How to Make a Journal of Your Life [Paperback]

Dan Price (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

When nomad artist and free spirit Dan Price began jotting down his musings in the form of whimsical drawings and inspired prose, he hardly could have imagined that his self-published journal-zine, the MOONLIGHT CHRONICLES, would earn him a cult following across the country. Now in its twentieth edition, the MOONLIGHT CHRONICLES has brought Dan's creed of "truth, beauty, and really big sabbaticals from the convention of life" to thousands across the countryWith such a following, Dan figured it was time to collect his offbeat observations into book form in hopes of inspiring other would-be journal writers to take pen, camera, and brush in hand. As Dan is fond of noting "Seems there's tons of empty journal books, but not too many on how to fill 'em up!" In HOW TO MAKE A JOURNAL, Dan answers the call, teaching readers how to tap into those pent-up creative juices and collect their life experiences on paper.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

When he can manage to hang up his walkin' shoes, hobo-artist DAN PRICE resides in Oregon with his wife and two children. As a child, Dan was inspired by the line drawings and cartoons he found in the New Yorker magazine. He began drawing and keeping journals in 1992.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580080936
• ISBN-13: 978-1580080934
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.3 x 6.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > Writing Skills
  • #45 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Happiness
  • #47 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > General

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indescribably delightful!, June 4, 2003

By 

Soozie4Him (Chicago suburbs) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: How to Make a Journal of Your Life (Paperback)

This book was SUCH a fun read! Dan Price's book on keeping a journal is quirky, inspiring, humorous, delightful, and educational! If you haven't kept a journal before, you will really want to start after reading this book! Actually, I doubt that you could read through the whole thing without beginning.

I've been journaling pretty steadily for the past 4-5 years or so. One thing I've really wanted to include is more doodling and (attempts at) drawing. I consider myself artistically-challenged, and this book really has encouraged me to give drawing in my journals a try.

Some other reviewers have stated that they've read this book in one sitting. I daresay that's POSSIBLE, but I wouldn't WANT to read it in one sitting. It's just so packed with stuff and so good that I wanted to savor it!

Scrapbookers would also benefit from reading this book!

Take a look at Amazon's great "Look inside" feature to look at this book, then order one for yourself and several for gifts - you won't be sorry!

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring---Motiviating---A Fun Read----An Easy Read!, December 4, 2006

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Make a Journal of Your Life (Paperback)

This is a small sized book that is entirely handwritten, and those two things make this book inviting. It reads like a journal. Hand drawings and photographs illustrate the author's method of illustrating his own journals. This is not just a book about how to journal but we read actual journal pages from the author.

This book speaks to a person who always felt they should write a journal but were afraid to start.

Price gives encouragement along the way such as using the journal for positive thoughts not just for complaining. Journalists don't have to be professional novelists before they can begin writing about their own life for their own eyes!

The addition of ephemera from the journalists daily lives is encouraged (ticket stubs, random paper clutter from our lives, etc.).

The end of the book features twenty pages of Price's journals which were formerly published in 1991 to 1991, as a small independent zine called 'Moonlight Chronicles'. Later a book by the same title was published (I have not yet read it but want to!)

Previously I thought the only journaling that was done in our modern day was in fancy blank journal books and I assumed they were filled only with text in beautiful script. I have felt inhibited by this in the past, worrying if my handwriting was not perfect, what if I made a spelling error, etc. Other journals with writing prompts with someone else's ideas of what we should be writing further discouraged me from beginning a journal as they often asked me to write about things I could care less about!

I found this little book just the encouragement I needed to start writing a journal with whatever I wanted to say in it. It is alright for the journal to be imperfect.

Price journals in black pen. The journals are not highly adorned nor does a person need to take art classes in order to journal in this style.

If you like this book and crave more, I also recommend the similar and highly encouraging books by Danny Gregory. Gregory's own journal was published as "Everyday Matters". Gregory's second book "The Creative License" further encourages non-artists to draw with pen and to keep their own journal to record their own lives.

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ready, Set, Create!, December 21, 2001

By 

Bonnie Burton (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Make a Journal of Your Life (Paperback)

If you've ever thought of starting a journal but didn't know where to begin you have Dan Price to show you the way. His handwritten book on how to write, document, illustrate and doodle a journal is priceless. He makes it look easy and super fun! I suggest you get this book to help get you excited about journaling!