Tag Archives: Mari L. McCarthy

Q&A: “Should I Save (or Destroy) My Old Journals?”

Do your journals scream out like Cheryl’s do, “Should I stay or should I go?”

Mari and I stand on either side of this debate with great pointers for anyone who wonders “why hang on to these notebooks?”

Cheryl first started keeping her journals because she wanted “proof of her existence”. Today, she believes she’s collected enough; or maybe her reasons for journal-writing are different now?

Whether you write just for the zen of it, or you have other reasons for journaling, Mari and I offer ideas in this episode that help you keep your focus on YOU, and whatever you’re needing from the soul-supporting practice of journaling.

In the all-new 30-Day Journaling Challenge, titled, “Looking Back, Looking Forward”, you can also hear dozens of terrific ideas for using your journals to review and harvest from your old writings, and then design a compelling future for the new season ahead.

Fuel the dialogue: Do your journal notebooks have a “shelf-life”? Post your response at the bottom of this webpage, in the comments section.

You may send your own journaling question to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, pick up the telephone and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280 (only normal toll charges may apply). If your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #18, December 16, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “Why Should I Read My Old Journals?”

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Steve raises a question on which Mari and I respectfully (and playfully) disagree. Are your journals stuck in a past that is no longer relevant? Or, are there good reasons (besides wandering down memory lane) to go back and re-reading old journal entries?

Some lifelong journal-writers will say the best part about keeping a journal is the zen-like attention and awareness of the present moment; and going backwards in time to read old stories is completely counter to that intention. Mari even (gulp!) throws them away!

And while I agree with that mindset, I know that my journals contain some deliciously captured moments, and zen-like insights of which I enjoy reminding myself.

Perhaps the best answer lies in the paradox somewhere in-between. Write as if you’ll throw away your journals, but keep them so you can cherish those “in-the-moment” reflections! (Click here to Tweet this!)

Please share: What do you get from re-reading your journals? Inspiration? Material for publication? Future blog-posts? A chronology to pass on to future generations? Entertaining reminders of a time gone by?

If you have a question for a future episode of JournalTalk Q&A, please call and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280 (only normal toll charges may apply). If your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #15, November 4, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “What Can I Do To Stop Losing My Journals?”

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Lila loves journaling, and completely enjoys all the 101 reasons to keep on writing. But she just can’t seem to hang on to one journal long enough to fill it up, so she wrote us to ask, “What can I do to stop losing my journals?”

Several suggestions are offered, including: Write a “Dear Finder” letter at the front of her journal, not just to give instructions about getting it back, but to learn more about why she might have a habit of misplacing her most precious thoughts and feelings.

Join the discussion by posting your comments below (on our website’s comment section). How do you feel when you misplace your journal? What tricks do you have to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands?

If you are receiving this in email format, you may also reply with your own journaling questions to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, please call and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280 (only normal toll charges may apply). If your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #14, October 21, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “Can Journaling Help Me Become a Better Writer?”

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Raul wrote in to ask, with deep yearning and colorful examples, “Can journaling help me become a better writer?” Both Mari and I reassured him that he’s already on that path, with a significant piece of evidence hiding right inside the four-paragraph question!

For a more detailed response to this question, you will surely enjoy my interview with Danielle Hanna, crime-fiction writer, and author of Journaling to Become a Better Writer.

In his book, 101 Reasons To Write a Journal, the author devotes an entire chapter to thirteen different ways that journal-writing improves your general writing skills, regardless whether you keep an analog or digital journal! Here are the first ten.

1. Capture ideas before they vanish.
2. Build grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.
3. Learn how to start, tell, and end a story.
4. Find your sense of humor.
5. Increase your writing speed.
6. Practice writing every day.
7. Develop plot-building skills.
8. Increase your writing confidence.
9. Discover whether you even enjoy writing.
10. Destroy writer’s block.

Please join the dialogue: Post comments (on our website’s comments section) if you have more examples of how journaling has improved your writing.

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “Why Can’t I Ever Finish One Notebook?”

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Do you ever get bored with a journal notebook you’ve started, and just want to move on to the next one already? What’s that about?

