Veggie Mix

Journaling Tips for Anguished Writers

by Moushumi Chakrbarty

I say 'anguished' because the word encapsulates perfectly what a writer feels on confronting a rejection. Or when he thrashes about trying to find words that fit his vision. Or when the villain's scowl doesn't resemble anything but an ordinary stare. There are numerous instances you will have come across on the writing journey. Thus 'anguished'.

What do you do when these things happen? Do you sulk, open a bottle of beer or worse still, re-open last Easter's argument with your spouse? There's really no need to do any of these things. Not if you want peace at home.

What you can do requires nothing more fancy than a book and a pen. Or if you are the hi-tech type, you can invoke your word processor. You can, in other words, journal.

There's nothing remotely New Age or twee about journaling. Don't even think of it as a tool invented by psychologists and therapists. It's simply a letting-your-hair-down sort of thing you do to make you feel better. The best part is that it is inexpensive and you won't need to go to a pricey bloke who makes you lie down on the couch and then blames your mother.

Rejections are hard to live down, but they are a necessary part of being a writer. Writing in your journal everyday can act as a therapy for you. Experts say there are different types of journals - each serving one particular need.

1) The Idea Journal: any free flowing thoughts that occur to you whenever you are in the subway, at the grocers, or Steve's barbeque party, you jot down quickly. Key words are enough. Later you can decipher what you meant by 'cat/Janice's dress/eyes'!

2) The Nature Journal: you carry this one along with you on walks at your neighbourhood park. You record the colours of the changing seasons, the vision of flowering forsythia, the chatter of starlings and the sound of children's laughter as they swing high.

3) The Home Makers Journal: this is a delightful way to pass on to your female relatives your struggles and successes as a homemaker in these challenging times. Who knows, your recipe for 'Jumping Tadpoles' may be cherished by later generations of your family for years to come. In this journal, you write down tips and hints for running households, recipes and your thoughts about what a home means to you. You may not have royalties to give them, but this gift will be equally prized.
4) Memoir Writing: this is more a story about your life as a youngster, the wild teenage years, your more sober twenties and so on. Unburden yourself and you can glean truths which help you on the road to self discovery. What is writing but an exploration of the Self?

What to write in your journal may cause you some trepidation. That need not be the case. Nobody's going to come checking. Remember your second-grade teacher? Well, Mrs Grundy's not coming to point out that you've messed up your participles again. You are writing in your journal primarily because you want to get rid of those negative thoughts and feelings.

So write whatever you want - little vignettes about your day, something that struck you about the evening light as it fell on the empty street, your husband's repeated snoring which has at last begun to resemble an alien orchestra… you get the point? You can write it out of your system. For example, you have just received your second rejection of one day and are contemplating attacking the cat. Don't do it. Instead write in your journal about what you could do to make the rejected pieces better. Or where else you can send it to. It's healthier.

By the way, you are allowed to curse the Editor in your journal. Only don't ever show it to him.