Two things in Melissa’s routine resonated with me. The description of how journaling plays providing a space for externalizing, something in your description clarified for me the value of wring rather than verbalizing. (I’m an explainer - maybe mire to understand myself?)
Loved learning you have multiple journals going at once. I’ve started and stopped so many journals , in part because they served different purposes or times. Having multiples simultaneously for different uses was a wonderful “aha”. Thank you Melissa!
Exactly...I too have many journals that I have started for many reasons, mostly during times of great stress or loss. I love the idea of keeping many types of pens, pencils and nibs and multiple journals for different purposes too.
Although journaling has been a part of my life since childhood, currently I have two I’m consistently devoted to: “The Book of Alchemy” (round 2 reading/responding, and my Mom-Son journal (explained last week): During my teacher years, I always put “journals” on my lists of what I like/Wish Lists. So, I was graciously gifted quite a collection of all sorts of journals. I selected two from that collection (still have a box of many). As long as I have a pen (usually a free one from bank, dr. office…), I’m good to go. I love writing in my “Book of Alchemy” journal early morning on my front porch, looking out at the lake. Then late evenings with dim lighting and background music (has truly been Jon’s, five of his CD’s in the CD player) for my Mother-Son journal. Since this is a shared journal with my now 30 yr old son, I respond to his prompt, then add one for him. We usually hand off the journal on weekends when he and his rescue Golden, Tala, come to spend the weekend here at the lake. My writing is for personal purpose only. I suppose journaling for me is to feel connected, and a dose of therapy to stay grounded.
About 20 years ago in an art magazine (I can’t give credit to the magazine or artists, unfortunately - I cut the pieces out), there was a photographic piece on what artists do with their morning pages. It was so cool. Some people cut them up & collaged them; others whited out words & crafted an arty poem. I have saved pieces of journals before their immolation for collage.
Since my dearest friend Amy and I received our Alchemy books, we have been following this routine: Wake up, get tea, read the prompt, write. Everyday. Once a week, we meet on zoom and share our week's writing and our week's living. Amy lives in San Francisco and I am in San Diego. We have known one another for over 50 years. Yet, this is the most regular and deep our contact has been since she left San Diego in 1986. We are so far into the book (one journal filled and 3/4 through with the book) we are already discussing what we will do when we complete the book. Will we start over? Quick! The Book of Alchemy Volume 2.
I get a kick out of reading about folks who use markers or pens with inkwells to write in their journals. I know if I did that there’d be marker or ink all over my face and clothes by the time I’m done. Lolol!! I’m pretty simple over here, a Bic Round Stic (in black of course) and whatever spiral notebook catches my eye when I’m at CVS. I really enjoy reading these essays and especially love seeing photos of people’s writing spaces. They are inspirational!
Loved this, and makes me even more excited about Sunday! Many things Melissa had to say resonated with me.....I have multiple journals going at once---I use gel pens and fountain pens and watercolor pencils and cool markers and keep these items in multiple places---the desk off the kitchen, the desk in the healing room, the desk in the pink room, and in my art studio outside. I always write the date and the day--(as Melissa wrote on June 20, 2025, my birthday!)usually with a funky font, and some days that's all I get to ----just writing the date and the day. When I open the journal the next day, I'm often ambivalent about turning the page and starting fresh, or staying on the same page and writing the new date....I know this sounds silly but it sort of goes back to the prompt that your mom Anne Francey shared about making marks in the margins of your journal---sometime I like to use the blank pages (the ones where I only wrote the date) to slip in some photos whenever old or recent or suggest to my granddaughters to write or draw in my journal whatever they are in the mood to do---it's been a wonderful addition to my lifelong love of journaling and creating. Btw Suleika, my granddaughter Stella 6yrs, knows all about you and Jon, loves to sing and dance to Jon's music and adores you via my love for you----on your birthday, I had written you a happy birthday message in my journal, and when Stella saw it, she wanted me to FaceTime you and sing Happy Birthday (because I often do that with my friends and if she's around she will join me) She didn't quite understand why I wasn't able to do that, but sharing the story with you counts, right???? Also, LOVED seeing you dance-----just adorable
Wow...this is wonderful! Your journals what you write with your writing space! The coach that has space to crawl into! The books on the bookshelves! The pillows! The Fox! The window! THE WALLPAPER. YOUR DEDICATION to Writing.
All of it is amazing. I am loving being a voyeur both in the physical writing spaces and in mind spaces of Suleika's guests. Thank you for the invaluable insight.
I am really enjoying this new series. I too love fountain pens and choosing journals. I do my journaling early in bed looking out my window as dawn slowly lightens into day. I have an electric tea kettle on my bedside and so have many cups of tea as I write my morning pages until Mimsy, my pup, demands her morning walk.
