tips and techniques, supplies and quick ways to journal so you can see you don’t need much time to journal.
My Moleskine cahier of choice and and a few of my favourite pens. They will be packaged up and posted to you (international contestants welcome). Please note the photo is not showing the exact items you will be receiving.
Good luck! The giveaway is open until Friday September 23rd 9 PM EST. Winner will be chosen shortly after! Be sure to check back to see if you’ve won!!
***
The Winner of the Giveaway Is . . . Julie Campbell! Check your inbox soon for a message :)
Related "ripples" you might enjoy:
- Pen & Paper: Overcoming Your Journaling Fears
- Pen & Paper: 5 Blogs for Journaling and Story Catching Inspiration
- Pen & Paper: Journaling the Non-Beautiful
- Pen & Paper: 13 Books for Journaling Inspiration
- Pen & Paper: A Creative Journaling Exercise for the New Year
This entry was posted on Monday, September 19th, 2011 at 6:00 am and is filed under Creative, Creativity & Inspiration, Guest Bloggers, Pen & Paper, Random. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
42 Responses to “Pen & Paper: Journaling E-Course Giveaway!”
Hi Carolyn,
I would love ideas on what to journal about. I have been wanting to journal for about 4 years now and I tell myself I’m going to start but then I sit down with a notebook and pen and realize I have nothing “important” enough to write about so I put it aside. I repeat this process off and on every few months until I end up using my pretty notebook for my to-do list or making a grocery list or taking notes of phone calls. And then I start all over again. Each time feeling more tense and frustrated than the time before.
Thanks for the chance to win a journaling e-course!
Sylvia
I am a beginner in art journaling, and not used to “play” with all the paints, collage, etc. even though I like it. For writing, I am sensitive and need to really feel in the mood to dig into my feelings and put them on paper. I realize these roadblocks are surmountable though, and I need to learn to do a little every day.
I am a newly stay at home mom and need to build in journaling to part of my new routine! I used to journal daily, but now I have a two year old and my days fly by! I would love this to start again…I journaled in past treatment programs when I was battling my eating disorder. Thank you!!
Twitter: bklynwriter
says:
I can relate to all of the non-journaling reasons you gave above. My main thing is that I never know what to write. To me, what I write isn’t important or “profound”. In fact, I hate that I am usually whining about something…be it work, finances or a man. I don’t want my journal to reflect just that. But I haven’t found the…..cojones, I guess, to delve deeper.
I seem to want my journal to look “perfect”, and that really holds me back. I have lots of supplies to art journal, but I don’t want to waste them if it’s not going to look nice, isn’t that silly of me.
Kathy´s last blog ..Vintage 1968 Football Game Paper Dolls
Would love this!! I have purchased at least three beautiful journals to write in and then .. nothing … I don’t want to ‘waste’ them, or write down the wrong thing (and ruin the journal!) …and then I don’t want them to be like the ‘diaries’ that I kept in junior high (oh whoa is me …) — so what do you write, how do you keep the ideas flowing enough to fill it up … and then, when a journal is complete, what do you do with it (how often do you revisit it … or do you?)
thanks!
duh!!! I am new to your blog and just finished looking at the links you have a resources – woo hoo!! I am pulling out one of the journals tonight & gettiing started … thanks for this!
I journal pretty regularly but i would like to learn to make it more juicy…deeper…more authentic.
Actually, that’s a very good question: What holds me back from journaling? Honestly, I think it stems from having a undergraduate degree in journalism that I never did anything with. The feelings that are sometimes associated with that are the issue. I perceive it as a “failure” along with a bunch of other negative things, that in reality, probably aren’t true, is probably why I don’t devote the time to it! I sometimes do miss writing and have tried to journal in the past, but I usually don’t get very far.
I hope I win this…addressing that very question might make for a great first journal entry!
Also, after reading your post about your degree in journalism and feelings of it being a “failure”–the Artists Way would help address that too!
Oh these are all of the reasons I dont journal! I have always wanted to but don’t know what to say or where to start! I become so intimidated when I see all of the beautiufl journals done by others…
Thanks for the chance to win!
The hardest part for me is expressing what I really experienced and felt instead of just jotting down the facts.
Esther´s last blog ..Hello Holga
I know all the benefits of journalling, I guess I’m just too lazy to do it! Plus, I worry that if I put things in there that I don’t want anyone else to see, that someone will! (or I might die and then, what would everyone think of me?!) I’ve been sober 6 months now and need some sort of outlet for all of the many emotions I’m suddenly feeling…maybe journalling? Thanks for listening!
