Journal Writing

In 1977, when One to One was originally published, it was among the very first books exploring writing as self-therapy.

By 1991, when Life’s Companion was published, blank books and fountain pens were an industry, and books touting the value of journal writing had taken over whole sections in bookstores.

Life’s Companion, complete with 148 writing prompts, quotes, and sample entries, became a classic guidepost for expanding the stories we tell ourselves. I was facilitating courses, teaching internationally, keynoting at conferences.

Along came the Internet: on-line journal prompts, formatting for electronic journal writing, then blogs, social media. Story got off the page and outta the box! Story is everywhere. As a girl, I thought I was alone in my desire to put life into words; and now, the cacophony is often overwhelming.

I find myself heading back into a quiet corner with notebook and pen, turning off the distractions, and sitting with the blank page, a few minutes of calm, and the impulse to write… how I am… what I’m thinking or feeling…who I love…what I dream…what I see out the window… what I want to do with my day… Ahhh. Volume 126 of my life.