I like to keep a journal that is for thoughts, feelings, events in my daily life. I go through phases of frequency of entries. Sometimes I will write in it every day, sometimes once or twice a week and at times once or twice a month. But it is my place to decompress and unload the junk from my own mind that I don't to dump on other people. Often times it's a good way for me to understand not only what I feel, but why I feel that way. I find it helpful to work things through there and then take it to the discussion level with other people, especially if there are issues to hash out.

I don't censor myself when I write in my journal because those around me know that what I put in there is private, they forfeit any right to take offense at the material therein if they violate my privacy. Because of this I take no precautions against others reading it. No locks, no hiding spots, no secret codes. Heck, I leave the thing sitting next my favorite spot on the couch where I relax in the evenings.

I tend to splurge on my journals, paying extra for good paper and durable bindings, as I want them to hold up. I always keep the journal on paper with a good fountain pen. I've actually been considering getting special permanent ink for my fountain pens, so as to insure that they don't wash away if they should ever get wet.

I also tend to keep a notebook with ideas for creative writing. I play and run role playing games as a hobby, and I am frequently jotting down ideas for my games. I often keep a notebook or bound composition book with my ideas in them.

J. Haney