With our typical playfulness, wit and creativity, Mari L. McCarthy and I offer some helpful suggestions to Susan who asks, “Why can’t I ever finish a journal notebook?” We cover the full range of ideas, including an encouragement for Susan to celebrate her not-finishing a notebook!

Please join the dialogue. Do you drool over the many options in the stationery aisle, while picking out your next journal notebook? Do you get so anxious to start a new one that you leave the old one with unused pages? We welcome additional comments and suggestions about finishing up one notebook before going to the next. Electronic journal-writers: Chime in!

You may reply to this email with your own question to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, please call and leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280 (only normal toll charges may apply). If your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #11, September 9, 2014)

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Q&A: “What is the Best Time of Day to Do My Journaling?”

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Do you prefer mornings or evenings to do your journaling? Or, both?

Julia Cameron, author of “The Artist’s Way” has successfully popularized the notion of Morning Pages, which are three pages of handwritten stream-of-consciousness writing done first thing each day. This practice has helped millions of artists, writers, entrepreneurs, business women and -men, and everyday people to recover their spiritual and creative expression.

Unfortunately, a common side-effect of this widespread practice is a belief that Morning Pages is the only way to do your journaling. Our question this week comes from a woman who wonders if it’s okay to try something else. Mari and I offer some suggestions, including the twin sister of Morning Pages, called “Night Notes.”

Please join the dialogue. Do you prefer morning or evening to do your journal-writing? We welcome additional comments and suggestions about journaling at night or day (or both!)

You may reply to this email with your own question to be featured on a future episode of JournalTalk. Or, please call to leave a voicemail with your question at 1-805-751-6280 (only normal toll charges may apply). If your question is featured, we will send you a thank-you gift for sharing your voice! (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #10, August 26, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “How Can I Restart My Journaling, After Trust Has Been Broken?”

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I’ve always been successful in keeping my journal private (I think!) but I realize that one reason people may find it difficult to take up a diary or journal-writing habit is because they fear of it being found, and read, by someone for whom it was not intended.

This week, Mari and I explore some ideas for creating safety in your journaling, especially if you have felt your trust was broken by someone reading your journals in the past.

Please join the dialogue. We welcome additional comments and suggestions about “how to restart journaling after trust has been broken”. Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #9, August 5, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “How Do I Stop Writing In Circles?”

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Our journaling question this week touches on a very important concern, especially for those who are using journal-writing to work through some difficult issues. Sometimes we feel we are writing in circles, rehashing the same thoughts over and over, without any progress, relief or resolve. If you have ever experienced this, Mari and I have a few layman’s tips to offer.

We discuss some ways to reframe this process, not necessarily to force change or jump to a false conclusion, but to help find some out-of-the-box ways for you to approach your journaling, so that you get the sense of movement, or progress.

Please join the dialogue. Especially if you’re a therapist or trained counselor, you’re welcome to write your comments and suggestions about “how to stop writing in circles”. Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #8, July 22, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “What Can I Write in Just 5 Minutes?”

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We are all so pressed for time. Busy is the new cool. Our journaling question this week is for all who feel they have such a full, hectic life that that they simultaneously have too much going on and nothing (or no time) to write.

Like Carolyn who brings us this week’s question, you may have heard experts say that just five minutes of writing can have great benefits. But can five minutes of writing really be a productive way to do journal-writing? Where should you start, or how can you narrow down in such a limited time? Mari and I have some suggestions!

Please join the dialogue. You’re welcome to write your comments and suggestions about “what to write in just five minutes”. Or, send us your own questions that we can feature on a future episode of JournalTalk. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #7, July 8, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “How Can I Archive All My Handwritten Journals?”

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Whether you type or handwrite your diary or journal, you’ll eventually need to answer the question, “How can I preserve and protect all this writing from fire, flood or other natural disasters?” Unless you are Mari L. McCarthy, who throws all her journals away (wouldn’t you love to be her trash man?) this question is not easy.

As we discuss the implications of converting all handwritten journals into digital format, Mari and I send listeners to our respective sites for more information: CreateWriteNow’s Facebook page, and my other podcast series, “Capturing Life Through Technology” at Easy Journaling.

Fuel the dialogue! Feel free to write your comments below with more journaling questions. Or, provide your own answers and opinions to this week’s featured question. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #6, June 24, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “How Do I Keep My Diary Private?”

