Notes from Myself: A Creative Guide to Journal Writing [Paperback]

Anne Hazard Aldrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

Keeping a journal is becoming an increasingly popular and satisfying activity. Its uses range from the practical to the personal. It is an invaluable tool for established writers and aspiring writers alike. It is an intimate, deeply honest form of expression often recommended by therapists as a means of self exploration. It can be an effective forum for a conversation with oneself, to explore aspirations as well as problems. As young women have known for a long time, it can be a secret best friend. And it provides a vehicle for spiritual discovery, a map to one's profound inner life.

This book will help dear the obstacles that keep so many would-be journal writers from committing their thoughts to paper. The author lays down simple guidelines of approach to journal writing, conscious of everyday constraints such as lack of available time or writer's block. Excerpts from the author's own journal, from the journals of famous writers through the ages, and beneficial exercises all provide inspiration and instruction for the novice and habitual journal writer alike.

Notes from Myself is a convincing argument for the creative act of writing and a splendid guide for beginners. As more and more people turn to introspective expository writing in an age of increased depersonalization and shallow public communication, this book serves as a readable and enjoyable signpost along the road to grounding one's self.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Despite its subtitle, Notes from Myself is less a guide to creative journal writing than a history of and fervent position paper in favor of it. Anne Hazard Aldrich, a long-time journal keeper, writes about journals by artists, scientists, travelers, and novelists, and examines period journals, spiritual journals, journals of illness, and prison journals. The final section includes annotated excerpts from a year in the life of her own journal. Aldrich is very convincing in her argument for journal writing, which she says is therapeutic, liberating, "both a road towards the creative self, and an act of creativity in itself." Aldrich believes that "there is never a day in your life which is not worthy of description," and that "knowing we are going to write makes us more observant." Notes from Myself will surely gear you up to start writing, but you may also find its repetition and niggling grammatical errors somewhat tiresome.

From Library Journal

Both these books are about creative writing and finding a voice. Both talk about the healing power of the writing process. Aldrich, a creative writing teacher, focuses on journal writing. Her book is divided into three sections. The first includes reasons to keep a journal, how to do it, and a set of exercises to get started and overcome blocks. Section two is about different types of people who keep journals, and section three is a collection of entries from the author's own journals to use as examples for would-be journal writers. Her book includes many quotes from famous journal keepers and a useful annotated bibliography. Aronie, whose essays are aired on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, writes to inspire writers. Her style is warm and her message infectious. She too includes exercises to guide her readers. A major part of her message is just to get the paper and pen in contact with each other and worry about grammar and spelling and other "school stuff" after the habit of writing has been formed. This book, which compares favorably with Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird (LJ 8/94) and Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones (1986), is more readable than Aldrich's and is recommended for all public libraries.?Lisa J. Cihlar, Monroe P.L., Wis.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786704330
• ISBN-13: 978-0786704330
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,455,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous disappointment, September 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Notes from Myself: A Creative Guide to Journal Writing (Paperback)

As a fan of personal writing who collects published and unpublished diaries as well as books about keeping a journal, I pick up everything on the subject I can find. This is one of the few purchases I regret having made. Notes from Myself lurches from ponderous, excessively formal prose to incongruously informal comments, never quite managing to settle into an engaging, accessible style. Aldrich spends a good deal of time describing the journals of famous people, from Pepys to Woolf, but rarely quotes them. Even more irritating, the book is littered with grammatical errors and typos, and in one place Aldrich recommends a book but misspells the author's name! The ideas in this book may be worthy, but the poor writing and careless presentation were so distracting that I couldn't manage to finish it. I won't be keeping this book for my collection. Anyone interested in exploring the possibilities of journal-writing would be much better off with Tristine Rainer's classic The New Diary.

5.0 out of 5 stars Important book in any library on journal writing, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Notes from Myself: A Creative Guide to Journal Writing (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book on journaling. If you liked this book and would like to read and use mroe books on journaling, read "The Healing Journey" and "The Healing Journey for Couples," both by Phil Rich. There are also 5 other journaling books in the Healing Journey series.