The reason I wanted to teach journal writing was because of how it has helped heal me through difficult times in my life. Well, when I started in grade school it was just about boys and school, but even looking back on that diary I saw a couple entries where I started to write more deeply. One was about my brother going off to college - "I wonder if Johnny will be the same when he comes home." I found out early that the journal, or diary at that time, was a place where I could tell my stories and feelings and it would "listen." I discovered that often when I was upset or angry, once I got the words down on paper, I felt better. I also noticed that when I wrote I often could solve problems or at least calm down to the point that I could see the other side and deal with the problem. There was a five-year time in my life when my dad, my sister and my brother died and then my husband left me. Writing helped me through the pain. I talked to friends but it got to the point that they wanted me to move on. The journal never said "get over it." It helped me to move on- to heal - at my own pace. The journal also is a great storehouse of our growth. I can look back and see how far I've come. It has helped me understand why I made certain decisions. Time tends to color our memories and several times the same road would appear. One in particular was adjunct teaching at a local college. I loved teaching but teaching there was more negative than positive and I told myself I wouldn't do it again. I wrote about the problems each time I taught there. The last time I taught I wrote in big letters - if you ever decide to teach there again, read you journal! Believe it or not, I came back to the journal to read this. Same thing happened with a relationship. Dated this guy twice - broke up with him both times. When I found out he was married I was sad and asking myself why wasn't it me? Then I got out the journals and there it was in black and white. It was the right decision after all and I was happy he moved on.

The shift to the visual journal has been coming for a while. I've always been into all kinds of crafts and especially love paper and fabric. I had taught a year-long class online called Monthly Write in 2009 where I had everyone write on the same three topics (two I chose for them and one they got to choose) on the 27th of each month. Every month I'd throw in an additional topic - kindness, nurture, being present etc. I told them they could just write a little, could draw, could take photos whatever they wanted to do. It was neat to hear and see some of their journals. Meanwhile I kept my own Monthly Write journal where I also took four pictures on that day. I really love that journal and thought more and more about adding art and color. Then I started seeing all of the art journals online and read a couple articles. I was interested but couldn't see what all the hoopla was about. So, as I mentioned on my blog, I took a class using collage in the journal. I still didn't get it although I really liked my pages. I saw that I could create feeling with fewer words if I didn't feel like writing. But I still wasn't convinced. I just had to do a daily type of journal so I decided in October I'd make a page every day. I painted the pages before the day so all I had to do was write or draw - the background was done. Some days it would take me 15 minutes, other days I might go back to the page several times before I was done with it. I had a couple "rules." I must put how I was feeling each day - just a word (tired, happy, sad, angry etc.) at least. Also, I wanted to know what the weather was like (sunny, cold, hot, gray etc) as I feel my mood definitely can be influenced by the weather. Some pages I just wrote, some collaged and some I even drew! Wow! They aren't the greatest trees or hosta leaves, but they are mine and just like with writing in a journal, this is not about perfect. For those who have trouble writing, this type of journal can work for them. I'd love to teach a class on this in order to pull in those "non writers."

To make the pages less intimidating, I'd paint them ahead of time with watercolor or acrylic paints or really anything they have around the house. Just like it's often hard for some writers to start writing on the blank page, it's hard to start art often with a white page. Or use colored paper as the journal pages. There is something about how colored pages makes it easier to get started.

If this is going to be a daily journal like my October one, decide before hand a couple topics you want to make sure you cover. For example, I put the temperature (cold, hot, windy, gray etc) and how I was feeling (sad, happy, tired). But this could be a goals journal or a travel journal. Any written journal can be made into a visual journal.

Start the first day's page printing words that pertain to that day. My first day page was all words except for a sun with a smily face. I was experiencing a lot of wrist and knee pain so I printed: no wrist & knee pain (I wish) and added "went to dr today." And printed "Leg exercises" since that's what he told me to do for my knee. Some things I wanted to do included "Release anger," "Let Go Let God" and "Be Here." But I also wrote two sentences - one about starting the art journal and the other about my "writing your story" class that had just started.

If you feel tired or sad or happy - print it in big letters. Draw circles and hearts and other symbols you feel comfortable with.

Start with a little collage. Tear out some picture or words that describe your feelings on that day and paste it down.

Remember, just like with a journal writing, there are no rules. And it's not about being perfect, it's about expressing yourself through art. My trees, pine needles and hosta drawings weren't perfect, but they are mine.

What did I learn?

Inside Lynda's Journal

First of all, I loved taking the time each day to carve out some time for this visual journal. I loved looking at the colors every day and illustrating my day by drawing, collaging or just words. I loved how it made me stretch. I drew a tree on one page (in fact I ended up drawing a tree on three pages!) and wrote "Never thought about drawing them" even though I absolutely love trees. I feel like in addition to being a writer, I am an artist now. I have the freedom of documenting my life by either writing or art.

Also, as with writing in a journal, this art journal helped me through a tough stretch. When I started this journal I was very angry and sad. It was amazing to see how through the month my attitude changed. I spent time on my pages documenting what I was feeling but also looking at what I was thankful for. I also listed what I accomplished.