guest blogger: Jennifer S. Wilson

I've been fortunate enough to team with Jennifer Wilson at Simple Scrapper for a number of projects: Capture the Season, guest posts, and several giveaways. I think the content she provides at Simple Scrapper is so invaluable; while scrapbooking is a hobby that I love dearly, I know that it's also something that can be a huge time- and money-sink for me if I'm not careful. Jennifer's tips on simplifying and managing the process have truly helped me to think seriously about what I do and why I'm doing things the way I do them. Plus, Jennifer has what I think of as a teacher's eye -- she can spot a teachable moment immediately, and I learn something new from her every.single.day.

 

Storytelling shouldn't feel like a chore. It's OK for the documentation process to tug at your heartstrings (and even your nerves), but the feeling of "I hate writing" isn't a necessity. Journaling on your scrapbook layouts can be easy and fun if you keep a positive mindset. These tips will help you feel more love for this part of scrapping. (Audrey's note: All images are linked to their respective galleries, so please stop by and share your praise with these scrappers!)

Lists are easy

When you think "but I don't know what to write", just start with a list. It can even be a list you already have, like your bucket list or even a grocery list.

Sometimes a title is enough

With every story you tell, consider what kind of words and how many are truly necessary. Think quality over quantity.

It's OK to be selfish

Our scrapbook pages are one place where its OK to be totally self-centered and self-indulgent. Write in the first person and make it all about you. Be thrilled that you're the center of attention!

Do you remember snail mail?

Remember when you wrote 6 pages in one fell swoop to your best friend? Recapture the lost art of letter writing on your next layout.

Begin with real words

In digital, we can get so wrapped up in our online lives that it can become harder to cherish each moment in the IRL world. Focus on the little things important people say and use those as launch points for your writing.

Cheaper than therapy

The root of journaling is journal, as in diary. If you're comfortable, your next layout can be the perfect vehicle for a gush, rant, whine or letting go of the past. Catharsis is possible via scrapping.

Play pretend

Are you a poet who didn't know it? With clever placement, your words can be poetry. Explore the more creative side of your writing with no judgment.

Re-gifting is cool

Scrap a page celebrating a few important people in your life and gush in black and white about what they mean to you. Print multiple copies and you've got gifts at the ready.

Just do it

Not every page needs to be though-provoking or touchy-feeling. Documentation in its purest form is still journaling. Don't beat yourself up when you only have a little to say.

We all get stuck at times, languishing in that feeling of writer's block. Jump out of it free and clear by just writing. One. word. at. a. time. Don't forget about delete and undo -- isn't that why we all love digital anyway?

Jennifer S. Wilson writes daily at simplescrapper.com where she provides tips to make scrapbooking easier and more fun for busy people.

Jennifer's post is a great way to get your journaling mojo jumpstarted, but it's really just the tip of the iceberg. I'd love for you to add your ideas to hers -- and as extra incentive, I'll give one reader all my new releases tomorrow (that's a minimum of 8 products). Here's how you can win:

• Leave a comment with your favorite way to jumpstart your journaling.
• Retweet this post (make sure you let me know you retweeted) for a second chance to win.
• Blog about this post and contest for a third chance to win (leave a link to your blog post in the comments!)

The contest closes at 12:00 pm EST; I'll use a random number generator to select the winner. Keep your eyes peeled (on Facebook, Formspring, Twitter, and here) for more chances to win free product and coupons very soon!

Comments

[Vicki]

I retweeted this post. Thanks for the chance to win!

[Érica Ambrosio]

What I do most for journaling is starting telling ths story. Why that picture is important, what happened on that day, something like this. I just can't do pages without journaling.

[Lori]

I find the best way to journal is to do it more like a diary - that way I keep up on it and I still have all the details fresh in my mind. If not, a picture can go a long way to bringing everything back to me.

[Amanda Sam]

I find the best way to journal is to just start typing thoughts and phrases related to the photo(s)...it eventually leads to a story or thoughts that "flow" with the layout and picture. I almost always find that what I started with is totally different from the end result. And often, in the process of triggering the memories for the journaling, I'll end up remembering something I had completely forgotten about.

Also, I keep a family blog and religiously update it. I often look back at old blog posts as a refresher for my journaling.

Thanks for the chance to win!

[Amanda Sam]

I also retweeted the post! Thanks again!

