Writing Advice

How To Be A Better Writer

Three Simple Journaling Styles

Improving your writing ability can feel like a monumental task, especially when balancing the pressure to create and publish good work consistently. Beginning a journaling habit is one of the best ways I have increased my literary potential. A balanced journaling habit coincides with the same advice almost every successful writer on Medium promotes: just write!

After 14 months of journaling, I have overcome the fear of posting my writing publicly, increased my productivity, and reinvigorated my love for writing. These accomplishments are priceless, but my writing is paying too. I use three simple journaling styles that helped me to quickly build the habit: One line, Gratitude, and Micro-journaling.

One Line Journaling

I find that when I journaled in the past that I would force myself to write a page at a time, which would exhaust my excitement of starting a new writing practice almost immediately. This style only requires you to write one line a day. It’s that effortless!

I personally do two lines—one in the morning and one at night. I don’t think too hard about what I’m writing. The first sentence that comes through is more than sufficient. Staying consistent is easy when the requirements are low.

One line journaling is best for slowly building a steady writing habit. If more than a sentence comes through, that's completely fine! Writing at least one line makes the practice doable, even if you’re busy or having a bad day.

I filled my first one line notebook in just over a year. Within that year, I began exploring and using new journaling styles.

Gratitude Journaling

Gratitude journaling is similar to one line journaling in that it requires minimal effort. List one to three things you feel grateful for that day, and you’re done. You can do it at any time of the day or throughout the day!

This is a good way to reconnect with forgotten privileges taken for granted. It also offers a moment to appreciate what you and others do for yourself. I find that it is really effective at bringing me joy in times of distress.

I started by listing a couple of gratitudes, however, the practice perpetuates itself. The more I list what I’m grateful for, the more things I find to be grateful for. This is a writing practice I regularly spend ten minutes on without noticing.

Using a physical journal for this style is preferred, but I find myself using my notes app to store the plethora of beholden acknowledgments I have to share.

Micro-Journaling

Micro-journaling is another straightforward and potent writing style for reflection. I tend to set up a page or note for each day, so whenever I’m feeling the urge to write, all I have to do is jot down the time and begin writing. Anytime I feel like I’m avoiding something or engaging in an obsessive behavior (i.e., doom-scrolling), I take my journal out or open my notes app and start writing what’s on my mind.

I first discovered this practice when trying to limit my social media consumption. Nevertheless, I routinely write this way when I’m feeling restless. Many great ideas tend to spawn in these moments of rumination.

It’s helpful to use this style to check in with your thoughts and feelings. It’s rare for most of us to unplug from unhealthy habits and packed schedules to turn inward. Prioritizing yourself and creating a space for mind dumping is worthwhile.

Although this type of practice allows for plenty of opportunities to write whatever’s clouding the mind, I continually use it to write about what I’m doing that day or to answer specific journaling questions.

Conclusion

Writing consistently is one hurdle in the race to becoming a better writer. The more you write, the better you get — it truly doesn’t matter if you’re writing a story, an op-ed, or taking notes. Journaling is going to drastically improve your writing ability.

Starting with one habit is best, so pick whatever style best suits your goals. You can always build on your journaling habit along with finding or creating other techniques that work best for you. Whatever you do, you might want to write this down…just write!