Subscribe
Previous Post
This question comes up every now and then, but having begun to read Leaving a Trace: On Keeping a Journal, by Alexandra Johnson, again, I see she also addresses this question in her first chapter. You can read how Johnson answers in the first chapter of her book here.
From my own research it seems both words, at their origin; mean simply a written daily record. So, in my opinion I feel it’s open for the user to decide. I like the way journal sounds, but it doesn’t bother me if people ask if I keep a diary. I’d be happy to call what I do either, because to me it’s more about what I actually write than what I call it.
I can call this process many different things, but I do know it works for me. The act of sitting down to note my mood, my surroundings, my day, my anger or joy, my failings and successes, helps me make sense of my life.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on this in the comments section below.
I started journaling since the age of 5, and while there have been many stops along the way have continued several decades later. To journal is to dream on the page, it’s a short cut
from selective sharing to psyche travel. It is truth serum for my soul. I think something is bothering me, and as soon as pen hits paper, my altered (intentional I assure you) ego reveals something totally different. My newest work-play book that I am creating for my clients and readers all came out of journaling. All my one-woman shows and comedy material. People
used to ask if I write my own material, I’d say, “Life does, I just sit on the side with a pen and an open eye.” The journal is the recorder. The sacred sidekick that says, “C’mon you can tell me, nobody’s listening in…except the most important one…you. I carry two books; a little jot book for ideas on my workbooks, curriculum, speeches, marketing ideas etc. and the big one to just chronicle my thoughts feelings and experience. Then if I feel ambitious, I take a hi-lighter afterwards to see what parts can be repurposed into pieces.
Thanks for this great topic. I go through them like water; that’s where Jack’s 99 cents come in real handy.
i like the word journal. a diary conjures memories of girlhood writings & crushes & so on. a journal is about deep down secrets you can tell to no one or just daily musings. you can put quotes, pics or articles in it. or do your own artwork. plus there is always the joy of going to the bookstore & choosing a beautiful journal with a great lovely pen to go with it!
i am currently preparing a presentation about 9/11 blogs. i quickly came across the question wether there is a difference between these terms. well, you provided a simple and yet wonderful explanation.
so i`ll take journal :D
thx
I believe Journal is American and Diary is Canadian or Brittish.No? Then maybe a Diary is something Women own and Journal is something business people own.One is for person use of personal life experience that women and perhaps Gay men keep at home.A journal is something Donald Trump keeps or perhaps a Journalist.
I have started writing a book, which I have been doing in the format of a diary/journal but since it is about a specific topic, I wanted to find out which term I should use. KkkCcc’s comment helped me put both terms into perspective.
I also want to thank Heather Goldsmith for creating this avenue for us to talk about both.
Thanks for making that clear, KkkCcc,
I really hope that helps out those who are confused about this matter. Thanks again for making a comment. ;-)
hi..
uhm.. i do agree that they do “like” mean the same thing. but actually, they’re NOT. I’ve recently taken a subject which happened to be my report. So I found out that a diary is something you just want to write daily about anything you like, whether it’s about you, your feelings towards another, or anything under the sun. But a journal is something not necessarily written daily. When you write a journal, it is something you write with a target or certain topic. It is a record of your ideas that will help you in whatever topic you are into. And most especially, you are the audience of your own writing. You write this to help yourself realize something,such as insights of a certain topic, observation or a progress you’ve made in whatever you do.
Hi Mulford,
I’m so sorry that this issue is causing you concern. Personally, I don’t think it makes much difference. Just decide what you feel is a diary and what you feel is a journal and write where you feel each piece belongs. But for me, I use one book and write all my ‘stuff’ in that one book. I hope this helps. The process of journal writing should be easing your stress, not creating it. Thanks for leaving your comment/question here. ;-)
This has been causing confusion to me. Sometimes I ended up putting the info. which I am supposed to put in a journal into a diary. I still have to find info about this. Even my friends they can’t explain it clearly but they use these two piece of books.
Hi Hamidou,
Yeah, it’s an interesting concept, the way we define words differently or with greater meaning than the dictionary gives them. I still agree it is more about what we write than what we call it. Keep up the daily journal/diary writing, though. Thanks so much for your comment. ;-)
Hello.I’m so delighted to see how people give more importance to these two words.Thus from my understanding I prefer to call “a diary”,a book in which I register all events that happen that involve my personality.In the other hand,a journal,all what happens in my environement no matter if it concerns me. Both are daily.
Hi Chet,I’m so glad you’ve continued to keep a diary or journal from when you were so much younger. I really wish I could’ve gotten myself to do that. Thanks for leaving a comment. ;-)
Hi Velma,
I love that name; Paper Soul. It really does describe what it is we do with our journals, or whatever we call them. Thanks for your comment. ;-)
When I was growing up, “keeping a diary” was the preferred phrase. That was what I did. I kept a diary. These days, “journalling” is the preferred term. It sounds better than “diarying”. *smile* I have kept a diary / journal since I was about 14, in the early 70s, and I continue to do so till this day, altho the format has changed. I now keep an off-line electronic journal and also a weblog. I aslo occasionally write by hand in my Moleskine and Circa notebooks.
I call mine a journal, when explaining it to other people; for myself, it’s my paper soul. If pressed, I’d probably say that I like the connection between “journal” and “journey,” but I don’t care whether someone else calls it a journal, a diary, or a notebook.
Hi Paw,
I appreciate your comment. I’m always looking for interesting information for my readers. Thanks. ;-)
Yes, it’s just the meanings we have assigned to the words that give us these impressions, though. That’s what I believe anyway. Thanks for your comment. ;-)
thank you for sharing that link! it was a wonderful read.
I agree with you that the words both mean essentially the same thing, though ‘journal’ always sounds more serious and sophisticated. A diary seems like might be about more mundane things, but a journal might be filled with more thoughtful, philosophical musings. But that’s just an impression.
;-)