clevermanka | Keeping a journal

Keeping a journal

This article talks about how writing by hand can be a good exercise for your brain, and can also improve creativity (the study calls it "idea composition") and expression.

Recent research illustrates how writing by hand engages the brain in learning. During one study at Indiana University published this year, researchers invited children to man a "spaceship," actually an MRI machine using a specialized scan called "functional" MRI that spots neural activity in the brain. The kids were shown letters before and after receiving different letter-learning instruction. In children who had practiced printing by hand, the neural activity was far more enhanced and "adult-like" than in those who had simply looked at letters.

The article mostly cited adult studies that entail learning a new alphabet or new characters. But this statement made me think of journaling, and especially my favorite type of journaling: the visual journaling style that

bestill teaches in several of her workshops.

Other research highlights the hand's unique relationship with the brain when it comes to composing thoughts and ideas...handwriting differs from typing because it requires executing sequential strokes to form a letter, whereas keyboarding involves selecting a whole letter by touching a key.

One of the most striking things (to me) about Traci's journal pages (as well as her art cards, and to some extent, her self-portraits) is the use of handwritten passages with stamped phrases.

How might the use of both techniques to create words and letters (sequential strokes verses selecting a single whole letter) on the same project encourage creativity and expression? I know I feel good--really good--after working on a journal page. I feel good, even when the subject of the journal entry is painful or sad. Doing one journal page always makes me want to do more. I rarely do just one page at a time. Getting feelings and thoughts out of my brain and on paper is a contributor to that high, I'm sure. But this article makes me wonder how much of that boost of added artistic energy is caused by doing something more with my hands than just typing out words words words words words.

Who else keeps a handwritten journal? How does it make you feel when you complete an entry?

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I don't keep a journal of the traditional variety, but I do keep countless notebooks, and large portions of my writing (and virtually all of my brainstorming) are done by hand before I start writing a story. While my first drafts are still usually very much in-process and they might change a great deal on the rewrite, whole passages and sometimes whole stories get written by hand first.

Unfortunately, my handwriting is just atrocious, I can't draw my way out of a wet paper sack, and I have a nasty tendency to use whatever is at hand to jot notes, which all combine to mean that none of my notebooks or commonplace books are at all pretty or aesthetically pleasing in any way. But I definitely find that writing by hand is a really good way for me to go in the early idea stages of writing. I probably couldn't do it any other way.

The article mentions that good handwriting can increase academic standing, but it didn't mention anything about handwriting quality having an affect on one's own creativity. I think as long as you can read what you yourself wrote, it's all good.

Written journal, no. However...

When I learn something new or are trying to solve more complex problems, I still write notes on paper. Even with current sites/software that allow you to keep track of tidbits from the web with notes and tags, I just can't learn it with the same efficiency as writing it in a notebook. Whiteboards work really well for me for jotting down ideas since it is re-usable. My entire upper-level math homework was thought out first on a whiteboard and written on paper once I was done. Anytime I used Matlab/Mathematica for homework, I always had paper sitting with me.

I was never able to write a paper on a computer either. I have to write it on paper, type it and then print it out for editing and re-thinking. My brain just never worked the same or as well starting at a blank "page" on a computer.

I still have a couple of notebooks and pens in my bedside table.

This is so interesting! Especially interesting because I know our brains are so different. Thank you for chiming in.

I don't keep a steady journal but I do have a variety of places that I keep handwritten notes, game ideas, short stories, emotive outlets, etc.

I also write out by hand issues of extreme emotion for me. Just to get it out.

I also handwrite letters.

I can't recall how exactly it feels but it is easier to have a notebook handy than stay locked to the computer or have to wait until I reach a computer.

Don't even talk to me about writing anything important out on the blackberry.

I also write out by hand issues of extreme emotion for me. Just to get it out.

How is that more cathartic than typing on a keyboard (either in an LJ vent post or a private entry)? Can you feel the difference?

I know when I vomit something out in my journal, it feels more... complete than when I'm emailing a friend about an issue. Even though I haven't shared the journal entry with anyone, it feels like I can walk away from it easier. Same for you?

Aside from the lower likelyhood that I will do something stupid with it (ie email/post while angry) paper/pen does have a few advantages over typing.

P/P enforces a time linearity. The stuff at the start is really the stuff I wrote first (etc). I have to start at the beginning and go til it's over instead of jumping around. This keeps thought flow intact. (Note that I just went back to write something in this paragraph thereby interupting my flow in this comment.)

