Open Journals: Guided Journal Writing in Community

Once upon a time, I held journal writing workshops in the Studio Shop. What a thrill! To be writing with people. Something I did not understand the delight of until the pandemic happened—or, maybe, not until the pandemic settled upon us like a dark cloud and two years later I looked up and thought, hmmm.

We’re launching a new guided journaling program called Open Journals. Registration opens September 24, 2022, and starts running October 1st.

Two or three times a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays, we’re going to meet together on Zoom, at 9:00 pm EST, where I will share a journal prompt and we will write quietly together for 20 minutes. It’s a monthly subscription at $20/month, and you can join as many evenings as you’d like, sort of like getting a monthly pass to a yoga studio. It’s a way to wind down at the end of the day, to take a moment to yourself, to reset, and maybe a bit of writing just for fun or to contemplate your day. There will be no group sharing, and no obligation to stick with the prompt, you can just write in your journal or write a letter or even doodle.

This is for everyone! It’s for people who are looking to journal regularly, but are having a hard time building or keeping the habit. A bit of accountability, and also some company.

This is also for people who already journal but are looking for people to write with, and also people who are looking for a bit of inspiration in their journaling, prompts that can be fresh, or surprising, or fun, or reflective. Maybe even for people who just want to write, who have a creative itch, or who want to use some of their favourite pens and fill up the notebooks that have been sitting on their shelves. An extremely low-pressure, low-key writing space.

I’m going to be providing different journaling prompts in a variety of styles, and you can use the time to follow the prompt or to just write whatever is on your mind. While I do very much believe that the right prompt at the right time can be very powerful, I also believe that one of the most meaningful parts of a regular journaling practice is showing up consistently, and spending time writing even when inspiration isn’t there yet, slowing down to keep the words flowing. In between our journaling evenings, I hope you continue to find time to journal, or else maybe find our evenings together as a way to keep you going even if you don’t journal everyday.

Mainly, I’m hoping to find and grow and be part of a community of people that just want to write together, no obligation, just showing up and writing in our own notebooks in our own spaces, connected together at the same time.

There are also going to be “community events” on other evenings, or perhaps at other times, where we’ll meet and share and chat on a certain topic or write together in different ways, sharing what journals or pens we’re using, writing letters together, what books we’re reading, or maybe even an evening where we bring our cats! These community events are free for subscribers but will require an RSVP, and a separate Zoom link will be sent out beforehand.

I’m even keeping my fingers crossed that one day we might have a few journaling nights in the Studio Shop, but the future is murky on that one.

Here’s our October schedule:

Monday, October 3 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Thursday, October 6 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Monday, October 10 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Wednesday, October 12 at 9:00-9:30+ pm EST: Journal Chat

Spaces limited, RSVP required- email wonderliz@wonderpens.ca

Bring your journals, pens and supplies to show and share what you’re using, what you’re liking, and your own journaling routines and rituals.

Thursday, October 13 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Monday, October 17 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Thursday, October 20 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Monday, October 24 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

Wednesday, October 26 at 9:00-9:30+ pm EST: Planner Chat

Spaces limited, RSVP required- email wonderliz@wonderpens.ca

Bring your planners and notebooks to show and share your analogue and planning system for 2023.

Thursday, October 27 at 9:00-9:30 pm EST: Journal Writing

No Journal Writing on Monday, October 31st for Halloween (sorry)

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This is something both a bit out of my comfort zone but also a place where I’ve spent a long time being comfortable, which is lost in my journal. The idea of this, running journaling via Zoom, has been simmering for a while, which is sometimes how I know it’s something I need to at least try.

It’s been one of many pots and pans and ideas always on the go, and part of the long simmer has been having a baby (another post, maybe, one day on the balancing act of young kids and having a business and also having ideas that require time and commitment to see to fruition and competing priorities), but it’s mostly just that things take a long time to cook with me. Also, in a lovely way, part of our multi-year renovation is having a very tiny space, essentially a closet, for me to dream up and run projects like this. A closet of one’s own. In any case, stars aligning, things being heaved back and forth, and here we are.

If you’re planning on joining us, which I hope you will, I hope you are also looking forward to gathering up your supplies, finding the right notebook, making a cup of nighttime tea, lighting a candle as you write, creating a little ritual to welcome forth the evening.