Lately I have been feeling my journaling needs to evolve. The only other person's journals I have ever read are Anais Nin's. So now I am inspired to read Virginia Woolf's since Carmen is such a fan and you read others' journals. I'd never relly thought about it before.
I also do artwork in my journals. Scribble portraits, blob animals and brightly coloured abstracts in sharpie.
I tried to journal many times in the past but it was The Artist's Way that allowed me to create the habit I have had for more than 30 years now. It was the promise that I never have to read my journals. I can just write there and let it go. No brilliance on the page is necessary as no one will ever see what I wrote - not even me - I do go back and look at my art creations but somehow the words I write are too vulnerable for me to look at -
I wonder at you feeling so burnt out and uncreative when you now not only write to us weekly but are doing this series as well and are so inspiring -
I am in awe of yours and Melissa's ability to look back and use your journals to create a new work.
I wonder how many of us journal early in the morning or perhaps late at night - in the liminal times of day when more seems possible and in a special place in a carefully chosen journal with favorite pens!
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your thoughts and your space. I too use Moleskin notebooks; I take one with me everywhere. My journalling is anything but routine. I may write when I take myself out to dinner, or with my morning coffee, or whenever the mood strikes, really. I tend to write more when I'm working out a problem or just to "unstick" my thinking. It's often that thoughts come out of my pen, that I didn't know were in my head!
Writing instruments of choice are two Mont Blanc pens that were gifted to me, and a small collection of beautiful pens made by a dear friend. They all have heft and intention in common.
I’m trying to connect more to myself emotionally through journaling. I could pour out deep loving essays to everyone in my family but my pen stops when I try to turn that affection toward myself. Any advice on how to access deeper emotions through journaling?
I love this question so much—and at the risk of preempting our virtual creative hour, I’ll mention a workshop I took with Melissa and the poet Brian Blanchfield, where Brian had us do an exercise where we’d choose one sentence from one of our own essays, then ask the question why? After answering why, you’d ask it again—on and on until you get to the heart of the matter. Can’t wait to discuss with all of you on Sunday!
I have often thought that journaling is a solitary affair. Yet, when I read the responses to Suleika’s and Melissa’s journaling questions and answers, I realize we are all driven by a similar need to explore and express the curiosities of this complex, confusing and astounding world that we live with, in and through. We are not alone but a community filled with passion and compassion for ourselves and one another. I am keen to hear more from Suleika and Melissa on Sunday’s Hatch.
"it’s difficult for me to integrate experience without writing about it"
I love and resonate so much with this. In my case, I need to draw to make sense. So, learning visual thinking was key for me.
Loved the interview and seeing that she started journaling so early in life. I just started sustaining it for almost 8 weeks and it has been wonderful.
Thank you for sharing. I love the decomposition notebooks too! My main question is: what is that cutie fox creature thing on your couch? Because I love him.
I’m loving this new series! I’ve journaled for many years - some more consistently than others. Like Melissa, I journal to make sense of my life, my interactions w/ others and the world around me. Writing has saved my life in so many ways!
I have lots of fancy journals, but the ones I love best are the black, green, red, blue speckled composition notebooks that I purchase when the school supply sales are on in the fall. Durable, yet not so precious that I feel like I have to write “impressive stuff”:)
Since my youngest son died almost 2 years ago, I have been unable to continue journaling. My grief from losing him overcomes me and I end up weeping. Any suggestions? I have already done the counseling, etc...
I began a daily blog, after my son died. I had to get it all out, and found out around year 4 that, I was going to live and parent his memory. I’m still his mom, 18 years later. Grief and writing, heal. Baby steps, but try it. ( Stoptalkingauntlucille.com) blogspot, maybe(wwwstoptalkingauntlucille.com) start at the begining maybe it my journal/blog of grief will help you)
Dearest Maureen, of course you are still weeping! I gotta say, I am totally in awe of you. Truly. Your heart is shattered and you are reading, pondering, reaching out. This may or not be of any help-do with it what you will. There is a branch of yoga called, "Trauma Informed Yoga." It is not about moving anything "out" of you. It is about working with where you are. The somatic nature of it all can be combined with weeping. For now, love, such love to you, one mother to another.
Dear Maureen, thank you for sharing with us how and why you have stopped Journaling. My deepest condolences. I have found comfort in my grief with coloring, drawing and knitting. Please stay in community with us.
Two things in Melissa’s routine resonated with me. The description of how journaling plays providing a space for externalizing, something in your description clarified for me the value of wring rather than verbalizing. (I’m an explainer - maybe mire to understand myself?)
Loved learning you have multiple journals going at once. I’ve started and stopped so many journals , in part because they served different purposes or times. Having multiples simultaneously for different uses was a wonderful “aha”. Thank you Melissa!
