“Genres” of Journaling: 8 Ideas to Inspire You

I remember a few birthdays and Christmases in my teen years when I added a “do NOT get me” item to my wish list. The item? Journals. My family knew well that I had an obsession with blank books, so that’s what I received as gifts. You may perhaps be wondering how that could be a problem. It wasn’t. Until I ended up with so many journals that I had no idea what to do with them! So, I requested a hiatus from journals as gifts, until I could catch up.

That said, I did find plenty of uses for all those journals. Besides my life-story journal, I started journals in a bunch of other “genres.” In this post, I want to share a brief description of each kind. Hopefully, you will be inspired to think beyond what we normally label as “journaling” – the recording of life events.

Note: Some of these “genres” of journaling may really only qualify as notebooks. But since they aren’t your average notebooks either, and they do play a part in the telling of my life story, I have included them in the list.

Prayer Journal

In my late teens, the idea of writing my prayers to God seemed odd – maybe even irreverent. But then my mom shared an idea she had heard: the idea of journaling 1000 things one is thankful for. I calculated that I would have to write three daily to make it to 1K in a year. And I chose to write them as prayers to the Giver of all good gifts.

At first it wasn’t hard to think of things, and the prayers weren’t super deep. But once I had covered all the general things, then I had to begin pulling specific thanksgivings from my day. And something happened. I began rehearsing my day every night before bed as I chose three things to be thankful for. As I remembered those good things, I also remembered my sins of that day. I began confessing my sin each night along with giving thanks and making requests to God. I don’t remember for sure if I ever reached 1K thanksgivings. But the regular confession and thanksgiving that this journal helped produce are worth repeating in a new journal….

Travel Journal

This is a must for anyone who enjoys journaling (and maybe even some people who don’t!). All blank journals are exciting. But a travel journal practically smells of suitcases and hotel soap, sea air and French fries. My current travel journal holds the record of a long road trip that my family took 17 years ago. I gave myself a pseudonym, imagined myself an explorer, and began.

I have since added accounts of a few other family vacations to that journal.

At 16, I spent two weeks in Ukraine, and recorded the events in a special journal that I dressed up appropriately for the occasion.

If I ever do any more over-seas traveling, I have no doubt that I will do some more journaling!

Sketch Journal

As its name implies, this is simply a sketch book full of random drawings that act somewhat like a life-story journal. At first, I didn’t intend this. I was just a kid drawing my favorite thing: horses. Then I did a couple nicer sketches of other subjects. I added a few “doodles” created during read-aloud sessions with my dad. Then I drew a few sketches while on vacation.

Now, I take the sketch journal with me on vacations or to other special events so I can add another “moment” to the story. It’s almost time for a new sketch book.

Homesteading Journals

This “genre” began when I picked up a lovely journal with a pair of Speckled Sussex chickens on the front.

I used it to record the story of our many batches of laying hens. And then my geese joined the record and their story spilled out of this book into a new one. These journals are unique in that I reference them more than any other. (I struggle to remember things like dosages from one year to the next it seems.) They are also unique because the bits of records stuffed into the back overflowed into a binder.  

That binder is one of those things that doesn’t really qualify as a journal. It’s just records. But it is part of the story too, and a very handy reference. If you are considering keeping a journal of any of your homesteading pursuits, I highly recommend that you make a way to keep concise records as well. If you want to know the average weight of the eggs your goose laid last year, you will not want to wade through two months’ worth of journal entries to find out. Make a table to help you.

But, if you are considering keeping records, I also recommend that you make space for journaling. Don’t lose the records of those funny stories and sweet or sorrowful moments that can’t be noted in a table or a graph.

In my early twenties, I also began a garden journal. I had decided to read a book on perennial gardening, and I got serious about my flower bed. Thus the need to keep notes.

And drawings.

And the plastic tags from the new plants I purchased.

So far, I haven’t added any fold-out maps, but I would like to. 😊

Quote Journal

I believe a friend gave me this idea, so I started one. I haven’t gotten very far yet. I’m too lazy to go get it when I’m in the middle of a book. And I forget about it, honestly. But it’s not just for profound literary quotes. I’ve got several that came from regular conversation with friends!

List Journal

Similar to the quote journal in a way, this is my “journal” of the books that I read each year. At first, I simply listed the titles. Nothing more. Now, I add at least a few comments about the nature of the book and whether I liked it and why. In fact, I really should go update it….

Idea Journal

At least two of my journals/binders fall into this “genre.”

One journal stores ideas (including some paint color samples) for home décor and things that I would love in a house/would add if I were ever to build my own house.

I have a binder with dividers that serves as a place to store my ideas for things to write about. I confess that I don’t look at it often enough. Bits of (bad) poetry, scribbled on everything from college-ruled binder paper to an envelope flap, decorate one section. Old, old scribblings of “novels” (that should NEVER see the light) fill another. Other sections hold brainstorms for non-fiction articles and random bits of “what if.”

I also have a poetry journal that holds bits and pieces of thought – rather like a scrapbook. Most of it being exercises from The Roar on the Other Side*, a curriculum for learning to write poetry. (I highly recommend this book, even if you don’t belong to the high-school group for which it was intended.)

Writer’s “What’s Next” Journal

I don’t even know what to call this journal/notebook. But I love it so much that I had to share it. A little, unassuming notebook with a puppy on the front, it is one of my favorite “journals.” It started as a notebook for a homeschool literature class. What makes it so special is the exercise I was given: This time, when you’re done reading the assigned chapter(s), write what you think might happen next.

I wrote my own version of the beginning of the next chapter. And I fell in love with the exercise!

I voluntarily added other pieces of story over the years. One was inspired by a major cliff-hanger at the end of a book in a series. Only a couple years ago, I wrote an epilogue as therapy. The unresolved ending of that series disturbed me so much that I brooded over it for like a week! (Silly me.)

I guess this “exercise” is basically just fan fiction. But I love returning to this journal to re-read these pieces! The thing I find the most amazing about them is that some of them seem to truly reflect the voice of the book that inspired them. I recommend this exercise to any aspiring writer! It’s loads of fun and it’s educational. Be sure to get a big enough notebook, though. You just might find it addicting.

What “Genre” is for You?

I hope you’ve been inspired by at least one of these ideas. Personally, I could never really get enough of blank books. They hold so much potential for creativity. Now it’s your turn. Use one of these “genre” ideas, or invent your own. Just be sure to go out, find a blank book and a pen, and then fill your new journal.

Good journey to you, fellow journalers!

Tell me: what’s your favorite journaling “genre”?

* Rhodes, Suzanne U., The Roar on the Other Side: A Guide for Student Poets (Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2009)