Featured: How to Write a Creative Journal

Being creative simply means changing your perspective. It means standing out to be different or doing something for the sake of being different. Creativity lies in the mind of an individual who wants to express an idea – that idea being limitless. It also means challenging yourself by finding the differences and similarities in the same object during the process of creating.

Finding Inspiration

The first step of writing a creative journal is finding the material to base your information off. It will be the most difficult - and most beautiful - of all the steps, as this is where everything begins. Preparing yourself is very important: use paper, pens, camera, notepads, or whatever tool or object you are most comfortable with to convey the topic of the journal you create. It would be best to comforting atmosphere.

There are numerous things to write about in the world around you. The goal, of course, would be to make it interesting and enjoyable. Creative thinking or creating is all about turning something old or dull into something new and exciting! Finding inspiration can come from people-watching (just don’t be creepy). The people around you can evolve into something more simply by analyzing their style and body language. Inspiration for a creative journal can come from listening to people talk - as well as to what they aren't saying.

Another tool of inspiration that will be helpful is, of course, everyday life and media. Try finding inspiration from music that has no lyrics, or simply listen to your favorite song and see what sparks from there. Write down what images you see while listening, or what memories are stirred. Maybe try focusing your undivided attention on one thing a day, choosing one of your six senses and focusing on that object or smell or feeling. Try concentrating on a piece of art, or even a certain sound. Inspiration comes and goes, but whether it is in a person, picture or your favorite book, everyday life is spectacular and there are always new discoveries to be made when knowing where to look.

Whatever you find purposeful and interesting, you should let the world know it and feel it. Let us understand why the things you enjoy are annoying and amazing at the same time. Once all the note taking, drawings and pictures is completed and sorted then you are ready to create your journal.

Creating It

This stage is the fun one; you get to be creative! This is where your journal comes to life. And even though the first process was inspiration, it does not mean that it has to stop there. Something like inspiration will never fade and I would encourage you to search for the thing that inspires you the most. When people hear the word “journal” they think of diaries -- change that misconception! Change the overall perspective of what it means to create a journal that is only full of pages of words.

Make your readers laugh, cry and importantly: make them think. Your creative journal can be what you wish it to be and about what you wish it to, but whatever choice you make, create something that will last forever. Make something that is beautiful in every way shape and form through your eyes. Some examples of creative journals that I adore would have to come from the author Keri Smith; she is the writer Wreck this Journal, a book with cute, creative, and fun activities to do when creating your journal. Your journal can be in the form of anything you would like it to be. A notebook, a blog on the computer or in pieces – literally. One of the most creative journals I have come across was a music blog. Every day the person would blog about a song he or she liked and would write the mood being felt as well as where they were. What caught my attention was that the blog was shaped into an iPod touch. It was colorful, insightful and fun to read, and most importantly: it kept me going back for more.

Posting It

As creative writers, we do not know the outcome of things once they are posted to a writing site like Mibba or a blog site like Tumblr. We wonder if we are going to get feedback and we are left anxious. Creative journals are meant to be stress relievers, sometimes even as outlets to vent. Journals and blogs may be the only weapon for kids who have no other chance of being heard. Even though it does end here, the process of creating something will never stop. The imagination is unlimited.

Thanks to Airi. and Fandango for editing.