If you read a lot of books on a regular basis, it can be a great idea to keep a reading journal. Like any ordinary diary, a reading diary narrates your life through the books you read. With each book you read, you should add an entry detailing your thoughts and reflections. This process can make you a better reader and writer. Also, if you lose track of everything you read, recording your thoughts as you go will help stimulate your memory. Best of all, when enough time passes, you can go through your journal and reflect on all the things you have read.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Starting a Reading Journal
Step 1. Consider the benefits of a reading journal
The usefulness of a reading journal ultimately depends on how much you read. If you read most days of the week, it stands to reason that you will probably read more books in a year than you can remember in depth. If you have trouble remembering major details from a book you read a few months ago, a reading journal will help. The act of writing down your thoughts goes a long way in preserving memories.
If you only read a few books a year, keeping a reading journal may not be as helpful. These journals are generally only worth it to really avid readers
Step 2. Choose a medium
There are two main means in which you can develop a reading journal: you can write in a physical journal, or you can post your writing online through a blog. Some people prefer the personal touch of a physical book, while others go for the convenience and accessibility of a web publication.
- Although you may prefer one over the other, you should consider both means before making a firmer decision.
- In some cases, it is a good idea to keep a physical and online record. You won't always have a computer handy when you're reading. Also, you can post your final thoughts on the blog once you've finished reading a given book.
Step 3. Buy a durable book
If you go the physical option, you shouldn't depend on a cheap ringed book. Although they are cheap and functional, they do not resist wear and tear very well. When shopping for a book, look for one with a high-quality spine, preferably leather.
When betting on durability, you should also look for something that you feel happy to write about for the next few months. It is not uncommon for writers to develop an emotional attachment to their journals, so be sure to buy a journal that is of high quality to make it worth your while
Step 4. Set up a blog
A blog is a free online journal. You won't have to worry about running out of space if you choose to publish your reading journal online. You will be able to organize and retrieve your tickets more easily. In addition, a blog offers the possibility of having followers.
- There are several free blogging sites that are available. Blogspot and Wordpress are just a couple of the best known.
- Although you can keep a private reading journal if you want, giving other people the opportunity to accompany you on your journey can lead to comments and discussion, both regarding the book you read and the content of the post itself.
Step 5. Create a Goodreads account
If you want a place to record your reading history, Goodreads is arguably even better than a simple blog. Goodreads is a site specifically designed for people to record their reading habits and post their reflections on literature. It has a database of information packages, as well as a vibrant community that is as passionate about reading as you are.
Part 2 of 3: Writing Your Reading Journal
Step 1. Make a list of essential information from the book
Each journal entry should include obvious information for posterity. This information includes the name of the author and the title of the book. Try to make it bold or otherwise emphasize it on the page or on the screen. This way, it will be easier to record your readings when you want to review your entries at some point.
Step 2. Write down the facts that you can forget
Memory is capricious. Even if you quite enjoy the book you read, there is no guarantee that you will remember most of the material or anything. This problem becomes greater as you read more things. While you definitely shouldn't record every bit of information a book offers, it's a good idea to write down the things that interest you.
The pieces of information that you mark can be an anchor to remember other things
Step 3. Copy memorable quotes in your post
Most books will have certain lines that stand out. You won't be able to add all the citations you want, but there may be one or two per book that will be worth recording word for word. Going on a dating hunt is especially satisfying if you think you've found a line or two that perfectly synthesizes the rest of the book.
If you quote something from a book, don't forget to include the page number
Step 4. Discuss the writing techniques in the book you are reading
Some reading journals will depend exclusively on the content of the book, but there is equal value in talking about the way the author explores his subject. Think about things like the perspective of the writing (first person, third person, etc.), the length of the book, the use of images and poetic devices, and any other techniques the author has used.
For the sake of journaling, write down your impressions of whether or not you think certain techniques work. A journal entry can be an informal critical review. By putting technical issues under a microscope, you will be able to distinguish the good from the bad literature over time
Step 5. Write down the exact time and put it with each entry
A reading journal is not just a catalog that you can read. Like any type of journal, they are also indirectly comments on the course of your life. Your life experiences dictate what you read, and in turn, certain books will be associated with parts of your life. With this in mind, write down the time and place you were when you read most of a book.
Writing down the connections between what you read and what you experience is a good way to better remember both. This will enrich the association between the book and the circumstances of your life
Step 6. Relate the book to what is happening in your life
For a better understanding of the experience of reading a book, it may be a good idea to write a few notes about what is currently going on in your life as you read it. Having an idea of what is happening (where you were living, who you were dating, etc.) will allow you to remember many of the most minute details of that stage of your life.
- By adding some background, you can contextualize the book in question with how you were thinking at the time. This may explain why you focused on certain things or wrote about them in each post.
- Obviously, the most personal details should only be included if the reading journal is completely private and there is no risk of someone else reading it.
Step 7. Reflect on whether the book has changed you
Books are a source of fun and relaxation, but they also help you grow as a person. Most of the books you read probably won't have a lasting impact, but some inevitably will. If you feel that a book has permanently changed the way you see the world, you should make a clear note of this at the end of the entry.
It can be helpful to write a note like this in bold. This way, when you review old posts after months or years, you can quickly identify the ones that were especially memorable to you at the time
Part 3 of 3: Maintain Healthy Habits Regarding Using Your Reading Journal
Step 1. Set a regular reading goal
Books are enjoyable, but active reading takes a bit more motivation than watching TV or playing video games. For some people it is motivating to set goals for themselves. For example, if you don't read as much as you'd like, you can write something along the lines "I will read three books this month."
- Make sure your goal is realistic, and take into account the fact that reading some books will take longer than others.
- Goodreads has a feature to set a free yearly reading goal that all accounts can use. If you open an account, you can set a goal to finish a certain book at the beginning of the year and see how you do at the end of it.
Step 2. Write the book entry as you read it
Some of the people who write reading journals prefer to wait until the end of a book to make their entries. Others believe that writing notes throughout the reading enriches the experience. Having a reading journal by your side as you read a book can motivate you to pay more attention to detail.
This is a very important detail if you have finished school a while ago and find that you have lost your touch as a critical reader since then
Step 3. Finish your post as soon as you finish reading the book
A longer format journal entry may seem a bit tedious before it becomes interesting to you. Some journalists make the mistake of postponing their entries until days or weeks after reading the book. This defeats the point of keeping a reading journal. You should try to keep your reflections as fresh as possible. Otherwise, you are not writing about the book itself but about your memories of the book.
Step 4. Keep your book somewhere safe
A reading journal is a long-term commitment. Although it is recommended that you take it with you when you travel, accidentally losing the book can seem catastrophic depending on the time and effort you have invested in it. Make a habit of keeping it in the same place when you're between books.
Even if you don't publish your posts on a public blog, registering a second copy of your posts can ensure that you don't lose them permanently
Step 5. Take care of your reading journal
If you keep track of your readings with a physical journal, you must take extra care to protect it from wear and tear. Even a high-quality leather book will start to wear out if used excessively.
- Be careful not to splash food or drink on it and put it in a special compartment in your backpack if you take it anywhere.
- Alternatively, if you use a blog to update your reading journal, be sure to keep your password under strict surveillance.