Journaling – Adding Text to Your Scrapbook
Everyone knows that a picture is worth a thousand words‚ but sometimes you do want to use a few words to describe an experience. While you can get a sense of a place from a photo‚ you do not understand what people were thinking or maybe even smelling at that exact time.
Chronicling the entire experience is part of what defines scrapbooking. For many scrapbookers the experience is predominantly captured in photos‚ while for others the richness of the experience cannot be entirely captured in a picture. Photos are fun to look at‚ but years from now‚ in generations yet unborn a narrative along with the picture is priceless.
By understanding how someone thought or felt during a situation is frequently much more interesting than the event itself. By recording thoughts in a journal format‚ you are adding a whole‚ new dimension to your scrapbook. Much like keeping a diary‚ a scrapbook with a journal and photos is a more personal collection‚ than simply an album of photos.
If you have never built a journal before‚ do not worry. This process is not about being a great writer. Instead it is about being a genuine writer. If you are not sure where to start‚ consider choosing a subject that you are passionate about.
As you practice writing more and more‚ your thoughts will form more easily. Writing is a skill that you develop over time‚ so do not think that everything that you write is going to be published someday‚ simply think of your chronicle as telling your story to a future generation who will never have the pleasure of meeting you in person.
You can choose to write your journal in any style that strikes your fancy. Pick your favorite book‚ and take a minute to see how it is written. You can write in the first person liberally using the word “I”‚ or you may want to write more formally in the third person where "I" becomes “one”. Either way‚ just tell your story‚ and spill your emotions and thoughts onto the page.
Just realize that there is no grade on this project. It is yours and it is personal. You do not even have to write in complete sentences if you do not want to; so it is important to be genuine as you describe your experiences. Sometimes a photo journal is wonderful read for yourself. Years from now‚ you can look back and see how much you have really grown.
When you are writing you can be organized and formal‚ or you can jump from topic to topic with a more stream of consciousness feel to your thoughts. You can write a paragraph‚ or you can write your text as a border around the edge of the page.
You can simply chronicle the photos on the page‚ or you can make up a story. Be creative. This is your chance to rewrite history if you want to. You may want to build an album of “Should’a‚ Could’a‚ Would’a” moments‚ where you get to say what you wish you had been able to say at the time. Your journal album is whatever you choose to make it. These are your words‚ and this is your creation.
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Alice Welsh is a professional ‘scrapbooker’. Alice has authored a number of scrapbooking articles and the eBook titles “Scrapbooking Magic: 99 Inspirational Ideas to Help You Create a Breathtaking Scrapbook!” and “Scrapbooking for Profit: How to Start Your Own Scrapbooking Business and Make Money Doing Something You Love!”. You can download both of her eBooks from this website.
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