In her essay On Keeping a Notebook, Joan Didion put her finger on the reason why writers keep a record of their experiences in the form of a writing journal.
We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget… Keeping in touch is what notebooks are all about.
Joan Didion
If you write down your impression after reading a story, you will find that it helps you to remember it. The other benefit — and perhaps more significant — of keeping a journal is that you will learn to articulate your thoughts better. Writing is a straightforward process. You gather your thoughts and find the right words or expressions to convey your message. But, since, it’s an art, it takes time. That’s why the writing journal. It’s the first step in the journey of transforming yourself from a reader into a writer.
Some writers prefer to record their responses systematically. They put their personal emotions and experiences in one section, and professional endeavours in the other. Others are less analytical. They keep adding their own experiences to the story they are writing, and vice versa.
In either case, it makes a lot of sense to keep a writing journal. Take it with you wherever you go. Add your thoughts to it as soon as they form a coherent (or not so coherent) picture in your mind. Over time, it will train your brain to instinctively translate your feelings into words. On the one hand, your craft will be sharpened, and on the other, you will experience the profound meditative experience that writing offers.
Kalampedia 