I get paid to write, but that doesn’t mean that my scrapbook journaling blocks rock. In fact, there are many times I end up talking myself out of including them in a layout because I feel as though people will judge them too harshly. Meaning, I don’t feel I can casually jot down random thoughts and feelings because people expect more from my entries.
For example, I am currently creating a collection of mini scrapbooks for my mom’s birthday. Unfortunately, I am under a severe time crunch, and while one of the books demands that I include journaling, I am putting off writing because of the pressure.
It’s not that I have writer’s block, but the expectation to write something extremely touching or funny under deadline is dreadful to me. To help, I’ve been working on a list of things I admire about my mom. Later I will go back and select a few to journal about. Since I am designing mini scrapbooks I don’t have much space, so I will have to choose my words and embellishments carefully.
When you are having trouble journaling another good idea to get the creative juices flowing is to get ideas from others. I recently called my brothers and had them share some funny stories from our past that are sure to make my mom smile. Now that I think about it, I should have them write a list of the things they love most about our mom so I can include that in the books as well.
If you are really struggling to come up with the right words to feature in a journaling block, look for inspiration from books, magazines or greeting cards. Often a special poem or even a favorite song can put into words exactly how you feel about a certain person or subject. Print some of the stanzas or lyrics and expand on why the words are the perfect fit for your journal entry.