National Journal Writing Month is about to begin, and if you’re new to journal writing, you might be wondering how you’re going to fulfill the month-long challenge.
As someone who has completed similar journal writing challenges, I can assure you that journal writing for 30 straight days is definitely doable, and in the end the journey and challenge will be well worth the effort.
Here are some winnable suggestions for making it to the end.
1. First, decide how you want to approach NaJoWriMo. We’ve posted three levels of journal writing for NaJoWriMo. Choose the one that fits your journal writing goals.
2. We will be posting journal writing prompts each of day for the month of NaJoWriMo, both on this site and on Twitter. Responding to our prompts should definitely help you complete the challenge. And remember, the prompts are just a guide. You can customize them to fit your own particular experiences and goals. We will also be sharing other resources you might consider trying.
3. Carve out some time (10-20 minutes/per day) for your journal writing. It’s best to write when you’re least distracted. Writing while drinking your morning coffee, or in the evening before going to bed might be useful times. If need be, set an alarm reminder so that journal writing becomes a part of your daily schedule.
4. Write whatever comes to your mind. Don’t censor yourself. The goal this month is to get your journal writing juices flowing, and to discover what you learn and experience as you engage in the writing.
5. If you skip a day or two, don’t fret it. NaJoWriMo is not a class assignment. It’s not a job. It’s a personal growth tool and process. If you skip a day or two, simply catch up when you have time.
6. Make sure you’re writing each day’s date in your journal to help you keep on track. Of course, one advantages of digital journals is that they automatically set the date for you, and some apps will send you a reminder.
7. Have confidence that journal writing is not waste of time. We will be sharing blog posts and other resources that explain why and how journal writing is a powerful tool for personal growth.
Happy journaling this month. And let us know what strategies you use to maintain a journal writing habit.
Is it too late to join for month of July?
No, you can still subscribe. However, because the prompts are automated to run from the first day of July, you won’t receive the prompts that have already been emailed. You should start receiving prompts the day of or the next day after you subscribe. Happy journaling.