I’ve got so much in my head that I don’t know how to split it all up and put it on paper. Should I start at the beginning or should i write whatever comes to mind first??? I’ve dabbled a little in art journalling but I want to be able to give my son something that tells him a sort of story about me.
Jo´s last blog ..Thrifty Belated Thursday
I’ve been a journal writer for the past ten years. It is something that I NEED in my life. I’ve recently starting writing “morning pages,” which are based on the book “The Artist’s Way” by Juila Cameron. This is basically 3 pages of stream of consciousness writing when you wake up every single morning. It is a time commitment. It does help to get all the complaining and to-do lists off the brain. After a page and a half of this, things just come up…you don’t have to strategically think “okay, what am I going to write about today?” It just happens.
Also, something I enjoy about journal writing is going back to previous journals in my life. Seeing what I was thinking/feeling exactly one year or five years ago. It can by surprising. Sometimes the 17-year-old me can actually give the present-age me a good piece of wisdom or advice. Oddly humbling…
Erin-
I’ve heard SO much about Julia Cameron’s book (and her other books). In one of my many attempts to journal I was going to try to tackle her “morning pages” idea…but here’s the rub: I’m not a morning person AT ALL. Like I’m lucky most mornings to make it out of the house on time for work….theres no way I could summon the will power to get up earlier to do the pages (I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so sleep is precious to me)…my initial solution was to just do some “night pages” before bed…but in your opinion do you think that would be a detriment to her idea behind the “morning” journaling? Maybe it would change the perspective and her intentions for people to journal in the morning? Maybe I’m over thinking the process…I just assumed the mind set of morning would be radically different than the mindset of an evening journal…
When do most of you journal?
I would definitely recommend the Juila Cameron book to anyone who is feeling stuck or wants to intensify interests in any form of art–visual, musical, writing, or just living more creatively.
After browsing the book, it doesn’t say much about the importance on the morning time. She does say “that your mood doesn’t really matter,” so if you are crabby in the morning, that’s okay.
Perhaps it’s designated for the morning because it’s typically a quiet, uninterrupted time. Perhaps it’s because you are less likely to forget them or put them off till later. Perhaps it’s because it’s difficult to turn off your thoughts and go to bed after the morning pages. Perhaps its because your truer self will shine through more after you’ve been asleep (instead of absorbing everyone elses ideas).
For me, I’ve been doing it for a couple months and it’s become a habit. I don’t really consider NOT doing it because it’s become a part of my routine. It helps me wake up. I never used to write in the morning, and still do some normal journalling in the afternoon or evening in addition to the morning pages.
If you can’t get up to write in the morning, I’m sure trying it at night is better than not at all! Hope this helps.
I’ve been journalling for years – but I’ve always drifted towards the computer, where my fingers keep up with my thoughts much faster. I churned out reams and reams of details and random thoughts, without delving into anything very meaningful.
Now, I’m starting my first ever visual journal, and while the word count has dropped a lot, I’m finding it much more satisfying. I’m just dipping my toes into the whole art side of things, so everything feels nice and shiny-new.
My problem is never finding the time, and if i do have the time then i can’t seem to come up with the topic. I am a mom and a childcare provider who’s life is the same day to day. So my i never feel like i have anything exciting enough to record on paper. For looking back on. If i had a exciting life i feel i’d have numberous topics to choose from. I think you can only make a grocery trip, dr appt,etc only sound so exciting. I bore my own self. Lol
[...] Have you entered the incredible journaling e-course giveaway? It’s my favorite giveaway so far and ends this Friday (Sep [...]
I don’t have the time that I like to journaling. It is very frustrating…. thank you so much for this give away.
I’ve tried journaling many times. I’m somewhat obsessed with buying pretty journals and notebooks for myself, which mostly sit sadly on my bookshelves unused. I journaled more often when I was younger, but time seems to be a bit of an issue now. I blog because I can type faster and more clearly than I can write, and because I like to interact with other bloggers. I have a bachelors degree in journalism, but writing for news is a bit different. Journaling (and even blogging) is not the same as having a news assignment handed to you, telling you what subject to write about. Mostly, I find myself wanting to be creative — I admire when other bloggers post photos of their hand-written or artsy journals — but I consistently deal with writer’s block when I open my notebook at home. It would be nice to receive a little advice on the subject.
I already journal, or rather I attempt to. The main thing holding me back right now is my lettering. I want so badly to develop a few styles, but I am having the hardest time perfecting them!
Twitter: leecurrie
says:
I’d love to journal more but I haven’t found a way to incorporate it into my day. I have a ton of half-started journals lying around. Frustrating!
Lee´s last blog ..g-list | september
I never feel I have anything to say! And my handwriting is horrible!!
Corinne Marie´s last blog ..
