Whew! Glad you fared well through the storm, Mark. That one was really bad! I’ll have to check out The T.E.M.P. Agency--always looking for my next read, and it seems a good way to celebrate your milestone!
I was a journaled for years and years, but you know what I’ve just realized? I may not be anymore. When I sit down to write, it’s a letter. Whether that be a letter to a friend, a child, or a letter that I intend to post here, that’s what it is. So I guess I don’t look at it as journaling anymore. I jot down notes of things I want to recall when writing, but I can’t say I truly journal.
My writing techniques have definitely morphed this year in unexpected ways. I think you just have to find what works for you and go with it.
Great post, Mark! Glad you fared okay in the hurricane.
I have a Traveler's Notebook too - their passport size, so that it fits in my pocket. I use that to make any notes that come to me when I'm out on walks, at work or doing the ironing! I don't use it as a journal though.
My A5 bullet journal is a lifesaver - I'm a proponent of the original method as seen in Ryder Carroll's 'Start Here' button on bulletjournal.com - it's a very short video (like 5 minutes) which explains the whole system. It's not artsy - which is what put me off when I first came across what many people seem to call 'bullet journalling' on social media!
I don't really do any longform journalling - I rapid-log, as per Ryder Carroll. So if I'm feeling something, thinking something, I write down just one line, or even a few words, to get it out of my head and make it real. Just the act of writing - 'bad day - I hate that I have to get up in the dark' or 'Mum saw a KINGFISHER by her pond' or 'I love how J made dinner - I'm so lucky' - can make these things real, tangible and, if they need to be, dealable with! Just making tiny notes about things I want to download from my fizzing brain is an incredible tool.
It's not just a journal, though - it's a calendar, a to-do list and a wonderful friend and supporter in paper form.
I'm curious, Mark...why the urgent desire to journal, especially if it's going as roughly as you say? I don't journal, because I don't feel the need to. Plus, I'm too busy creating content for my 'Stack! I guess if I felt like I wanted to journal, and the task was failing miserably, I'd probably stop. But, asking for tips is cool...I guess I'm missing a key component: your reason for doing it.
Other than that, I'm happy with the 'Stack experience...I just sent an exclusive sneak peek of tomorrow's post to my paid subscribers...I'm sure they'll both be pleased. With it came 'Stack's first attempt (that I've seen) to provide Media Assets for our posts. I'm sure you've seen them by now; they look like they'll be helpful for posting on Instagram and other photo-first social media sites!
Hurricanes are so scary, but I’m glad you came through it. I forget that tropical weather includes storms!
I’m watching Stranger Things with my kids and it’s great bonding but also, it’s not a bad show. I also recognize all the songs. 🙃
I love Substack and it’s been a great way to advance my writing (and putting it out there) as well as focus on consistency. I try to maintain similar energies with writing as with my day job. Yes, it’s a release, it’s enjoyable, but I have to get it done!
Not a fan of journaling, really - though I keep various stacks of paper with notes and starter paragraphs, etc. around. Once in a (rather regular) while, I'll gather them together and then either formalise them into a document on the computer or perhaps just consolidate them onto a single page or so. After cutting out the rubbish, of course - of which there is a lot more in the cold light of a day several days after putting them down the first time.
As for Substack, I really like it - and don't have any complaints (except I'd like to be able to add underline to italics and bold, but hey). In fact, because it goes to both subscribers and the public it's a great way to ensure the writing gets done - especially as I have a regular publication schedule. It reminds me of when we used to have a cleaner come to the house once a week - we'd spend the day before ensuring everything was tidied away so she could actually clean: it was a great motivator!
Glad to hear you escaped the hurricane relatively unscathed - I had no idea you lived in Florida until just a post or two ago. For some reason, I had this image of you working away in a high tech cabin out back behind your house in the middle of your Wyoming ranch. Oh, well ...
Congratulations Mark on finishing your book! I went out and read the first chapter. Of course, there had to be a cliffhanger at the end. I'm sure that is what you were shooting for (no pun intended).
Great to see you fared well, except for the power outage. Up here in Rockledge, we mostly got a lot of high winds and rain. The wind was hitting up against my bedroom window so much, I thought it might break. And for the first time ever during a hurricane, we didn't lose power. It's strange.
As far as your question at the end, Substack is treating me well. I think it is definitely the place to be for writing. It's opened so many options for me to get people to read my writing. I'll be talking about it more once I hit my 6 month anniversary next month.
Whew! Glad you fared well through the storm, Mark. That one was really bad! I’ll have to check out The T.E.M.P. Agency--always looking for my next read, and it seems a good way to celebrate your milestone!
