Monday, May 26, 2008

The Journal Series: Some Resources

One thing I've found inspiring through the years is reading other peoples' ideas on journal keeping. I've read a number of books on the subject, and found them all to be helpful. Sometimes I pick up a new technique, sometimes I just gain some new insight into what I'm doing. What follows is a list of some of the books on my book shelf. I've checked on Amazon (but I'm far too lazy to put all the links in here!), and all of these are available, although some of them may only be available used.

The New Diary by Tristine Rainer (my favorite)

Writing the Mind Alive by Linda Trichter Metcalf and Tobin Simon

Write Your Heart Out by Rebecca McClanahan

Harvesting Your Journals by Rosalie Deer Heart and Alison Strickland

Notes From Myself by Anne Hazard Aldrich

Keeping a Journal You Love by Sheila Bender

One to One by Christina Baldwin

Writing Your Authentic Self by Lois Guarino

At a Journal Workshop by Ira Progoff

I've only recently started hunting down websites on journaling and on writing to heal, so I'm afraid I don't have much to offer in that department, but the following sites look interesting, and you might want to check them out:

One Year of Writing and Healing

Self Help Healing Arts Journal

I'm sure there are others out there, I just haven't put much time into hunting them down yet, but if you should find something good, shoot me an email or leave the address in a comment.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jazz,

I explored those sites and they look very interesting. I have found writing can go either way...either helpful or actually hurt.
Maybe it is like how Susan at Bipolar Wellness Writer talks about writing about the positive.

Your post jogged my memory to make a post in the future about a workbook that really helped me.

Naturalgal

Monica Cassani said...

One Year of Writing and Healing is a Great Website...

this a a really good series Jazz...I really appreciate it...

you're quite the expert on journal writing!

Jazz said...

Naturalgal--
I agree that writing can go either way in terms of helping or hurting. I think that sometimes we have to let some time pass and some healing and distance occur before we can write about things. I am only just starting to be able to really explore the events that led up to my bipolar diagnosis--and that was nearly five years ago.

Jazz said...

Gianna--
I'm so glad you're finding it helpful! I've been journaling for a long time, and I guess I've learned a few things along the way. I'm considering putting together some of this material and giving teaching a shot. We have a community ed. program here that I could use as a way to get started with that.

Monica Cassani said...

I think you'd be a wonderful teacher...it has really been a delight watching you unfold here...

Jazz said...

Thank-you, Gianna!

sbwrites said...

Dear Jazz,
A terrific series and great resources. Thanks for sharing. I just ordered your favorite journal book (I'm having a memory lapse or I would give you the title). Yikes! First it's bipolarity and next it's going to be old age. (Just kidding.)

Susan

Jazz said...

Susan--
I know the one: The New Diary--it's a wonderful book, lots of ideas and descriptions of different techniques. Let me know how you like it!

Coco said...

Hi Jazz, another journalling site that I've been meaning to get to, and patiently sits in my Google Reader list, is "Write out of Depression" http://writeoutofdepression.blogspot.com/
It looks good. Thanks you for these resources, I'm going to del.icio.us some of these posts for future reference. :) Also, that's an exciting idea you have about putting together a journalling course!

Jazz said...

Thanks, Coco! I will have a look today :)