Unit 4
Writing a Creative Journal
A creative journal is a tool for gaining self-understanding and to practice the
writing skills. It develops imagination and creative abilities to express what one
thinks. We can write about our lives through journal entries.
The Value of Journal-keeping
Safety:
The journal is a safe place for children and young people to express
themselves because it is private and confidential. It provides practice in
communication free from judgment, ridicule, or failure.
Relaxation:
Young people can relax with journals and get their thoughts and feelings out
on paper without having to analyze or edit the work.
Spontaneity:
Since it is not being done for performance or external scrutiny, journal work
encourages honest expression and spontaneity.
Integrity:
The privacy of the journal fosters integrity and honesty with oneself.
Experimentation:
It is a safe place to experiment with the written language.
Communication:
Journal –keeping reinforces communication skills through the habit of
writing about personal experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
Gathering ideas:
The journal is an excellent place to record creative ideas and make notes for
use in developing more formal “public” writing, such as classroom assignments,
letters, and essays.
Imagination:
The integration of the writing a journal in stimulates imagination, creativity,
and originality. It fosters a respect for innovation, brainstorming, and the application
of new ideas.
Creativity:
Journal writing develops creative ideas as well as self-expression.
Emotional release:
The journal provides an unthreatening place to release feelings and pent-up
emotions that may not have other outlets. Sometimes it can help people with behavior
problems. After writing their feelings down in the journal, people feel a sense of
relief.
Self-confidence:
Journal writing builds more confidence for the writer.
Values clarification:
Journal writing provides excellent tools for exploring the writer’s own
personal experience, values, preference, desires, and talents.
(Capacchione, 1982, pp.3-7)
Example 1
About Me
I hope I shall be able to confide in you completely, as I have never been to do in
anyone before, and I hope that you will be a great support and comfort to me.
I have two things to confess to you to day, which will take a long time. But I must tell
someone and you are the best one to tell, as I know that, come what may, you always
keep a secret.
I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore I am grateful to God for
giving me this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing
all that is in me.
(Adapted from Capacchione, 1989, p. 90)
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Exercise 1
Draw a self-portrait of your own. It might be a picture of your physical
appearance or symbols, colors, shapes, or abstract designs. After the drawing is done,
write a few sentences to express your feeling.
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Example 2
My Story: Autobiography
I have never really sat down and thought about my past. I’ve
had happiness and sadness like other people. I’ve lived in 5 states and
moved 15 times. I’ve traveled and done a lot of things. My parents
were divorced when I was six, and my Mother and I moved to my
Grandma’s. I was then an only child. I got to visit my Father once a
year, but it wasn’t the same. I kind of grew up without a father. He
always wanted me to be musical and artistic, so I took piano, dance and
voice lessons, etc. With them, I got to perform a lot. I’ve always been
involved in something, very busy. I’ve even won contests, mostly
drawing. When I was 11 my mother remarried, and we moved to a new
house. Now, I have a little brother, and I’m not an only child anymore.
(Adapted from Capacchione, 1989, p.39)
Exercise 2
Write about your auto biological story.
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Writing a Creative Journal from Your Feelings and Your Thoughts
People feel emotions all the time. A very important part of knowing
ourselves and each other is knowing how we feel and what we think and sharing
ourselves with others.
Feelings are personal, and yet they are common to all humans. Learning to
communicate how we feel to ourselves, first, can help us communicate better with
others.
Example 3
How I Feel, What I Think
I am boiling with rage… I’d like to stamp my feet, scream, give
Mummy a good shaking, cry, and I don’t know what else….
I really ought not to write this……. But still, whatever you think
of me, I can’t keep everything to myself, so I’ll remind you of my opening
words---“Paper is patient!”
But, still, the brightest spot of all is that at least I can write down
my thoughts and feeling, otherwise I would be absolutely stifled !
I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear, my
courage is reborn….
(Adapted from Capacchione, 1989, p. 40)
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Exercise 3
Write about your experiences when you have felt angry, happy or worried
about something.