Reminds me of Flannery O'Connor!! “I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
Exactly...I too have many journals that I have started for many reasons, mostly during times of great stress or loss. I love the idea of keeping many types of pens, pencils and nibs and multiple journals for different purposes too.
Although journaling has been a part of my life since childhood, currently I have two I’m consistently devoted to: “The Book of Alchemy” (round 2 reading/responding, and my Mom-Son journal (explained last week): During my teacher years, I always put “journals” on my lists of what I like/Wish Lists. So, I was graciously gifted quite a collection of all sorts of journals. I selected two from that collection (still have a box of many). As long as I have a pen (usually a free one from bank, dr. office…), I’m good to go. I love writing in my “Book of Alchemy” journal early morning on my front porch, looking out at the lake. Then late evenings with dim lighting and background music (has truly been Jon’s, five of his CD’s in the CD player) for my Mother-Son journal. Since this is a shared journal with my now 30 yr old son, I respond to his prompt, then add one for him. We usually hand off the journal on weekends when he and his rescue Golden, Tala, come to spend the weekend here at the lake. My writing is for personal purpose only. I suppose journaling for me is to feel connected, and a dose of therapy to stay grounded.
A mother-son journaling practice—sounds so beautiful!
I’m loving this new column
& Melissa, I adored The Dry Season!
About 20 years ago in an art magazine (I can’t give credit to the magazine or artists, unfortunately - I cut the pieces out), there was a photographic piece on what artists do with their morning pages. It was so cool. Some people cut them up & collaged them; others whited out words & crafted an arty poem. I have saved pieces of journals before their immolation for collage.
Truly could not love the idea of transforming morning pages into other art forms more!
I love to collage and scribble in my journals now, but it took me awhile to feel like I could "mess up the pages."
Since my dearest friend Amy and I received our Alchemy books, we have been following this routine: Wake up, get tea, read the prompt, write. Everyday. Once a week, we meet on zoom and share our week's writing and our week's living. Amy lives in San Francisco and I am in San Diego. We have known one another for over 50 years. Yet, this is the most regular and deep our contact has been since she left San Diego in 1986. We are so far into the book (one journal filled and 3/4 through with the book) we are already discussing what we will do when we complete the book. Will we start over? Quick! The Book of Alchemy Volume 2.
I honestly can’t imagine a dreamier message for an author to receive. Thank you, Kate, and much love to you and to Amy! ❤️
I get a kick out of reading about folks who use markers or pens with inkwells to write in their journals. I know if I did that there’d be marker or ink all over my face and clothes by the time I’m done. Lolol!! I’m pretty simple over here, a Bic Round Stic (in black of course) and whatever spiral notebook catches my eye when I’m at CVS. I really enjoy reading these essays and especially love seeing photos of people’s writing spaces. They are inspirational!
Me too! ❤️
Ditto!
Loved this, and makes me even more excited about Sunday! Many things Melissa had to say resonated with me.....I have multiple journals going at once---I use gel pens and fountain pens and watercolor pencils and cool markers and keep these items in multiple places---the desk off the kitchen, the desk in the healing room, the desk in the pink room, and in my art studio outside. I always write the date and the day--(as Melissa wrote on June 20, 2025, my birthday!)usually with a funky font, and some days that's all I get to ----just writing the date and the day. When I open the journal the next day, I'm often ambivalent about turning the page and starting fresh, or staying on the same page and writing the new date....I know this sounds silly but it sort of goes back to the prompt that your mom Anne Francey shared about making marks in the margins of your journal---sometime I like to use the blank pages (the ones where I only wrote the date) to slip in some photos whenever old or recent or suggest to my granddaughters to write or draw in my journal whatever they are in the mood to do---it's been a wonderful addition to my lifelong love of journaling and creating. Btw Suleika, my granddaughter Stella 6yrs, knows all about you and Jon, loves to sing and dance to Jon's music and adores you via my love for you----on your birthday, I had written you a happy birthday message in my journal, and when Stella saw it, she wanted me to FaceTime you and sing Happy Birthday (because I often do that with my friends and if she's around she will join me) She didn't quite understand why I wasn't able to do that, but sharing the story with you counts, right???? Also, LOVED seeing you dance-----just adorable
Wow...this is wonderful! Your journals what you write with your writing space! The coach that has space to crawl into! The books on the bookshelves! The pillows! The Fox! The window! THE WALLPAPER. YOUR DEDICATION to Writing.
All of it is amazing. I am loving being a voyeur both in the physical writing spaces and in mind spaces of Suleika's guests. Thank you for the invaluable insight.
THE WALLPAPER indeed! ❤️❤️
I am really enjoying this new series. I too love fountain pens and choosing journals. I do my journaling early in bed looking out my window as dawn slowly lightens into day. I have an electric tea kettle on my bedside and so have many cups of tea as I write my morning pages until Mimsy, my pup, demands her morning walk.
