Journaling for your memoir – part 1

Journaling is a fancy word for what we always called keeping a diary. Finger movements necessary for writing by hand also light up your brain.

HOW DO I START?

In my journaling course, which is another word for a lot of fun, we go through the process together, but you can start off right away!

1. Personalise the book that you are going to write in.
2. Decide on a quiet space and time, whether it be morning or evening. It is a space where you write down your thoughts, emotions, memories and more.

WRITING LETTERS IS LIKE ART

When we write by hand, the right hemisphere of our brain — that is, the artistic side of our brain which sees in pictures — is activated. This does not happen when we write on a computer. Handwriting encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking in ways typing is unable to.

THE LINK BETWEEN WRITING SOMETHING DOWN AND GETTING IT DONE

Jordan Peterson talks about handwriting goals and lists and reaching goals. According to him: “It appears possible that writing, which is a formalized form of thinking, helps people derive information from their experiences that help them guide their perceptions, actions, thoughts, and emotions in the present… Clarifying purpose and meaning into the future helps improve positive emotion, which is associated with movement towards important goals.”

THE MANY BENEFITS OF JOURNALING BY HAND

New York Times Best-Selling Author Tasha Alexander gives reasons to explore keeping a journal.

1. HANDWRITING STRENGTHENS OUR MEMORY

Whatever you’re writing on paper demands 100% focus and attention, as well as motivation. Preserving memories through journaling is considered one of the most effective ways to keep your mind fresh.

2. HANDWRITING HELPS US FOSTER IDEAS

The human brain is the perfect tool. A high-speed and adaptive machine that works fast – going forward and backward at the same time, all the time. Our mind forces us to keep up with our ideas; otherwise, they vanish into oblivion. Writing is the most powerful way to preserve our inspiration.

3. HANDWRITING IS A FORM OF THERAPY

Handwriting allows for reflection and progress. Scientists believe that through the exchange of ideas, confessions, and sharing of secrets, we reach a high level of self-consciousness. This helps to express our inner self, see the best and worst versions of ourselves.

4. HANDWRITING HELPS THOSE WITH DYSLEXIA

Deborah Spear: “Because all letters in cursive start on a baseline, and because the pen moves fluidly from left to right, cursive is easier to learn for dyslexic students who have trouble forming words correctly.”

5. HANDWRITING ENSURES THAT OUR TO-DO LISTS WILL GET DONE

Write your to-do list in a simple checklist and try to follow the order by delisting whatever has been completed. The feeling of accomplishment is priceless.

6. HANDWRITING CAN EFFECTIVELY SOOTHE YOUR NERVE

Graphologist Dr Marc Seifer says writing a soothing sentence is a type of “graphotherapy.” Writing a simple sentence such as “I will be more peaceful” at least 20 times per day can gradually change behaviour. “This actually calms the person down and retrains the brain,” Seifer says.

7. HANDWRITING SHARPENS CRITICAL THINKING

Choosing this word instead of another creates a dilemma that exposes us to critical thinking. When you write by hand in your journal, in comparison to typing or even touching a screen by finger, it allows you to think more thoroughly about the information you’re recording. Handwriting encourages you to expand upon your thoughts and form connections between them.

8. HANDWRITING MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER

Exercise and repetition really work.

Susan Sontag said that she penned her first drafts way before typing them up for editing later. “I write with a felt-tip pen, or sometimes a pencil, on yellow or white legal pads, that fetish of American writers,” she said. “I like the slowness of writing by hand.”

9. WRITING IS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF READING

Tasha Alexander: “Writing is a natural extension of reading. Like reading, it can transport us to different times and places. But unlike reading, it allows you to ensure the story ends exactly the way you want it to.

JOURNALING FOR YOUR MEMOIR OR LIFE STORY

In “Journaling for your memoir, part 2”, we will explore topics and practical solutions.

In the meantime, contact me as an author coach to assist you with the practice of daily journaling. Journaling can be the framework for your memoir or life story.