Hello everyone! Sophie here today to share with you about writing on your creations. In a journaling rut? Have no fear! Today I’m going to share with you numerous ways to climb out of the hole and plunge right into your journaling. So pick up your pens and let’s Beg, Borrow or Brave it to get our words on a page, without the need to buy anything. Yay!
1. Beg It.
Sometimes the words to a page are best written from a different perspective. When I am stuck or lost for words for a page, I turn to my husband to get his thoughts. Some of my best writings are the result of interviews with family members and friends. I love my colornote app on my mobile phone, which allows me to quickly write precious gems of stuff my kids say or do. I refer to these notes whenever I am creating, and they are my fuel for words. Alternatively, get someone to write a sentence or two on the subject matter that you are scrapping. Perhaps have a family quiz where everyone answers the same questions. Not only does it work a treat for family bonding, but you produce instant fodder for your journaling purposes. I have asked my daughter the same list of questions every year in her birthday month – favorite color, place, food etc. and love how the responses show she is evolving as she grows up. Next year, she will have to write her answers and this mama will score some words without lifting a pen.
Other ways to get words from others include using those penned by your child’s teacher in progress reports, greetings written in cards, thoughts found on Facebook status and even comments on your photos on Instagram. Since many of us actually spend time on social media, why not use those words for our pages too? While at it, look out for numerous free printables that are everywhere these days. Clique Kits have some of the loveliest around and they are oh, so versatile to be used as part of your journaling. These often have beautiful sentiments that work great as embellishments too.
See the title on the following page? That’s from a 17 Turtles cut file:
2. Borrow It.
Why reinvent the wheel? There are loads of great journaling stuff found in quotes and famous speeches. Try searching online for quotes with specific words in them that convey the sentiment of your page or use lines from your favorite show, song, book or even the tagline of products and mottos of institutions. Many of these make great titles too and you kill two birds with one stone in the process. Personally, I love including lines from poems and children’s books on my pages. I have also found myself reading information leaflets for words and descriptions of the places we have been. No harm using those on a page since they have already been written and edited.
Instead, of having entire chunks of words as journaling, have a list of words, or use a definition. Perhaps a list of synonyms describing your feelings, child, day or trip. Consider having the definition of “life”, “breathe” or “excitement” for a page about your everyday. Clean the dust off your dictionary and thesaurus and there you have before you, instant potential journaling material at your disposal. In the above page, I chose to include a list of wishes we have of our daughter. That made journaling on the page much faster.
3. Brave It.
Do it yourself. Set the timer for a minute and write. No editing or doubting yourself. Never mind grammatical or spelling errors. If you would like to edit what you have written, then write on scrap paper first. If you are in the habit of journal writing, read through your entries and select choice sentences to use on your page. To shake things up a little, try writing using a different medium. Think crayons, markers, paint brushes or calligraphy. Have fun with your own handwriting. If you are one of those who would really rather not have your handwriting on a page, there is always the option of typing on a typewriter or a computer. Play with the fonts, size and colors. The possibilities are endless!
Or perhaps you are after some extra oomph in your writing? Play with words. Use literary devices like puns (words that sound alike such as “right” and “write”), alliterations (words starting with the same letter), metaphors (likening a person to something “You are my cupcake”) or onomatopoeia (sound words like “ah”, “whoosh” and “Wham”) in your journaling. These often add a dimension of humor, fun and deeper thought to your creation and will certainly illicit a laughter or conversation with whoever admires your pages.
And there you have it. Three possible ways to get you writing again. To make things even easier for you my dear reader, all these journaling tips have been summarized in a chart for your quick reference.
Clique Notes: Do the Write Thing
Tips to Get Out of a Writing Rut
|
| |
How?
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Where?
|
| Beg It |
Interview someone
Someone else’s handwriting
Create questionnaires
Free printables
Progress reports
Comments from Social Media |
Family
Kids
Friends
Schools
Websites
Notes you have taken |
| Borrow It |
Stories, poems
Quotations
Movies, songs, taglines, mottos
Definitions, synonyms
Overheard conversations
Information leaflets |
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Websites
Books
Notes you have taken
Pamphlets |
| Brave It |
Type it
Paint it
Write without editing
Play with fonts
Literary devices
Keep a Journal |
Typewriter / Computer
Brushes
Personal handwriting
Calligraphy
Dictionary
Journal |
Print it out and the next time you find yourself in a journaling rut, pull out the chart and try one of these ideas. So go on now and do the write thing! Oh, and before I leave you, see those blooms on my page?
Those were hand sewn using 17 Turtles cut files as a template and painted thereafter. There are loads of yummies in the Clique Kits store waiting to be discovered, so don’t forget to enjoy 25% in the Clique Kits shop using CKNOV25 and take 25% off your order at 17turtles with CK17TURTLES25. Promotion runs till the end of November 2014. Happy creating!
