The Value of Journals: Do They Enhance Your Writing Worth?
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Chapter 1: The Journey of a Journal Enthusiast
Since I received my first orange spiral notebook from a discount store, I've proudly embraced my inner journal enthusiast. This notebook was intended for school, but with a host of curious siblings around, I quickly transformed it into my personal treasure, labeling it "Top Secret" with a warning: "Touch This And Die." Ah, the joys of childhood!
While my orange notebook wasn't a traditional diary, it served a similar function. My best friend Bonnie, however, had an actual diary complete with a lock and key. I envied her, especially since she had a Mynah Bird and a third-grade boyfriend, which undoubtedly made her diary far more intriguing than my notebook filled with plots for sibling blackmail and secret crushes.
Over the years, my journaling journey has evolved. I’ve traded those childhood schemes for reflections and ideas, albeit accompanied by a fair amount of angsty whining. My collection ranges from basic steno pads to luxurious Italian leather-bound journals, each holding its own value.
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But this leads to a pressing question: Does owning an extravagant journal enhance the value of your writing? In my experience, a journal that feels too lavish often becomes intimidating. When faced with something precious, I find myself paralyzed, unable to scribble freely, as if every word must be equally precious. Yet, those remarkable words rarely appear when summoned.
During my years writing a humor column for a local newspaper, I relied heavily on steno pads. With a busy schedule as a working mom and a Girl Scout leader, I needed practicality over extravagance. My steno pads captured fleeting thoughts, amusing overheard dialogues, and creative sparks, all without the pressure of perfection.
These pads welcomed everything from mediocre thoughts to brilliant ideas, creating a space where all words were valued equally. This freedom allowed me to dispose of them once filled—no guilt involved.
In contrast, how can one part with a beautifully crafted journal, adorned with an artistic cover or filled with the signatures of loved ones? Such items hold sentiment, making them more challenging to recycle.
As a lifelong journal lover, I’ll continue to collect both simple and ornate options, yet separating invaluable words from mediocre ones seems an impossible task.
So, where does this leave writers like us? Ultimately, whether it’s a lavish leather journal or a simple steno pad, my conclusion remains: it doesn’t matter. My experiences reveal that neither option has drastically improved the value of my writing.
When pondering the choice between an extravagant Italian leather-bound journal and a humble orange steno pad, I must remind myself: the orange steno prevails.
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