Why I Journal

I used to think journaling was stupid and overrated. I even bashed journaling on this blog in a post about why you should start a bullet journal: I wrote, "I don't know about you, but I always felt it was a struggle to keep a journal with daily 2-page-long entries because it just took so long." And that used to be true until I realized that I didn't have to write a detailed description of everything that happened during my day. I could just write whatever thoughts popped into my head as I was writing. So here's what made me pick up a journal and keep writing in it after not journaling for three years. 

I can write anything in it
One of the reasons I chose to keep a paper journal instead of an online journal was simply that a paper journal is more private as long as nobody reads it. I can write down anything without feeling like I'm being judged or having to worry about what others will think of my thoughts.

It lets me see my thoughts on paper
When I write what I'm thinking down, I can see what it is I'm thinking. I can actually remember it too! And in the future, it will be fun to see what I was thinking and doing now, because I'll end up forgetting the little things. 

Notebooks!
I have a notebook problem. I have about five unused notebooks that I'll probably never end up using, but every time I'm in a store with a stationery section it takes all of my self-control not to buy a new one. I can never figure out what to put in them, and so when I keep a journal, I can actually use one of the many notebooks that I own. Or I just have an excuse to buy another one.

I can write out my feelings
When I'm feeling angry or sad or confused, I can write about it in my journal. This is especially helpful if I don't want to talk about it but I can write about it. Sometimes if I write a rant about something when I'm angry, it makes me less angry and it also feels good to get it off my chest.

It's a keepsake
I touched upon this earlier, but in a few years, it's nice to be able to read the journal you kept and look back on what you were thinking and doing and see how you've changed. It's also really entertaining to read journals you kept when you were young (at least for me) because of how different I was then from who I am now.

It can help with goals
It's scientifically proven that you're more likely to accomplish a goal if you write it down. More than once in my journal I have written down that I wanted to accomplish something and putting it in writing makes me feel like I have to do it, which makes me actually do it. In addition, sometimes I'll write down goals that I have for myself in the front cover of the journal so that I can look at them easily.

You start to notice the little things
Not every day has huge events that you can write about. Sometimes I'll just write about little things from my day or little observations I made or something inconsequential. By doing this, I can remember the smaller parts of my day that I probably wouldn't otherwise. And if I do forget, rereading my journal reminds me again!

Journaling has now become a part of my everyday routine, and I'm very glad that it has. I didn't really expect to like it as much as I do, and the fact that I filled up my first notebook ever because of journaling makes me really happy. Do you journal? Why?

How to Get Through NaNoWriMo (Alive and in One Piece!)

    I haven't been posting because I've been so busy with NaNoWriMo -- that's National Novel Writing Month. Find more about it here. Even though November is over halfway through, that doesn't mean that NaNoWriMo participants are stopping: in fact, this is probably just making us write more (fun fact: I upped my goal from 1,667 words per day to 2,000). So how do you get through NaNoWriMo alive and with a finished novel? Here's a blog post on it!

Take breaks.
   Yes, yes, I know you're trying to write 50,000 words by November 30th, but you shouldn't run yourself into the ground trying to write 3,000 words a day or something. That will only bring you tears.

Take care of yourself.
    Please, get some sleep. Especially if you have a busy schedule or have school or work. And eat too. Just because you're trying to write a novel in 30 days doesn't mean that you have to neglect everything else.

Set goals.
    Sometimes you fall behind where you're supposed to be, and that's okay. If you are actually trying to finish by November 30th, you might want to make up for this by writing a bunch on a day when you know you can (I once went from 13,138 words to 18,000 words in less than 24 hours).

Plan.
    I'm not one for plotting out my stories, but I do keep a document called "Plot" that has any notes I want to make to myself about what's going to happen later in the story. I also have similar documents called "Characters" and "Settings."

Don't stress.
    I know you might want to, but it will only bring strife.

If you have writer's block, don't keep writing.
    Seriously!! You will not write anything good if you do!!

    Thanks for reading this post! It will probably be the last one until December. Now I'm off to go write more.

My Writing

    As some of you may know, one of the things I like to do when I'm not reading is write. In fact, I used to have another blog where I shared my writing. 
    I've recently been working on a story that is still untitled, but I figured I share the first part of it on my blog. It's not very long, and I will continue to post more of it if people seem to like it. Anyway, without farther ado, here it is: 

    The first to awake was the Universe. She came to one day and felt around for what there was. All she could feel were trillions and trillions of light years of blank, empty space. The Universe wondered why there was no one else here with her, but after thinking, she decided she liked being alone and retreated deep into herself, not giving anything much thought for a long time.
    Eventually, the Universe became alert again and thought about companionship. This time, she realized that she really was quite lonely and wanted someone to endure the cold, empty silence with her. And the Universe knew that to create, she must give up a small piece of her energy to do it. She was reluctant at first, however after pondering the matter she decided to go through with it. The only problem was, she didn't know what to create.
   She wanted something that was as bright she was dark, as talkative as she was silent, and perhaps a little bit less mysterious that she herself was. And so the Universe created the first star, which was everything she wanted, and she could hardly feel the drain on her energies. 
    That first star was known as Atlas. The Universe loved Atlas dearly, but she was unable to take a form other than the darkness surrounding Atlas. One day, the Universe gathered up her courage and said,
    "This will never work out. Look! I created to to be everything I am not. You are light, I am dark. You are small, I span billions of trillions of light years in each direction. I cannot manifest in a form similar to yours. It would be better to spare the heartbreak and end our relationship now. I can create for you another star, or perhaps something else. Anything will be better than me."
    Atlas was torn and refused to comply, but the Universe withdrew and wouldn't talk or interact with Atlas. She spent her time creating stars, galaxies, and planets, all of which had a human-like form to appear in. She did this and more, and the creating took up her time and energy. The Universe began to feel weaker and took to resting while she was not creating. Atlas, however, became cold and impassive, perhaps almost cruel, and denied any attempts other stars and planets made to pursue him. The Universe, growing ever more silent and weaker by the day, did not notice Atlas' unhappiness, nor his growing hatred for everything that the Universe had created: all the galaxies, stars, planets, and asteroids. It's like she doesn't care anymore, Atlas thought bitterly. Like we never loved each other. 
    Meanwhile, the Universe appeared to the constellations of the Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. 
    "My powers are becoming weaker by the day. Everything that I have created demands so much energy. Don't worry, everything will be fine," she added as Cancer began to panic. "It's just that I conserve more energy if I rest."
    "Yes, but why are you telling us this?" asked Sagittarius. 
    "I am going to sleep for eternity," replied the Universe. 
    "Eternity?" gasped Capricorn.
    "Eternity," replied the Universe. "And so I need you to rule in my place. I know you will be just and good. I have been observing you for quite some time now." And there was a great tremor throughout the entire Universe as she went to sleep.

    I hope you enjoyed the first snippet of my story! Please leave a comment below telling me if you would like me to continue posting it here! Thanks!