[anneberit]

I journal in different ways, but most often I just type up my thoughts as I go like I would tell about the events to my son or to a friend. I'm not worrying too much about getting it right right away. Instead I go over it again after it is written, correcting a few errors and making sure it fits the room I have on any given layout (sometimes a lot, other times just a few lines).

Loving the sneak peek :D aaand I also retweeted (limefjord).

[RKSP]

I just start writing about the photo without overthinking things too much. And it evolves very quickly, with just some minor tweaking, into a very suitable journaling entry for that page.

[Melinda Wilson]

I do better journaling on the computer. I can retype, rethink, move sentences, etc. to make things flow smoothly. Even when I am at a crop and have to hand journal, I try to type my journaling into my iphone notes first and then write them down.

[Tiffany]

My 2 year old says some funny things - mispronounced words, strange sentences, and I've scrapping with those a bit lately - quotes of what he says. You don't really need more than that because the quote says everything.

[Sandie McCarthy-Roberts]

I retweeted this. And I posted on my blog. www.scrapthatthought.blogspot.com
As for my fave way of jumpstarting my journalism? I grab my actual journals. I've kept journals about my son, since the day I found out I was pregnant. I often go back and grab a random thought from a few years ago, or whenever. And then grab a picture of him around that age... and run with it.
Another thing that I do is I write poetry. I'll write a poem.
One last thing.. I love to go through scrapbooking magazines from the past, and look at titles. They often spark a bunch of thoughts. Good Luck all with this yummy giveaway.

[EvelynB]

My most comfortable method of journaling is the bullets style, but these were some great tips that I will totally challeng myself to use. Thanks!!

[ellen s]

i just free write to jump start my journaling...gets my thoughts going. if all else fails i grab some wine ;)

[Julia Spencer]

Sometimes it's just the story behind the photo (or group of photos) Kinda like factual journalism. Other times I am inspired to write a story (a feelings or journey that I or one of my family members have taken) and pick the photo from the story... :)

[Crystal]

Great tips! I'm a very simple journaler...just the date and a few words to describe what we were doing. It's short, sweet, and allows us to remember what we did without being a novel. I love using descriptive words and highlighting/enhancing them to stand out

[Candice S. in Colorado]

When I journal something, I always ask myself the obvious questions: WHO WHAT WHERE WHY HOW, etc. etc. However, what is also very important to me is how did this "event" make me feel. Were there any sounds that made me happy or sad, were there any smells that were beautiful....was there anything crazy-funny that happened??

I know they say "a picture is worth a thousand words" but I know that there will only be 5 words asked if there is no journaling....WHAT/WHO THE HECK IS THIS???

I have been a fan of Jennifer's for a long time and I am so glad she introduced me to your blog!! woot woot!

Candi

[Cara S]

When I'm stuck on journaling, I try to think outside the photo. For example, a photo of my husband might just show his caught fish, when the real story is how he loves all things outdoors.

[Candice S. in Colorado]

I tweeted AND posted on Facebook!!! :)

Thanks so much!

[Candice S. in Colorado]

Because your blog is so fabulous, I blogged about you too!!!

Here: http://soinkincute.blogspot.com/

[cherylzyx]

I do Project 365 scrapping and simply tell what I did on that day. It's nothing fancy just reporting facts like "Today I ate at my favorite restaurant." for example.

[Christelle L.]

If I don't feel any inspiration, I just stand up from behind my computer and do something else. In the back of my mind, the page is still there and my subconscious always ends up finding an idea for me!

[Chrissy]

I jumpstart my journaling by stepping back and thinking about what I want to remember about the moment I am scrapping about. Do I just want to say "I love you," or do I want to remember a story? Using word art also seems to help me journal.

[Wendy]

I like to tell a story...who? what? where? when? and why? That way when people look at my layouts later on they know the story behind the layout. Sometimes I get inspiration from quotes or songs to get the wheels rolling.

[arimacias]

i like to think of my pages as letters to my family:)

[Lisa]

I find my journaling inspiration from music or lines from a movie. The words of the song or movie triggers an idea that I use and expand on in my journaling. Example:

[Nani]

I never go anywhere without my camera and a small notebook in my bag. If I see something I like, I snap a picture and write down a few notes in my notebook. I don't scrap every photo I take, but a couple of notes go a long way. Reading back where it was and the date and time may prompt me to put more into my journaling. Sometimes the note is just where I was and "need to Google." A lot of odd or funny things have great stories someone has shared on the Internet. I discovered a great story about the frogs in Willimantic, Connecticut, because they had giant frog sculptures on the main street bridge that I just couldn't resist photographing. My journaling tells the brief story and when we were there/why I took the pictures.

