I finished a journal this week, and there is always a feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing a book. In June it will mark the fact that I will have documented 11 years of my life in books that are now filled with stories, ideas, doodles, and notes. Some of these books are your classic composition notebook, and others are leather bound journals I probably spent a little more money on than I should have. I honestly have no preference when it comes to the quality of the book, so long as it's filled with paper. Well... actually I almost like the composition notebooks better. When I'm using a fancy journal I feel way more pressure for the content to be good. A $0.99 composition notebook doesn't hold anything against you if you mess it up a little. But there is also a little bit of pride I get when I carry around a moleskin journal I love. So yeah...we're back to no preference.

So I've figured since I've been doing this for so long, I might as well share some of my process...of...things...

Here we go...

Francyne Melberg on Journaling:

1. Don't put a lot of pressure on yourself.

I, admittedly being a nerd, have read a few books on journaling. Some of them encourage you to, uninterrupted, write two pages every morning. Others suggest supplementing your writings with photographs and doodles. Are these terrible ideas? No. They are great ideas. However, my advice to you is to not put so much pressure on yourself when it comes to such things. When I begin to put this kind of pressure on myself, I feel like a failure if I miss a day, or forget to get photos developed, or my doodles are bad. This book is all about you and what you want it to be, so don't make it a chore. Just have fun with it. If all you do on a given day is put the sticker you got from the fireman who was collecting change in his boots at the stop light, that's completely okay (and I've done this on several occasions.) Give yourself some breathing room.

2. Carry your journal with you everywhere you go.

I always carry a sketchbook, journal, and whatever book I'm currently reading (right now it's How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman) with me at all times.

I'm very serious about always having a pen and paper on me.

That sounds so nice doesn't it? The truth is I have a major fear/straight up anxiety of being somewhere - in class, a lecture, church, a waiting room, long car ride - without pen and paper. There is just a certain amount of comfort I get from having the option to write or doodle at a moments notice. Also not having that option totally freaks me out. I like to live like I could have a stroke of genius any moment. What is the first thing you need when you have a stroke of genius? A trusty pen, and some paper.

3. Be yourself.

You don't have anything to prove to a blank piece of paper. And not everything in life has to be instagramed.

Although you will instagram it at least once.

You can follow me on Instagram if you want.

4. Document, document, document

These were used during the summers, I tend to travel way more during that timeframe.

I really like to view my journals as little collections of the bits and pieces of my life. I always write down the places each journal has been to in the front cover of each book. And when I'm traveling, or even when I'm not, I often tape ticket stubs, fortunes, stickers, nifty things I find, or stamps from my mail on the pages. So collect things.

5. Don't forget to dream.

On the back cover of every book I write my Artdeas...I know, it's not a very interesting thing to call it. My Artdeas are a list of crazy, insane, stupid, and/or genius ideas I have while a journal is in use. I sometimes go back to them and think about how I really need to do some of them, and then there are others that I have no earthly idea what I was talking about. Either way I definitely believe there is great value in writing down ideas...both the crazy and not so crazy.

6. Always doodle in the margins.

Even if you can't draw very well.

7. Nothing is sacred.

I tell myself this often. Even more so when I start to take myself too seriously. My philosophy on this is I never want to be hindered in life, what I do, or create by what I have. Don't be ridgid. My mom would probably scold me, but I have painted, carried rebar, and taken nature walks in my favorite dress, all without any indication that such things have happened. Would I say this is wise? Absolutely not. But, why would I ever not do something I enjoy because of how I'm dressed? The same philosophy applies to my journals. Whenever a child is bored I don't bat an eye at letting them doodle in my books. It's just paper, and they sometimes draw some really precious things that make me smile when I come across them later. Essentially what I'm saying here is don't be so uptight that you freak out if someone else writes in your book, or if you end up having to tear a page out, or if the edges of some of your pages get a little water damaged. That's just part of life.

8. Treat yourself to a package of your favorite pens from time to time.

I always, always start each book with the unspoken intention of only using one pen throughout the whole thing, and I always, always end up failing. Well, I've done it once out of 27 books, it's not a very good success rate. I like to buy a new package of sharpie pens from time to time. I enjoy them a whole bunch, before I inevitably loose every single one of them.

9. The first page of a new notebook is always terrifying.

This will never, ever change. I always get an twinge of excited anxiety every time I start a new book. Just decide that whatever happens you'll keep going. Even if your first page ends up being the place where you doodle at lot.

10. Tell stories.

Whether they are light hearted, or deeply rooted, you'll really, honestly be glad you did.

A snapshot of a bit of the collection. I feel the need to clarify that I started journaling when I was 13... But also I still put stickers on things. So do what you will with that information.