By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
Recently, Local author and professional Jason M. Rubin visited the Medfield Public Library (MPL) to detail the benefits and rewards of keeping a regular journaling practice. Attendees gathered together in the community room downstairs, journals in their grasp, to learn how to build the foundation to create a journaling practice of their very own.
Rubin shared with the workshop that he has journaled throughout his life, bringing along with him a variety of journals that he has worked within throughout the years. Rubin shared various journal entries with the group to display the variety of topics that can be written about within these blank pages, as well as to share his growth as a writer due to this regular journaling practice. Rubin often reiterated the importance of a regular practice when he stated, “it’s not about how much you write; it’s how frequently you use it,” as the frequency is what helps your writing to become more fluid.
While Rubin did state that one can journal on their laptop, iPad, or phone, he emphasized the importance of handwriting to the group, “I find writing with your hand is a very mystical and sensual experience… it is sort of magical that you can make squiggles and shapes and it has meaning,” he went on to share that he believes that there is a sort of uniqueness and personal touch that our own handwriting imprints upon a page.
The author shared that journaling can be used for a variety of means; reflections, descriptions, venting, and a safe space to be creative. According to Rubin, journals are for “writing for the sheer joy of writing and suspending self criticism,” as it is a low risk, high reward method for creative writing and acts as a therapeutic practice to deal with complicated feelings upon reflective writing.
Rubins tips to get started on your journaling practice included: buying a beautiful journal, dating your entries, not to worry about style or substance, and ritualizing the practice by treating it as something important. His biggest and most important tip was: “just start!” One must just begin in order to create the habit in the first place.
When one begins an entry, they should “write until they are done,” Rubin shared, so the entry feels complete.
At the end of the workshop, Rubin provided four prompts for the group, if writers would like to use them, or gave them fifteen minutes of free writing. At the end of the workshop, writers shared what they had written. Themes of loss, grief, gratitude, concern, humor, and positivity were all shared.
Rubin provided wonderful tips and insights to inspire a group of women to begin a regular journaling practice.
To learn more about Jason M. Rubin and to view/purchase his books, please visit: https://www.jasonmrubin.com/.
