Freedom of Expression (All Written Out Part 2)
I hope you had a chance to read some of the comments on the entry I posted on Thursday 8th March. It’s not too late to join the discussion.
From the responses so far it seems there is agreement on a greater sense of freedom in a personal journal; less need to self censor; room to vocalise first thoughts; and time, when writing by hand, to reflect and process. Each respondent also agreed that nothing else came close to the function of a personal journal. There are loads of thoughts here to blog about, but I might just begin with the freedom found in journal writing.
I believe the freedom of expression found in personal journal writing is one of the greatest releases I have in dealing with stress. No one will tell me to shut up, or that I’m really going on about something, or that my attitude stinks while I am writing in my journal. On the other hand no one is going to sweet talk me and say how wonderful I am either. But, I have come to rely on that space. It’s probably the equivalent of a padded room to go and scream in.
I am free to be as politically incorrect as I feel. I am free to be totally right and justify my actions, wrong or right. I am free to complain, to romanticise, to list, describe, reflect and dig into whatever personal or boring issue I feel led to write about. Put all these things into a personal blog and pretty soon your readers will be looking elsewhere.
Any publication demands your writing be entertaining. You may say you write only for yourself, but I ask what the point of making it public is, then. I certainly do not criticise anyone for writing a personal blog. It’s something I have done for over six years myself. But I write with the intent of reaching an audience. The contents of my handwritten journal would never live up to anyone else’s scrutiny. I’m sure anyone finding one of my journals would be bored within the first few pages.
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Heather
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POSTED IN: General: Journal Writing, Journal Writing Prompts
3 opinions for Freedom of Expression (All Written Out Part 2)
Michelle
Mar 12, 2007 at 2:44 pm
In my journal I have many thoughts about family and friends that I just can’t post in my blog. I have a policy to never say anything there that I wouldn’t say in the subject’s presence. And I love watching people and observing and recording my impressions so that all has to be in the journal not the blog generally.
But you’d be proud, after your post I was determined to catch up in the journal this weekend–I usually write every Sunday night 3 or 4 single spaced pages but I haven’t written since the beginning of January. I sat down last night and wrote 10 pages and caught all up. I’m going to be better this year :)
Heather Goldsmith
Mar 12, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Great stuff, Michelle. I’m glad you’ve gotten back to your journal. I agree about keeping your family and friends out of your blog. I do mention mine, but they are never named. I don’t think that would be right. Thanks for your comment. ;-)
A Creative Journal » Self Censorship
Mar 13, 2007 at 7:48 am
[…] Continuing the thoughts from yesterday’s entry; self censorship is something you need not do in your personal handwritten journal. […]
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