Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection

Stephanie Dowrick

Penguin, 2009 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 259 pages

Winner of the COVR Award for Book of the Year (2007)

From the #1 creativity publisher in the country comes our latest creativity bestseller—Creative Journal Writing—the ultimate book for those who are looking to use this powerful tool to heal, expand, and transform their lives.

In this exceptionally positive and encouraging book, Stephanie Dowrick frees the journal writer she believes is in virtually everyone, showing through stories and examples that a genuine sense of possibility can be revived on every page.

Creative journal writing goes way beyond just recording events on paper. It can be the companion that supports but doesn?t judge, a place of unparalleled discovery, and a creative playground where the everyday rules no longer count. Proven benefits of journal writing include reduced stress and anxiety, increased self-awareness, sharpened mental skills, genuine psychological insight, creative inspiration and motivation, strengthened ability to cope during difficult times, and overall physical and emotional well-being.

Combining a rich choice of ideas with wonderful stories, quotes, and her refreshingly intimate thoughts gained through a lifetime of writing, Dowrick?s insights and confidence make journal writing irresistible?and your own life more enchanting. Included in Creative Journal Writing are:

u stories of how people have used journal writing to transform their lives;

· inspirational instructions, guidelines, and quotes;
· key principles, practical suggestions, and helpful hints;
· 125 starter topics, designed to help even the most reluctant journal writer;
· more than forty powerful exercises;
· and much more!
 

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - mannysborrowedbliss - LibraryThing

Over the years I have made many aborted attempts at keeping a journal. Starting out with the best of intentions, I would soon lose interest when my journal writing became very dull, little more than a ...

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - lisacmiller - www.librarything.com

I liked this book. It was an easy read. The author keeps you engaged.. There are some good ideas in here.

Contents

• Writing a journal may change your life: 2
• Your most creative self: 12
• Putting the inside out: 15
• Free associations: 20
• A wholebrain activity: 27
• Good reasons not to write a journal?: 28
• Privacy issues: 37
• At ease: 42
• Free to be creative: 47
• Start here Or there: 49
• Forget school: 52
• Choosing your journal: 53
• Journal writing is your teacher: 59
• Weaving the strands: 63
• Free writing: 66
• Risking and writing: 70
• More on motivation: 73
• Liberate your curiosity: 81
• Journal writing and you: 89
• Faithful to the task: 95
• Deepen your selfawareness: 99
• Where home is: 107
• A source of freedom: 120
• Writing the facts: 129
• Your life in your journal: 130
• Venting: 133
• Start and finish with the details: 138
• Use your physical senses: 142
• Reflections and impressions: 146
• Yourself and other people: 150
• Be yourself: 157
• Writing out of town: 159
• Accessing memories: 164
• Questions of choice: 167
• Reviewing the process: 171
• Spiritual writing: 176
• Writing your spiritual story: 184
• Forgiveness: 192
• Your life in your journal: 197
• More writing and writing more: 198
• Right here right now?: 202
• The blank page: 204
• Unfinished business: 211
• Let problems rest: 217
• The opposite may also be true: 220
• Recording quotations and comments: 224
• Making lists and resolutions: 230
• Putting it all together: 235
• Savor your entire life: 236
• Back to the big picture: 240
• Combine many strands: 243
• Key principles: 249
• Key hints: 250
• Acknowledgments: 257
• Index of exercises: 258

About the author

Stephanie Dowrick, PhD, is noted for her highly encouraging, accessible writing on key issues affecting our personal and collective wellbeing. Her international best sellers include Choosing Happiness, Forgiveness and Other Acts of Love, Intimacy and Solitude, Creative Journal Writing, Seeking the Sacred and In the Company of Rilke. Formerly a publisher, and also a trained psychotherapist and literary critic, Dr Dowrick draws on the latest insights from the worlds of psychology and spiritual activism as well as timeless universal wisdom teachings. Written with beauty and remarkable care, her books are applauded by critics and loved by readers. "Courageous and original, she asks the most difficult questions with enormous heart and intelligence." Joyce Kornblatt, A Reason for Wings "Stephanie Dowrick is a godsend. Her gift is the ability to write in a manner that genuinely enriches and changes lives." Nigel Marsh, author and global CEO "Stephanie Dowrick makes the hard questions simple...if anyone can cause a happiness revolution, she can." Paul Wilson, Instant Calm. "I felt bathed in warmth and compassion, soothed and reassured as Stephanie Dowrick became my companion." Dr Juliet Batten, Dancing with Seasons. For more information visit http://www.stephaniedowrick.com

Bibliographic information

• Title: Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection
• Author: Stephanie Dowrick
• Publisher: Penguin, 2009
• ISBN: 1585426865, 9781585426867
• Length: 259 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing; Self-Help / General