How To Use a Journal to Write a Book (even if you use a computer)

I have a fantastic critique group. There are four of us, and every week we take turns sharing our work with each other. We also keep each other accountable for our writing goals. It's such a great group!

One of them shared with us some drawings and outlines she'd done in a journal to support the vision for her book. I was blown away by this idea! As a lover of all things scrapbooking/bullet journaling (and *may* have a journal obsession), this was the most brilliant thing. Especially because I can struggle with visual descriptions if I don't have a clear vision in my head of what I'm describing.

A journal can be a place to:

- write character sketches with photos of your characters (Google!)

- make a collage for your setting, floor plans, building descriptions, etc.

- brainstorm wild ideas that will never make it into your book but get your brain juices flowing

So what did I do? I ran to the store to grab myself a new journal! Oh, and pretty pens. you know, the colourful ones that don't run through the page.

Although I've never made one before, I decided on the following sections in my journal:

- my characters

- my setting

- important events

In the picture on this post, you'll see the first part of my settings: examples of villas.

What better way to describe your setting than to have an example of it right in front of you? Really, there is no better way.

And, yes, I do use my computer to write my book draft. But you can't take a crafty girl away from the crafting.

So, while I've put down just over 12,000 words in the last two weeks for my first draft of a book about witches in ancient Pompeii, I may end up a bit distracted from my present work-in-progress. I think I've found the perfect complementary hobby to go with my writing.