Backstory: In late 2024 I made a list of topics that I wanted to pursue: Incorporating more visual elements and color into my work made it to the top of the list.
(Side note: I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions. In my opinion, most are doomed to failure. Instead, areas of emphasis for the coming months seem like a better way to go.)
For the past few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with a hybrid system of diary keeping and visual journaling, which seems to be meeting my needs. It’s really a two step process.
How the Process Works
Step 1: Create a short summary of each day. The format that I am using was popularized, perhaps even developed, by Lynda Barry. She calls it her 6, or perhaps 7 minute diary. I’ve discussed this process before. Here’s a current example. It really does only take a short amount of time.
Each of the categories is easily explained. “Did” is just a short summary of what you did during the day, no matter how ordinary or mundane. “Saw” is a record of things you observed. With practice, you’ll start seeing more interesting things in your day. “Heard” can be strange noises from your refrigerator, overheard conversations, interesting song lyrics, an interesting line of dialogue from a TV show, or the news, and so on. “Drawing” is just a quick, 30 seconds, visual representation of something in one of these categories.
Step 2: I have been using additional pages to sometimes record additional details from my day. These details can include memes I’ve uncovered, interesting photographs, sketches, or even longer pieces of writing. These are not planned ahead, and I haven’t done them every day. Here are a couple of examples. This process is inspired by the work of Austin Kleon.
Ifs, And, and Buts
- What if my life is boring? Remember that the objective of this exercise is mostly about memory keeping, not creating Expansive Narratives of our Life. With practice, you’ll start to uncover and record those little details that make each day unique.
- What if I can’t draw? Again, this doesn’t matter. You will probably find that anything you decide to draw in the 30 second drawing box will evoke a deeper memory of the thing that you are drawing. That is our goal. Not Great Art.
- What kind of notebook do I need? Any kind will work. Lynda Barry uses the inexpensive Composition Notebooks that are often on sale.
- I thought that a diary was a locked book used by teenagers? It could be, but in this case we are using a preset, short format to capture our ideas and activities.
- How do I title each page? You can really do that however you want. Day of the week and date is really all that you need. What I’ve been doing lately is scouring the internet to look for interesting lettering styles, and trying to make each day’s header unique.
- Could I do this digitally, instead of in a notebook? Sure. Someone has probably already created an app for it! I prefer the paper-based, arts and crafts system that I’m using.