What does it mean to "write from the body"? When we ‘write from the body’, we write from the bodily home we inhabit in this life. We might write from a black body, a queer body, a white or mixed race body, a dying body, a non-binary body, an able-bodied body, an immunocompromised body, ... Read More >>
Journaling is a Place of Refuge I have always considered journaling as a place of refuge. I have never heard anyone else describe journaling in this particular way until participating in Mark Matousek's memoir writing program last week at Hollyhock. He said this exact thing, "Journaling has always been my place of refuge." He ... Read More >>
"When you write about a memory you begin to remember more fragments of your life; when you read it to others you remember even more." ~ Patty Dann I facilitated our Writing Alone Together Circle today, which is one of our monthly IAJW member events. I often pick a theme or a topic ... Read More >>
How to be More Playful and Creative in the Pages of Your Journal I truly believe that play is a portal to our creative self-expression! There are many ways to to add more play and creativity to journaling. This can be done in simple ways like using colourful pen and markers to make your ... Read More >>
Free writing and structured writing are two different approaches to journaling, each with its own benefits and purposes. I use both free writing and structured writing within my journaling practice because both forms of journaling help me gain new insights and find different ways to express myself and increase self-awareness along the way. About ... Read More >>
From the Pages of Our Journals Are you curious what other people write about in their journals? Through our monthly Writing Alone Together Circles, one our IAJW Member Benefits, I have seen how powerful it is to journal and also to share journaling (voluntarily) within a kind, compassionate and caring community. Both writer and ... Read More >>
Our IAJW members are from all around the world with a wide range of experiences with journaling. Our Member Spotlight Interviews are a way to shine a light on our amazing members and to learn from their stories and journal writing tips. I am happy to introduce to our featured member this month, Jay ... Read More >>
Brightdark, this living. Sore and soaring. Joygrief. Loveloss. Fearhope. Do you feel it too? The paradox. I once described my journal as “a space for everything.” There’s nothing I can’t say in my conversation with myself on the page. Things I can’t speak find a home there. There’s plenty of room to play with ... Read More >>
Written by Lynda Monk I love taking courses, especially journal writing courses! I am always taking a course - it might be self-guided, instructor led, online or in-person. I am a lifelong learner and I buy more courses than clothes. Given my passion for taking courses, I thought I would ... Read More >>
It is National Poetry Month in both Canada and the US. Judy Reeves, one of our IAJW Journal Council members, created an inspiring Book Spine Poem. I had never heard of a Book Spine Poem and was immediately drawn to it. I wanted to create one too and thought it would be fun to ... Read More >>