I was a journaled for years and years, but you know what I’ve just realized? I may not be anymore. When I sit down to write, it’s a letter. Whether that be a letter to a friend, a child, or a letter that I intend to post here, that’s what it is. So I guess I don’t look at it as journaling anymore. I jot down notes of things I want to recall when writing, but I can’t say I truly journal.
My writing techniques have definitely morphed this year in unexpected ways. I think you just have to find what works for you and go with it.
Great post, Mark! Glad you fared okay in the hurricane.
I have a Traveler's Notebook too - their passport size, so that it fits in my pocket. I use that to make any notes that come to me when I'm out on walks, at work or doing the ironing! I don't use it as a journal though.
My A5 bullet journal is a lifesaver - I'm a proponent of the original method as seen in Ryder Carroll's 'Start Here' button on bulletjournal.com - it's a very short video (like 5 minutes) which explains the whole system. It's not artsy - which is what put me off when I first came across what many people seem to call 'bullet journalling' on social media!
I don't really do any longform journalling - I rapid-log, as per Ryder Carroll. So if I'm feeling something, thinking something, I write down just one line, or even a few words, to get it out of my head and make it real. Just the act of writing - 'bad day - I hate that I have to get up in the dark' or 'Mum saw a KINGFISHER by her pond' or 'I love how J made dinner - I'm so lucky' - can make these things real, tangible and, if they need to be, dealable with! Just making tiny notes about things I want to download from my fizzing brain is an incredible tool.
It's not just a journal, though - it's a calendar, a to-do list and a wonderful friend and supporter in paper form.
:D
I'm curious, Mark...why the urgent desire to journal, especially if it's going as roughly as you say? I don't journal, because I don't feel the need to. Plus, I'm too busy creating content for my 'Stack! I guess if I felt like I wanted to journal, and the task was failing miserably, I'd probably stop. But, asking for tips is cool...I guess I'm missing a key component: your reason for doing it.
Other than that, I'm happy with the 'Stack experience...I just sent an exclusive sneak peek of tomorrow's post to my paid subscribers...I'm sure they'll both be pleased. With it came 'Stack's first attempt (that I've seen) to provide Media Assets for our posts. I'm sure you've seen them by now; they look like they'll be helpful for posting on Instagram and other photo-first social media sites!
Glad things weren't worse!
I usually start journaling with 2 - 3 boring prompts like the weather, the temperature, what's the big plan for the day, etc.
Hurricanes are so scary, but I’m glad you came through it. I forget that tropical weather includes storms!
I’m watching Stranger Things with my kids and it’s great bonding but also, it’s not a bad show. I also recognize all the songs. 🙃
I love Substack and it’s been a great way to advance my writing (and putting it out there) as well as focus on consistency. I try to maintain similar energies with writing as with my day job. Yes, it’s a release, it’s enjoyable, but I have to get it done!
I talked a lot. Hey, nice to meet you.
Not a fan of journaling, really - though I keep various stacks of paper with notes and starter paragraphs, etc. around. Once in a (rather regular) while, I'll gather them together and then either formalise them into a document on the computer or perhaps just consolidate them onto a single page or so. After cutting out the rubbish, of course - of which there is a lot more in the cold light of a day several days after putting them down the first time.
As for Substack, I really like it - and don't have any complaints (except I'd like to be able to add underline to italics and bold, but hey). In fact, because it goes to both subscribers and the public it's a great way to ensure the writing gets done - especially as I have a regular publication schedule. It reminds me of when we used to have a cleaner come to the house once a week - we'd spend the day before ensuring everything was tidied away so she could actually clean: it was a great motivator!
Glad to hear you escaped the hurricane relatively unscathed - I had no idea you lived in Florida until just a post or two ago. For some reason, I had this image of you working away in a high tech cabin out back behind your house in the middle of your Wyoming ranch. Oh, well ...
Congratulations Mark on finishing your book! I went out and read the first chapter. Of course, there had to be a cliffhanger at the end. I'm sure that is what you were shooting for (no pun intended).
Great to see you fared well, except for the power outage. Up here in Rockledge, we mostly got a lot of high winds and rain. The wind was hitting up against my bedroom window so much, I thought it might break. And for the first time ever during a hurricane, we didn't lose power. It's strange.
As far as your question at the end, Substack is treating me well. I think it is definitely the place to be for writing. It's opened so many options for me to get people to read my writing. I'll be talking about it more once I hit my 6 month anniversary next month.