Post #14 – Memoir Writing, Journaling – Amber Starfire
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MANY beginning writers have told me that they don’t have time for journal writing. That if they have fifteen minutes to write, they want to write something “worthwhile.” I always found that attitude puzzling, because — to me — writing is writing is writing, and all writing is worthwhile. Especially writing that teaches us how to access emotion, that teaches us how to record a scene, writing that helps us record memories for future use.
Judy Collins, famous singer and songwriter said, “I write journals and would recommend journal writing to anyone who wishes to pursue a writing career. You learn a lot. You also remember a lot… and memory is important.”
You may not know that Judy Collins has published three memoirs, Trust Your Heart
The following prompts are designed to help you think about and assess your own attitudes about journaling, memory, and your writing career.
Daily Inspiration Writing Prompts:
- How important is memory to your writing? And how could or does keeping a journal help you use the details of your memories?
– - How can journal writing help you “learn a lot”? What kinds of things would you learn?
– - Define what the words “writing career” mean to you. Does it mean publication and success? Or something else?
– - Do you think of journaling as time spent well, or time wasted? Is it self-indulgent, or and important part of your development as a writer? Why do you feel the way you do about it?
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I invite you to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, if you have a quote you’d like to see in a future Daily Inspiration post, send it to me, Amber Starfire, using my contact form on WritingThroughLife.com.
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