I often hear people express apprehension when starting a new journal — fancy and unfancy alike. In the midst of conversation with an apprehensive Journal-Starter who asked an abundance of questions to which I responded with snapshots of my journals’ insides, he had an idea: I could start his journal before sending it out — and I did!
I was immediately flooded with excitement and unease (and I briefly became the apprehensive journaler once again). I couldn’t say no.
After a few days, I gathered my favourite art supplies and morning energy — and filled the front page. I scribbled words I love, using ink I love, and an old pen I love (that I sent off with the book, rust and all). I also drew the dog I love and added a smudge of pink pastel to her face and tummy.
I won’t make a habit of starting the journals of others, but I really enjoyed this! As always when presented with something new — I learned something. If you know me at all, you know I so love unexpected adventures.
I’ve been making and filling books for much of my life, we have blank books available through our website, and we’ve made tutorials to share how we make books. Journals aren’t just for writers and sketchbooks aren’t for artists — they’re blank books for everyone! I fill them up in a variety of ways, and when I’m stuck, I pull from a well of ideas that I’ve never shared or listed so deliberately.
Simple Ways to Start (and Keep Going):
Abundance! Make your own books. Make a lot of books. If you buy them — don’t be precious! Know there will be more. Mistakes can be patched or cut out or scribbled upon. Mistakes must be made! Books can be burned! (but maybe, don’t)
Inspiration from Others: Read, go to the movies, have conversations with those close and with strangers! Write a quote from a book you’ve read or a fragment you’ve overheard. Eavesdrop at a café or a park. There is always magic floating around.
Draw: Draw something in front of you — a fruit, a bug, a dog, faces from an old photograph — you don’t have to make it up. (but you can!)
Document: Write about yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
Walk (or Move): A few steps outside and you will discover the universe is endlessly divining worthy moments. Solvitur ambulando — It is solved by walking.
Distill and Abstract: Make it a poem! If you feel too in the weeds detailing a day (I get stuck here) reduce the excess by distilling it into a poem. Try a Haiku!
Make Time: Set time aside each day — 5 minutes or an hour, it doesn’t matter, as long as you are consistent. I start my days this way and look forward to it every single morning. On the few days that I miss — I’m a monster! (And whilst on time, Date your entry, your future self will thank you!)
*Tell your people! Make a sign. Lock your door or run for the woods. Interruptions turn me into more of a monster.
Let Someone Else: Let your kids start your journal, or your animals. Spill coffee, splatter ink. Ask a stranger! Any mark made will lead to the next!
Notice the Space: Find shapes in the margins or cut holes in the page and see what it frames on the page before and after.
Find Otherness! Try your non-dominant hand, draw with your eyes closed, walk and write!
Feelings: Sometimes my tears add texture to my pages or smudge the ink. Other times my angry pens gouge the paper. But mostly I am happy to be alive and for all of the in-betweens. Everything shows up on the page!
I Remember: Start with a memory ala Joe Brainard, or start a dream! (I find I remember future dreams more when I get in the habit of writing them down.)
Be Present: Don’t worry about what your journal should or will be — just make your marks and you will find your way!
Everything belongs: Use tape, glue, and glitter! Stuff things between the pages. Add letters from others, tickets, flattened bits from the natural world. Anything Goes
Trust: I often put things down before I’ve thought them through—as a more instinctual response to life and experiences. We overthink when we try to turn it into something, while it’s just an entry on a page, just let it go!
Experiment: Try a variety of tools and art supplies. Join me here next week to explore some of my favourite mark-making treasures, tools, and colours!
Negative Space, Cut Out, Tape in, Glue, Haiku! Eavesedrop, Patch. Use it, break it in, don't be precious! 
Write, Draw, Quote, Glue, Conversations.
I included something on the second page of the journal, and the last, too, Maybe I went too far. Maybe’ he’ll ask for a replacement. Or a refund. Maybe h’e’ll love it!
I tucked a scrap in behind the thing on the second page. The space around the cut-out. The dogs that looked like foxes, the colour tests.
I love synchronicity. Humans. The sparks in random encounters.
What’s In My Journal by William Stafford
Odd things, like a button drawer. Mean Thing, fishhooks, barbs in your hand. But marbles too. A genius for being agreeable. Junkyard crucifixes, voluptuous discards. Space for knickknacks, and for Alaska. Evidence to hang me, or to beatify. Clues that lead nowhere, that never connected anyway. Deliberate obfuscation, the kind that takes genius. Chasms in character. Loud omissions. Mornings that yawn above a new grave. Pages you know exist but you can’t find them. Someone’s terribly inevitable life story, maybe mine.
I share examples of all of these ideas throughout my Substack ramblings — I hope you find inspiration from them!
I welcome your ideas and prompts too! I think we all would.
We would all pay you extra for those!
So much wisdom accrued from your daily lettings-go. Love the joy, the sheer possibility of your pages.