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| Online Journaling: Express Yourself! | | By Gareth Branwyn for Screenager Central |
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Talking and writing are great ways of getting your feelings out and getting a handle on what you think about things. Sometimes you want to talk with people -- in person, on the phone, via Instant Message, or in a chat room. But sometimes, you want to talk at people -- a one-way download of your thoughts, feelings, and bright ideas. A perfect means of doing this is the online journal. |
People have been keeping journals probably since the invention of writing. In the past, most journals/diaries have been private affairs. But today, thanks to the Internet, anyone who has anything interesting to say (ah... or not) can create an online journal to share with the entire world. While most of the journals might be better off kept private, some are really fascinating, inspiring, and thought-provoking. At the very least, they're constructive for the writers, giving them a way of expressing whatever's on their minds or in their hearts.
If you think online journaling might be a creative outlet for you, here's some tips for setting one up:
- Where to put your journal?
Believe it or not, there are sites devoted to online journaling, some expressly for teens. Most of them are free for a basic journal site, while a "premium" site, with extra features (such as the ability to add images and to post via email) can be had for a small subscriber fee. These sites also usually offer the option of making your journal public or password-protected (so that only you and your friends can access it).
Two of the most popular journal sites are diary-x and Teenopendiary. Teen Open Diary features journals/diaries from around the world, and lots of cool features such as diary circles where you can link up with others who share your key interests (music, politics, dating, etc.). Unfortunately, it is also littered with pop-up ads and hundreds of one-post "journals."
Another free journaling service to check out is DiaryLand. Invaluable to anyone creating an online diary/journal is Diarist, a portal to all things related to the craft. They offer all sorts of goodies, such as getting-started tutorials and reviews of journal hosting sites.
- What to put in it?
The beauty of online journaling is that you can discuss anything you want. The whole point is getting your thoughts out there. But if you want people to actually read your journal, you'll want to be more thoughtful about your content. It's often best if you focus on something you're passionate about. If you want to create open-ended content, don't just rant for ranting's sake, put some effort into making your entries well-written, pointed, thought-provoking, and inviting to the reader. And don't forget to check your spelling. Nothing says rank amateur like tons of spelling errors! Especially if you're interested in a career that involves writing, your online journal can be a great place to improve all aspects of your skills.
- Public or private?
If the subject of your journal is of a more personal nature, you might want to make it private (giving the password to only a select group of people who you want to read it). Otherwise, it'll be accessible to anyone in cyberspace. If you make your journal public, you'll want to be conscious of your content and language, knowing that anybody can read. Don't forget that search engines scoop up everything online, so in a public journal, ask yourself: "Am I OK with my parents reading this? My teachers?" Etc.
- What's in a name?
Plenty. It's the name of your journal that's going to catch peoples' attention when they see it listed in a directory or in a Web search. Calling it "My Journal" or "Deb's Diary" or something equally bland is a guaranteed buzz kill. Make it clever. Song lyrics, lines from poems, puns, and plays on words are common. After you come up with a name brainstorm, check out the registry at The Diarist Website to make sure that your favorite title hasn't already been taken.
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Journaling may not be for everyone, but if you've got a lot rattling around inside your noggin that wants to come out, and you enjoy writing, you might want to give it a try. Some people find it so useful and liberating that they treat it like a kind of do-it-yourself therapy. Regardless of why you want to do it, if you decide to share your innermost thoughts with the world, the Internet is ready to serve as your soapbox.
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