Lately I have been feeling my journaling needs to evolve. The only other person's journals I have ever read are Anais Nin's. So now I am inspired to read Virginia Woolf's since Carmen is such a fan and you read others' journals. I'd never relly thought about it before.
I also do artwork in my journals. Scribble portraits, blob animals and brightly coloured abstracts in sharpie.
I tried to journal many times in the past but it was The Artist's Way that allowed me to create the habit I have had for more than 30 years now. It was the promise that I never have to read my journals. I can just write there and let it go. No brilliance on the page is necessary as no one will ever see what I wrote - not even me - I do go back and look at my art creations but somehow the words I write are too vulnerable for me to look at -
I wonder at you feeling so burnt out and uncreative when you now not only write to us weekly but are doing this series as well and are so inspiring -
I am in awe of yours and Melissa's ability to look back and use your journals to create a new work.
I wonder how many of us journal early in the morning or perhaps late at night - in the liminal times of day when more seems possible and in a special place in a carefully chosen journal with favorite pens!
Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your thoughts and your space. I too use Moleskin notebooks; I take one with me everywhere. My journalling is anything but routine. I may write when I take myself out to dinner, or with my morning coffee, or whenever the mood strikes, really. I tend to write more when I'm working out a problem or just to "unstick" my thinking. It's often that thoughts come out of my pen, that I didn't know were in my head!
Writing instruments of choice are two Mont Blanc pens that were gifted to me, and a small collection of beautiful pens made by a dear friend. They all have heft and intention in common.
I’m trying to connect more to myself emotionally through journaling. I could pour out deep loving essays to everyone in my family but my pen stops when I try to turn that affection toward myself. Any advice on how to access deeper emotions through journaling?
I love this question so much—and at the risk of preempting our virtual creative hour, I’ll mention a workshop I took with Melissa and the poet Brian Blanchfield, where Brian had us do an exercise where we’d choose one sentence from one of our own essays, then ask the question why? After answering why, you’d ask it again—on and on until you get to the heart of the matter. Can’t wait to discuss with all of you on Sunday!
Interesting! Can’t wait to hear more!
I have often thought that journaling is a solitary affair. Yet, when I read the responses to Suleika’s and Melissa’s journaling questions and answers, I realize we are all driven by a similar need to explore and express the curiosities of this complex, confusing and astounding world that we live with, in and through. We are not alone but a community filled with passion and compassion for ourselves and one another. I am keen to hear more from Suleika and Melissa on Sunday’s Hatch.
Another vote for spiral-bound Decomposition notebooks!
"it’s difficult for me to integrate experience without writing about it"
I love and resonate so much with this. In my case, I need to draw to make sense. So, learning visual thinking was key for me.
Loved the interview and seeing that she started journaling so early in life. I just started sustaining it for almost 8 weeks and it has been wonderful.
Thank you for sharing. I love the decomposition notebooks too! My main question is: what is that cutie fox creature thing on your couch? Because I love him.
I love him too! We must get to the bottom of this 😂
I’m loving this new series! I’ve journaled for many years - some more consistently than others. Like Melissa, I journal to make sense of my life, my interactions w/ others and the world around me. Writing has saved my life in so many ways!
I have lots of fancy journals, but the ones I love best are the black, green, red, blue speckled composition notebooks that I purchase when the school supply sales are on in the fall. Durable, yet not so precious that I feel like I have to write “impressive stuff”:)
Since my youngest son died almost 2 years ago, I have been unable to continue journaling. My grief from losing him overcomes me and I end up weeping. Any suggestions? I have already done the counseling, etc...
I began a daily blog, after my son died. I had to get it all out, and found out around year 4 that, I was going to live and parent his memory. I’m still his mom, 18 years later. Grief and writing, heal. Baby steps, but try it. ( Stoptalkingauntlucille.com) blogspot, maybe(wwwstoptalkingauntlucille.com) start at the begining maybe it my journal/blog of grief will help you)
Write it down, all of it❤️❤️
Bonnie, how beautiful, "I was going to live and parent his memory."
Dearest Maureen, of course you are still weeping! I gotta say, I am totally in awe of you. Truly. Your heart is shattered and you are reading, pondering, reaching out. This may or not be of any help-do with it what you will. There is a branch of yoga called, "Trauma Informed Yoga." It is not about moving anything "out" of you. It is about working with where you are. The somatic nature of it all can be combined with weeping. For now, love, such love to you, one mother to another.
Dear Maureen, thank you for sharing with us how and why you have stopped Journaling. My deepest condolences. I have found comfort in my grief with coloring, drawing and knitting. Please stay in community with us.
I’m so very sorry.