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Journal writing is a low-pressure way to ease into the habit of daily creative writing. Use these journaling techniques to launch an effective daily practice.

8 Effective Journaling Techniques for Creative Writing

 I have gotten great ideas in the shower, and the one that I remember best is a whole book came to me in the shower, and that was "Superfudge." And I guess it had been about eight years since I wrote "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing." Same characters. And I wanted to write another book, but I just-- I didn't have an idea for it. And then suddenly, I was in the shower one day and covered with soap and shampoo, and it came to me, and it was such an easy idea if I-- it's laughable to say it out loud. It was like, OK, here's what happens. The family has a new baby, and we go on from there. And there it was. And it was because I wasn't sitting at my desk trying to think of something. I was doing something else. And the doing something else I think frees your mind to, you know, create. When I see people-- I go on a morning walk every day. And when I see people with their headphones on, and I know they're listening to music or they're listening to a podcast or something, I think to myself, oh, what a shame. Because that's the time that I would get my best ideas. Just not thinking of them. Just going away and doing something else and letting your mind roam.

Different writers have different perspectives on journaling, and as you start filling up your journal pages, you’ll probably develop your own techniques. Here are some of the most well known, effective journaling methods to help kick-start your journaling practice:

### 1. __Have a Set Time to Write__. 
Many writers prefer to write first thing in the morning. [Morning pages are a stream-of-consciousness journaling habit](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-writing-morning-journal-pages) done first thing every morning on a daily basis. The idea is to wake up, open your morning journal, and write three pages of longhand of any thoughts that come out of your head. Julia Cameron, author of *The Artist's Way*, created this approach to journaling as a way for people to unleash their creativity. Building writing into your schedule will make it more of a priority. 
### 2. __Get Away From Your Desk__. 
Go on a walk and bring your notebook. Look around and take down some observations on the external stimuli around you—a tree, a person, a neighborhood, a pool. Ideas may come to you while you are walking that don’t come while you’re hunched over the computer. Take some time off, and be sure to give yourself both physical and mental breaks to recharge. A lot of your best creativity will happen on the back burner when you’re letting your mind roam. 

### 3. __Write a Letter to Someone__. 
Writing a journal entry as an unsent letter to someone else—a real or imagined person—can help you channel your thoughts to a specific audience, and can make your writing feel more like a dialogue. 

### 4. __Use Journaling Prompts__.
If you’re struggling to start writing, there are [many journaling prompts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/thought-provoking-journal-prompts-from-bestselling-authors) online and in books that can make the blank page seem less daunting.

### 5. __Make Lists__. 
If free-writing sentences and paragraphs seems too intimidating or time-consuming, try starting with lists. Jotting down ideas with bullet points—also called bullet journaling—can help you get inspired to flesh out some of those ideas. You can start with a to-do list, a list of words or places that you love, or a list of things in a room.

### 6. __Keep a Dream Journal__. 
[Dream journaling is the practice of recording fragments of your dreams each morning](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal) while they are still relatively fresh in your mind. Good dreams can be just as informative as bad dreams; both can be useful instruments for unlocking the creativity that goes unnoticed during your waking life. Dreams can also be useful problem-solving devices, helping you gain clarity or break through writer’s block. 

### 7. __Keep a Gratitude Journal__. 
Gratitude journaling is a popular method of self-care and self-reflection that involves making a list of things that you are grateful for. 

### 8. __Try Art Journaling__. 
If making visual art helps you engage in the present moment, an art journal—whether interspersed with doodles, watercolors, or stickers—can be a great outlet.
Become a better writer with the [Masterclass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, and more.
Journal writing is a low-pressure way to ease into the habit of daily creative writing. Use these journaling techniques to launch an effective daily practice.

<p class="mc-mb-6">Different writers have different perspectives on journaling, and as you start filling up your journal pages, you’ll probably develop your own techniques. Here are some of the most well known, effective journaling methods to help kick-start your journaling practice:</p><h3 class="">1. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Have a Set Time to Write</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">Many writers prefer to write first thing in the morning. <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-writing-morning-journal-pages' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-writing-morning-journal-pages","linkCopy":"Morning pages are a stream-of-consciousness journaling habit","category":null}'>Morning pages are a stream-of-consciousness journaling habit</a> done first thing every morning on a daily basis. The idea is to wake up, open your morning journal, and write three pages of longhand of any thoughts that come out of your head. Julia Cameron, author of <em class="mc-text--italic">The Artist&#39;s Way</em>, created this approach to journaling as a way for people to unleash their creativity. Building writing into your schedule will make it more of a priority. </p>

8 Effective Journaling Techniques

<h3 class="">2. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Get Away From Your Desk</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">Go on a walk and bring your notebook. Look around and take down some observations on the external stimuli around you—a tree, a person, a neighborhood, a pool. Ideas may come to you while you are walking that don’t come while you’re hunched over the computer. Take some time off, and be sure to give yourself both physical and mental breaks to recharge. A lot of your best creativity will happen on the back burner when you’re letting your mind roam. </p><h3 class="">3. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Write a Letter to Someone</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">Writing a journal entry as an unsent letter to someone else—a real or imagined person—can help you channel your thoughts to a specific audience, and can make your writing feel more like a dialogue. </p><h3 class="">4. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Use Journaling Prompts</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">If you’re struggling to start writing, there are <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/thought-provoking-journal-prompts-from-bestselling-authors' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/thought-provoking-journal-prompts-from-bestselling-authors","linkCopy":"many journaling prompts","category":null}'>many journaling prompts</a> online and in books that can make the blank page seem less daunting.</p><h3 class="">5. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Make Lists</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">If free-writing sentences and paragraphs seems too intimidating or time-consuming, try starting with lists. Jotting down ideas with bullet points—also called bullet journaling—can help you get inspired to flesh out some of those ideas. You can start with a to-do list, a list of words or places that you love, or a list of things in a room.</p><h3 class="">6. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Keep a Dream Journal</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6"><a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal","linkCopy":"Dream journaling is the practice of recording fragments of your dreams each morning","category":null}'>Dream journaling is the practice of recording fragments of your dreams each morning</a> while they are still relatively fresh in your mind. Good dreams can be just as informative as bad dreams; both can be useful instruments for unlocking the creativity that goes unnoticed during your waking life. Dreams can also be useful problem-solving devices, helping you gain clarity or break through writer’s block. </p><h3 class="">7. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Keep a Gratitude Journal</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">Gratitude journaling is a popular method of self-care and self-reflection that involves making a list of things that you are grateful for. </p><h3 class="">8. <strong class="mc-text--bold">Try Art Journaling</strong>.</h3><p class="mc-mb-6">If making visual art helps you engage in the present moment, an art journal—whether interspersed with doodles, watercolors, or stickers—can be a great outlet.</p>

<p class="mc-mb-6">Become a better writer with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"Masterclass Annual Membership","category":null}'>Masterclass Annual Membership</a>. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by literary masters, including Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, and more.</p>

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<p class="mc-mb-6">Journal writing is a low-pressure way to ease into the habit of daily creative writing. Use these journaling techniques to launch an effective daily practice.</p>

Journal writing is a low-pressure way to ease into the habit of daily creative writing. Use these journaling techniques to launch an effective daily practice.