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Example 4
A Dream
I am flying on a plane, bound for Chiangmai, to see my father. I
will finally be getting there, after waiting a whole year. Then suddenly the
plane shoots downward towards the mountains. I feel a violent jolt, the
plane has crashed. I look around and I am the only one alive. I have many
broken bones, but I manage to crawl through the bloody bodies, and out
the emergency door. Just as I get out, it blows up. I wait and wait, and
then a helicopter comes! My father is even in it. I am safe. I survived the
crash, because I’m a survivor. I’ve been through a lot in my life. You
notice Just my Dad came to rescue me because he really cares about me,
more than others. Since I had this dream I’m kind of scared to fly in a
plane. I know I’ll be nervous flying to my Dad’s this summer.
Sakchai
(Lerdpreedakorn, 2004, p. 23)
Exercise 4
Write about your dream.
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Example 5
My Dream House
Looking from a distance, you would see a two story, stone house
with ivy growing up and down the front. As you walk in, it would be very
sunny, because of all the numerous windows. There are plenty of rooms,
enough for all my books and instruments, and a big kitchen, so you
wouldn’t bump into people. There are enough telephones and baths to go
around too. It is all done in antiques, and plants bloom everywhere. To
make it energy efficient, solar panels and fireplaces are my heat. I have a
pool, greenhouse and gym. Everything I always wanted and more.
Greg
(Adapted from Capacchione, 1989, p.115)
Exercise 5
Write about your dream house.
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Example 6
My Hobby
When I was a little boy, my mother read me some fairy
tales before bed time. I started to read when I went to school. I like
reading. I read for my pleasure whenever I have free time. I found that
reading broadens my thought and my experiences. Books provide
readers many interesting information. In addition, reading makes me
relaxed and enjoyable. I can travel all over the world by reading
books. I think reading is very useful and helpful for me. I hope you
can join me doing this wonderful hobby.
Penpan
(Lerdpreedakorn, 2004, p. 26)
Exercise 6
Write about your hobby.
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Example 7
My Birthday Party
My birthday was on May 15. My parents arranged the party for
me at our house. I invited my close friends to the party. At the party, we
had a lot of food and drink. Some of my friends brought some food and
snacks over. Everyone brought my birthday presents which I opened them
at the party. We chatted and ate a lot. At the end, I cut my birthday cake.
It was a huge chocolate cake. My friend went home at about 11 pm. We
got up very late in the morning of the next day.
Kitti
(Lerdpreedakorn, 2004, p. 28)
Exercise 7
Write about your birthday party.
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Example 8
My Journal
June 1: Today is the first day of school. I went to the university at 8.00 to
meet my friends. Our class met in the morning and we studied in the
afternoon. We had a lot of things to share. Some of my friends had just
got back from their hometown. They looked very happy and cheerful. I
like them all.
July 9: I’ve been listening to music all day today. I found that my
favorite music is in the album that I listened to. I spent most of my time at
home. I felt very happy to do things I like at home.
July19: There was a lot of rain today. The weather was very wet. I could
not go out so I stayed home and studied. For lunch, my mother cooked
fried rice for us. We had some sticky rice with mangoes for dessert.
August 2: There was unexpected mail in my mail box today. I got a letter
from an old friend who studied with me during my primary years. I was
very surprised to read that she would come to visit me in September.
August 31: Today is my birthday. I got up very early in the morning to
make merit by giving food to the monks. I had a wonderful breakfast with
my family. We had some fried chicken and sticky rice and the food that
everyone could not miss was Papaya salad. We did not have a birthday
party in the evening. Instead, we went out for dinner at a nice restaurant in
town.
(Lerdpreedakorn, 2004, p. 29)
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Exercise 8
Write your journal entries like the model in Example 8.
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Exercise 9
Keep your journal entries in your notebook or any other kinds of things you
can do yourself, for example, you can draw a picture and explain how you feel at the
moment you do it.
Keep a journal entry every day in your note book in order to practice your
writing creatively.
You can write some examples of your journal entries here before you find
your own special note book.
You can draw a picture here.
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