I’m also going to be scrapping my honeymoon photos from last summer soon. I have 2 weeks worth of notes, what songs were on the radio, what we had for dessert, quotes from both of us and things that made us laugh, quickly jotted down in real time! I’m looking forward to reliving that while I’m scrapping and having a very special book my husband and I can really enjoy.

[Melissa Rhodes]

Love this article! Thanks for the help!

[grannymike]

Thanks for all the great tips as well as the ones shared in the comments -- lots of food for thought. I don't tweet, and I don't have a blog, so I can't share that way. I love journaling in that I can't imagine a page without the "telling" that goes with it. For me, I open a document on the computer and just write random thought about the picture/event. Then I leave it for a while. Usually, when I return and read my thoughts, it all comes together for me as I would like to share it. No great specific tips from me here, but that has always been how I have approached any writing. Thanks again.

[Jillian]

GREAT post!! Very thought provoking and idea inducing! :) I'm going to re-read it and mull it over, turn it around in my mind...Thanks for sharing! :)

[flowersgal]

I like to use prompts to journal about things I normally would not have considered; then ask myself a series of questions to get my mind moving in new directions. Often this inspires me to snap new photos or use some older ones which hadn't made the "first cut" on layouts I had completed.

[anna]

Who, what, where, and when usually gets me going!

[Melissa]

I usually try to write the way I would tell the story if I was talking to a friend.

[Talia]

The way I usually start my journaling is thinking back as to why I wanted to scrap that picture. If I'm wanting to tell a story about an event in that photo, then I write down the who, what, when, where, why, & how. I also write down my 5 senses and what I remember through them about that event. Then I write down anything I can't see in the photo, and then begin writing. If I am writing because of emotion (like "I love my family because"), then I just make a list and pick my favorites to go on the page.

[Shannon]

If I think I've got a lot to say on a page I tend to start writing my memories stream of consciousness, and then edit it down from there. If things are scattered or random feeling then I like to make things into lists, to organize my thoughts.

[Ebony]

I try to write down the little details that make the event/photo/day special. Things that I want to remember in years to come. I also try to keep in mind who I am scrapping the page for... will it go on the coffee table? Is it simply a personal page? That then determine whether I use 'I' or 'Ebony' when writing about my involvement.

Definitely bookmarking this page, great ideas! :)

[Shannon]

I retweeted! Yay! You can see it on my feed at http://twitter.com/shanknits if you want to.

[Melissa]

what fantastic layouts!

[Leslie]

I just start typing what comes to mind as a starting block. Sure, I have to make modifications, but just starting is the challenge!

Leslie

[Carrie]

I have a quick word processing document that I put a date with funny quotes from my kids in or whatever comes up. I don't worry too much about sentence structure, etc. b/c I just want it recorded for future scrapping.

[Melissa]

Am I too late? i just start with the story. I might find photos or not. I have so much I want to talk about. I also use JEssica Sprague's Stories in Hand prompts.

[Ina N]

Sometimes when I'm stuck, I ask my husband what he remembers about a particular event or place and that always gets me going again. Getting another perspective can often be helpful.

[molly]

I try to think of the Who-What-Where-When & Why and include as many as possible in my journaling.

[Kellie]

I really like a good challenge to get me thinking about what I want to say. They often lead me to scrap memories or emotions that might not have made it to the page otherwise. Some of my faves are the monthly challenges at SSD & TLP, as well as the Hodge Podge Challenge.

[tamara]

I love journaling on my pages. I have different ways of getting started. Sometimes I take a photo and the words just pour out. Sometimes I make note in my diary and ofter I take cues from what is being said around me by family or in songs. I am always looking for interesting ways to tell those stories that are important.

I have retweeted this too

[heidi y]

These LOs are beautiful! I like to journal by keeping notes when kids do/say something cute, or keep notes about the event I'm taking pictures for...

[ToadToedPrincess]

I sometimes journal before the layout is started. It gives me a nudge to finish a bit faster.Browsing a dictionary and/or thesaurus keeps my journaling fresh and interesting.