Handwriting is slower than typing. It gives me more time to ponder as I'm writing.

It does feel more complete when I reach the end. It is the end and I'd have to start another draft. When it's done I can tear it up, give it away, do another draft, burn it, put it away for later, etc. But whatever I do... yeah, it is complete and I can walk away.

Thank you for the clarification and detail! This is so fascinating to think about.

Thank you so much! That article is fascinating and I'm passing it along to myself and others.

I'm glad you liked it! I found it on Arts & Letters Daily (http://www.aldaily.com/).

Writing something out by hand always improves the quality of my memory and comprehension. I'm not currently keeping a paper journal, though I used to have one. After a couple of years of using electronic planners, I went back to using my paper planner and love it. Yes, I transfer just about everything over to my Google calendar -- which probably opens up some margin for error and might seem like a silly redundancy -- but the combination of analog thinking and electronic reminding works very well for me.

I'm also on the boards of a couple of nonprofits, and find that taking notes at meetings by hand makes a big difference in how well I'm able to transcribe minutes. Also, for what it's worth, I have very nice handwriting. :)

I hadn't thought about it that way, but I love using a paper planner, too. Huh!

I've read that dyslexics are often much better typists than they ever are hand writers, because of that difference in neural activities and the areas of the brain required for one activity over the other.

Personally, I have the worst handwriting ever, so I only type. I'm not dyslexic, but It hurts my hands to do a lot of writing, and I can't read it later. It's odd, because I'm very good at drawing and other fine motor activities, but writing has always been a weak spot for me.

dyslexics are often much better typists than they ever are hand writers, because of that difference in neural activities and the areas of the brain required for one activity over the other.

That makes a lot of sense.

This is so cool! It makes perfect sense.

I don't write long hand when I'm actively writing fiction - I can type so much faster I just get frustrated if I try to write a story with a pen. BUT I do ALL my brainstorming in a notebook or on scrap paper. I can't brainstorm on the computer. I've always thought about it taking different parts of my imagination, and hey! Seems I was right. Ish.

I am sitting here actually considering whether one of Traci's journal classes might be another avenue for me when I'm stuck on a novel. I switch up between computer, notebooks, notecards, colored paper.. but I've never really tried IMAGES combined with words..... coooool.

Yay! A new way to spark your imagination!

I do keep a handwritten journal, though I don't write in it very often anymore. I usually use it when I am upset about something and really want to work it out. I used to HATE typing. I got better. I do write really fast, though, probably a habit I developed from wanting to minimize the amount of time my back was turned to the class while writing on the board. Also, when I was in college taking notes and writing in-class essays required speed-writing.

I always hand-write my lesson plans. I think better that way. I will often list every activity and assignment I have on hand that will help students to practice the concept, then I fill the days (about 1-2 weeks at a time) on a blank piece of paper divided into squares. I find I think better when I can see the whole unit there on paper. Putting the daily lessons onto my teacher web page is the last step in the process.

When I travel, I also keep a handwritten journal. I like to write about what I did, saw, and ate before I go to bed or when I wake up the next morning. I also write on planes, trains, and buses. (Not so easy to do sometimes!) Writing something down helps me to remember. I think I am more likely to remember what I wrote by hand than I what I typed.

I'll ask you the same sort of question I asked

ms_danson: How does writing it out make you feel better? I agree, but I can't put it into words (ironically).

I think I am more likely to remember what I wrote by hand than I what I typed.

That's very interesting!

I am also more likely to remember what I have written by hand than what I have typed. I rarely needed to go back and consult handwritten notes when I was in school, because the act of writing sort of "programmed" the information into my brain.

I don't keep a personal journal much anymore, but I do prefer to write fiction by hand, when I have the time. I feel more connected to what I'm writing that way. I also think that my writing style is different from my typing style. In particular, I often choose to write more fairy tale sort of stories by hand, because my words seem to flow in a more dreamlike fashion when I write them out as opposed to typing them.

In general, I feel that writing by hand makes me feel more connected, more grounded, in whatever I'm putting down on paper. I am also addicted to stationary, pens, and handwritten letters. I just wish my penmanship was better.

The article references classes that claim to improve penmanship! I'm sure some of them are online...

I haven't done a handwritten journal in so long, I think I'll pull one out and see if it does make a difference to me. I have a few different "journals" in which design ideas and thoughts go into, and like many others here, if I write it out, I remember and can sort things out easier than just keyboarding it.

I think I'll pull one out and see if it does make a difference to me

Let me know what you find. I'm interested to hear your results.

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