Monday, November 06, 2006

Reading this post on Sunday caused me to remember a significant change in my life that had a drastic effect, but was just a small thing. I enjoyed making lists for each day. Whoever came up with the idea of a daily planner has my great gratitude. It was right up my ally, but I got too comfortable with the organization of it and it began to stifle my writing. I purchased all my journals on lined paper. It was my sisters idea to buy a blank journal and have the option to
write sideways, diagonal, or upside down. I became a writing fool.

But, scratching out the words and rearranging what I was saying also bothered me because I thought it looked messy...and it did, but another friend pointed out how interesting it is to see the process of making a poem flow, through the change of words and sentences. My future grandchildren will one day read these and better understand how my mind worked.



If you have not tried a blank page journal, I challenge you to try it. If you already do, please let me know what you like about the pages being lineless (new word?) I have a million pens and enjoy my journal resembling a Sark book...but this one is all by me.....

19 Comments:

Blogger nina beana said...

beautiful journal...
i'm currently reading danny gregory's newest book, and if you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should! it's absolutely inspiring...causing me to dig up my blank journals once again, and get back to some serious creating! xo

5:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

love seeing your words alive on the page! all my journals are blank page books because i like the freedom to write, draw, collage, or scribble anything at whim. being limited by the lines i find very distracting, ehich is strange becuase in any other avenue in my life i like the structure and the organization. crooked writing drives me crazy! but frrdom on the page...that's where i can let loose :)

5:29 AM  
Blogger Deb R said...

I love seeing the pages of people's journals. Something about seeing the combination of their handwriting and sketches or doodle or collages, and seeing the scratch-outs and re-writes...the process of it...I find them fascinating.

That said, I've never been good about keeping up a paper journal myself. Sketchbooks, yes, at least now and then, but a true journal - no. That's why it surprises me that I love to blog so much.

6:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh, sweetie!

one of my birthday presents to myself was a moleskine journal - my first one, and i purposely bought it unlined. i don't necessarily doodle in it, but i like the freedom, the unrestrictiveness...i'm glad that, if the girl who doesn't like to colour inside the boxes wants to come out, that she can come out there...

much love to you. as always.

6:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

p.s.

isn't there just so much incredible LIFE spilling out from someone's journal? oh my god, i looked at the close-ups of your pages...and i was floored...

that quote from desiderata spoke to me, greatly, too...i love you.

6:18 AM  
Blogger JP (mom) said...

I will take this challenge, dear Darlene! I'll go out and pick one up and see where it takes me (I'll keep you posted!) much peace and lots of love, d

7:58 AM  
Blogger mint and orange said...

i don't have a journal at the moment because i haven't been able to find the right one (still!). i agree that a lineless journal seems so much more inspiring and creative. you have such a beautiful journal; i think the process is just as beautiful as the outcome.

9:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I used to struggle with not having lines...now, I have one with lines and one without for writing to the Universe (he he, manifestation is so fun!). That way, I can fufill both needs :)

Thanks for sharing.

11:13 AM  
Blogger Trish Ryan said...

Okay, I'll confess: I like the lines. They can't be too squished together, but I like the idea that as my words fly out of me, landing helter-skelter on the page, there's something there to give them direction. Filling up pages of lined paper gives me the same feeling of accomplishment I get when all my laundry is washed, dryed and folded: a sense of order emerging from the chaos :)

12:16 PM  
Blogger mareymercy said...

no one can read my journals! My handwriting is too horrid. Perhaps I should try including some sketches, like yours...

2:07 PM  
Blogger Deb said...

Beautiful journalling - (your writing is gorgeous). I prefer to journal on blank pages as I am a doodler and like to blend pics with words ~ writing outside the lines is like colouring outside the lines ~ much more fun!!

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love these pictures of your lineless journal. I have three large and one small lined journals waiting to be filled already, so the probability of a naked page greeting me any time soon is rather unlikely.

And I must admit that each time I consider buying one it frightens me and I reach for the safety of those straight-as-a-ruler lines. I really am trying to break out; I just haven't gotten there yet. I think the blank pages would encourage more doodling and drawing and, hard as it might be for me look at (not the artiste am I), it would be fun.

Thanks for another inspiring post, D.

xoxo Star

4:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your journal Dar... so kewl.
I LOVE your hand writing... and the note you wrote me ~with your very own paper~ sits pride of place in my creative haven. I love it SO MUCH!!

I love artsy journalling with no lines because I can do whatever I want... stick, glue, scribble, write... sketch ideas, collages.

Currently I am reading Julia Cameron's... An Artists Way.
No doubt EVERYONE except me has already read this one *smile*

I am into day 2 of my morning notes.... so I have a "lined" journal as well as my usual artsy one. SO MUCH FUN.

Thanks for sharing yours.
(((HUGS)))) and LOVEing you always!!!
Bx

5:04 PM  
Blogger Shaz said...

Hey sweet im back(smile)
I bought Danicka for her 16th birthday a hand carved leather wrap journal it had blank pages with a poem and a note on the back page from me,she loves it.
missed you
shaz xoxo

5:05 PM  
Blogger Left-handed Trees... said...

I have kept a journal since I was twelve years old--starting with the old lock and gold key ones with the teeny-tiny writing spaces to now...I use remainder notebooks from (name your favorite) chain-bookstore stores (unlined, always for daily journals). While I keep this going, I also am writing fiction in a fiction notebook (must be lined--I need the structure for that work)...and a poetry or freewrite book where the true "free association" and poems get written (right now I have a FABULOUS book for this provided by the dear-sweet BB.) I keep all three notebooks in a bag by my door, so they don't get lost and so that I can take them anywhere I go. Reading this comment makes me think I am a bit all over the place--but, if it ain't broke...very interesting, Darlene!

6:07 PM  
Blogger bronxbt said...

i keep one religiously, tho it's mainly for my drawings, doodles, inpirations, poet musings... (yesh, imma GUY and i said POETRY, sue me)

not having lines is part of my history. never could stay within them. never painted by numbers, never stayed within the strokes of a pre-printed and cold image when my pen strokes, crayon strokes, whatever breathed life into it.

why be defined by lines. why not turn the tide and redfine them by going against the grain.

nuff said. it's jes cooh.

(*even from my sunny beach in Honolulu right now... )

:)
B

8:02 PM  
Blogger Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

oh yes unlined journals offer freedom.....freedom to write or scribble or draw or paste in images or a momento of the moment....an unlined journal is the same as a blank canvas.....and who would want to use a canvas with lines across it? I don't journal like I used to years ago and I don't know why, it is however something I WILL begin again.
you're right, your grandchildren need to see the entire thought process...even if you cross things out. Thank you for sharing yours.
XOXO

11:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved this glimpse at your lineless journals (yes, I like that word!) I'm with Star...I am drawn to the blank paged books, but feel much safer with those lines to contain my thoughts.

You post inspires me...as usual!
I may go lineless sooner than I thought!

7:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Such a little change can ignite such an overflow of freedom and creativity.

I so get the lines being restrictive. I am also a bit stressed to see messiness in my journal. This reminds me that the mess (for lack of a better word right now) is good...very good indeed.

xoxoxoxo

10:22 PM  

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