The Journal and the Blog.

While the blog and the journal are separate, they do intersect, sometimes in ways that surprise me. I've been serious about journaling since I was 15. I've had blogs through Live Journal and Myspace, but I began this blog, with its specific purpose, when I was pregnant with Oliver almost 7 years ago. Sometimes, a blog post will emerge from regular scribbles. I've also done a few page-from-my-journal posts.

A couple of years ago, I started the practice of giving myself writing prompts in my journal. Prompts come from questions, questions I have while reading, or just fleeting images.  To keep them distinct from my scribbles, I started writing the prompt at the top of the page and leaving the page blank. Sometimes, I would immediately address the prompt. More often, I would leave a sticky flag on the side of the page and come back to the prompt later. This means I usually can't put my journals away when I finish them because, technically, I haven't finished them: some still have a fringe of sticky flags. Sometimes, I'm not able to respond to one prompt, so I try another. Something usually pops.

Eventually, I realized that many of these prompt responses were just right for blog posts--short and focused on a topic or question. So when I respond to a prompt, I move the flag from the side of the page to the top, so I know it's ready for typing and revision.

I think the blog is a sort of condensed manifestation of my journal. My scribbles are full of boring nonsense, but I try to make the blog clear and bright.