I guess what really holds me back about journaling is drawing a blank when I sit down to do it. What should I write about? Do I really feel like writing about that? I seem to need a kick in the behind to get going. Maybe the accountability of a class would help.
Hi, Carolyn! Just found your blog through a link at Hope’s…I’ve been wanting to start a journal ” a’ la Hope” forever…would love a chance to win one of her ecourses!
I’ve put of starting a journal for many reasons…possibly the primary reason, though, I guess, is the feeling of baring your soul on paper…feels so personal…but at the same time, I’m longing to begin. I definitely need a kick start to get going, I think!
I’ll be following your blog…I love what I’ve seen today…
Thanks for the chance to win!
Julie
Julie Campbell´s last blog ..Crafty Secrets DT Challenge: Retro!
I would love to keep a journal but stop myself because of the reasons you stated. I don’t like my handwriting and I don’t know what I would write. I always think I need to be poetic or say something very witty. I love the pretty journals you can buy and I always buy pretty notebooks and then don’t write in them. I don’t want to mess up and then ruin the notebook or journal.
Susan´s last blog ..Be More Agreeable and Roll on the Floor
Twitter: giniareads
says:
I’ve been journaling for years. I just made an entry today about how my art is all about not planning. It’s also nice when a page just comes together that way. No planning, just creating.
time time time and motivation
wow, this place is packed with inspiration… I’m so glad I found you. :)
as for me, what I love about journaling is capturing the moment/the emotion of here and now/all those tiny fleeting bits and pieces that would escape me if I didn’t “pin” them on paper. sometimes I do a lot of writing, sometimes it’s just a simple collage or I splash my paints like mad – it doesn’t really matter. what matters is the fact that later on I look back at my pages and they transport me in time and space.
druga szesnascie´s last blog ..
I used to journal everyday and found that I needed to in order to keep me balanced. For the last three years, since dealing with severe and recurrent depression, as well as ptsd (accompanied with memory recalls of forgotten events), I have stopped. I miss it. I have not been able to overcome the fear of the intensity of what might arise. I think that if I could overcome this fear, journaling would help me in my recovery. Thank you for the opportunity of this give-a-way.
I have been art journaling for about a couple of years really. When I was growing up I have always enjoyed art, collage, color and such. I remember creating a scrapbook of my experiences at Buckeye Girls State (American Legion Auxiliary). I typically journal my numerous emotions and then trying to relate them to God’s plan in my life.
Thanks for your consideration in this giveaway. I would love to take a class.
Amy
Amy´s last blog ..To the Letter – Practice makes Perfect
I tried to post before, but it didn’t look like it went through — if this is a duplicate comment PLEASE delete the other one!
I love to art journal because it keeps me in touch with my aesthetic eye and keeps me focused forwards with my art. (:
I find I like reading old posts too much to make new ones!
As a new stay-at-home mama, I want to journal daily to remember the small things that happen in my girls life, to keep me motivated, happy and creative x
[...] The incredible journaling e-course giveaway ends this Friday September 23rd! And be sure to check-out the comments on the post so far—they [...]
The hating your handwriting hit the nail on the head for me. I have boyish chicken scratch. I’m also really bad with visual elements – I’m a words girl. I used to keep a written journal when I was in college, but I’ve stopped writing for almost 10 years now. I’d love to get back into it!
I have tried so many times and ways (paper/pen, electronic) to journal. I know that it has helped me hear my inner voice and that is the voice that is most important to hear but sometimes the last voice to be able to access. I would like my journaling to be more fun and less of a serious process. This course may be the way to quiet the opinions of others and give me a place to hear my own true voice and continue to develop my creative self.
I stumbled onto your blog by accident today and found myself wanting to hang out a while. I have no idea how to post a comment to your site in hopes of snagging the journaling e-course giveaway prize. I decided to see if this route would suffice. Thanks for taking a ho-hum morning and giving me something to enjoy.
[Received via email and posted by Carolyn]
Hi.
To be honest, I hold myself back from a lot of things. There are times when getting out of the house is a struggle. I’d much rather push “pause” and stay safe behind the screens (both TV and Computer variety). To push myself, I started a food blog about a month or so ago. I love being able to write about food and how to cook different things. I’d love to win your journaling course both to help with my blog and help me sort through some things to push “play” on the rest of my life. Thank you for being an inspiration to so many people.
Sincerely,
Sara
[...] Pen & Paper: Journaling E-Course Giveaway! « A Beautiful Ripple … I am a beginner in art journaling, and not used to “play” with all the paints, collage, etc. even though I like it. For writing, I am sensitive and need to really feel in the mood to dig into my feelings and put them on paper. Source: http://www.abeautifulrippleeffect.com [...]