Top Ten Journal Writing Tips for Preteens and Teens

Daily journal writing can be an excellent tool of self-expression and self-discovery for preteens and teens (actually for kids of all ages!). Journal writing helps them to process the myriad of thoughts, feelings, and emotions they experience and becomes an invaluable tool for understanding their many life experiences. It is also an excellent form of creative self-expression. Top Ten Journal Writing Tips :

. Silence your inner critic -- It's your journal and your words and if you took the time to write them down then they are valuable.
2. Break the rules -- You can break all the rules (grammar and spelling need not matter) or follow them if you prefer.
3. Go with the flow to express yourself -- Take time to tune in to how you feel. Do you feel like writing a lot or simply feel like writing one word.
4. Pick a special spot to journal -- Choose a place where you feel safe, happy, and secure.
5. Go wild with embellishments -- Use stickers, colored pens, magazine pictures, drawings or photos to jazz up your journal.
6. Keep it simple -- If your journal writing begins to feel like a task you must accomplish, scale back or take a break.
7. Discover your writing style -- All the journal writing tips in the world can only guide you, and in the end you must choose your style based on what works best for you.
8. Create a theme journal -- You can create a dream journal, a wish journal or a journal of family, friends and best moments in life.
9. Rule your Kingdom -- Nothing else matters on the pages of your journal but you. Celebrate, vent, accentuate, complain... it's up to you.
10. Keep it fun and fulfilling -- If it's not fun and fulfilling, chances are you'll quit writing.

Daily journal writing is a wonderful tool of expression for preteens and teens but they must feel invested in their writing. The best way to get them -- and to keep them -- invested is to encourage the free expression of their uniqueness and creativity.
by: Jill Schoenberg