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All the experts agree that privacy is one of the most important factors to getting great benefits from journal-writing. In this episode of JournalTalk Q&A, Mari L. McCarthy and I respond to someone who asks, “How do I keep my journal private from a family member with whom I usually share everything?” Mari and I offer up a few suggestions, and we look forward to hearing yours!

Speaking of privacy issues, in this episode I also share an update on my project to electronically scan all of my hand-written journals into PDF files. You can learn more about that in my other podcast series, “Capturing Life Through Technology” at EasyJournaling.com.

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “How Can I Get My Teenager Interested in Journaling?”

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In this episode of JournalTalk Q&A, Mari L. McCarthy and I contemplate a question sent to us from a parent who asks, “How can I get my teenager interested in journaling?” Mari and I offer up a few suggestions, and we look forward to hearing yours!

Fuel the dialogue! Feel free to write your comments below with more journaling questions. Or, provide your own answers and opinions to this week’s featured question.

For further enrichment, please also reference JournalTalk Episode #10, featuring Carrie Leigh Sandoval, who offers some additional ways to talk to teens about journaling. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #4, May 19, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Q&A: “Does Blogging Count As Journaling?”

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Mari L. McCarthy joins me as we answer your questions on journal-writing. This week, we answer a blogger’s question: Does my blogging count as journaling? Mari and I should have stated a humorous caveat to our answer, “It depends on whether anybody is reading your blog!”

Feel free to write your comments below with more of your questions, or your own opinions to the questions already posed, to fuel the dialogue some more!

For further enrichment on this question, please also reference Episode #8 of JournalTalk, to get the perspective of Dr. Joseph Bernard, an accomplished blogger and journal-writer. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #2, April 21, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Journaling Q&A: “Paper or Plastic?”

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Welcome to the first in a sub-series of JournalTalk podcasts! Mari L. McCarthy from Create Write Now joins me as we answer your questions on journaling.

This week, we open the lively and ever-evolving debate about Handwriting vs. Typing your journals. Mari and I touch on several aspects of this question, and hope to bring you an answer that puts things in an empowering perspective. (JournalTalk Q&A, Episode #1, April 7, 2014)

Credits:
Audio Editing: Netrix Marketing
Music: Pond5.com
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard

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Journaling with Ho, Ho, Ho! (Holistic Holiday Health!)

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The Oprah of Therapeutic Journaling is back again, and just in time — with good tidings for our health and well-being during this holiday season.

In this episode, Mari L. McCarthy and I discuss a full range of topics: from the upcoming journaling challenges being offered at CreateWriteNow; to the power of mindful eating; to the connection between mind, body and soul; to the free 2nd Annual Journaling Expo webinar scheduled for January … and more!

I was also curious to ask Mari how her ambidextrous morning pages are coming since Episode #3, when she first explained them. She gave a mind-blowing and inspiring reply, illustrating once more that journaling is a therapeutic tool for holistic health! (JournalTalk, Episode #21, December 9, 2013)

Credits:
Music: AudioNetwork.com and Mari L. McCarthy
Voiceover: Thomas Gerrard
Logo Art: Wendy Kipfmiller, Snixysnix.com

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Write4Life

Journaling for Passion, Clarity & Purpose!

Tag Archives: Mari L. McCarthy

Q&A: “Should I Save (or Destroy) My Old Journals?”

Q&A: “Why Should I Read My Old Journals?”

Q&A: “What Can I Do To Stop Losing My Journals?”

Q&A: “Can Journaling Help Me Become a Better Writer?”

Q&A: “Why Can’t I Ever Finish One Notebook?”

Q&A: “What is the Best Time of Day to Do My Journaling?”

Q&A: “How Can I Restart My Journaling, After Trust Has Been Broken?”

Q&A: “How Do I Stop Writing In Circles?”

Q&A: “What Can I Write in Just 5 Minutes?”

Q&A: “How Can I Archive All My Handwritten Journals?”

Q&A: “How Do I Keep My Diary Private?”

Q&A: “How Can I Get My Teenager Interested in Journaling?”

Q&A: “Does Blogging Count As Journaling?”

Journaling Q&A: “Paper or Plastic?”

Journaling with Ho, Ho, Ho! (Holistic Holiday Health!)