Private Writing

If I were asked to list the top ten most important things in my life, my journal would not be on the list any more than breathing would. However, if I were asked what I’d want with me if I were stranded on a desert island, I’d take a lifetime supply of blank spiral notebooks and an equally ample supply of pens.

If you are interested in keeping a journal, I suggest you start with a spiral notebook. Even if you already have a beautiful cloth bound blank book that was given to you by a dear friend, I still suggest the spiral notebook. Do yourself a favor. Lower the bar.

While, a cloth bound book screams, "Write something amazing and beautiful and breathtaking and worthy of being cloth bound," a spiral notebook simply sits there waiting for you to write something. Any mundane thing.

So, now, get a pen and write "Private Keep Out" on the front.

Just kidding. Your spiral notebook is sufficiently nondescript and non-noteworthy to keep it safe from most people. However, if you want further protection, you can use the old-banana-peel-in-the-bike-basket method. I learned it years ago from my sister back when we were living in Somerville, Massachusetts--a short bike ride from Harvard Yard where I worked.

All year long, we left our bikes in Harvard Yard unchained and unlocked. And they were never stolen. You guessed it. We both left an old banana peel in our bike basket. It worked far better than a lock. I admit, they were old bikes, but still... 

So, if you want your journal to be safe, you can use this method--either figuratively or literally. However, may I suggest that you simply dog-ear the cover, scribble a grocery list on it, and cross off half the items? That should work.

There are other ways to keep your journal private as well. For instance, you can write in code. I have done this at times and then, months later, when re-reading the entry, even I didn't know what I was writing about.

Another idea is to write sloppy enough that no one cares to or even can read what you've written. This is a method that I use regularly.

Now here's one that is absolutely fool proof. Write whatever you want--your deepest, darkest secrets--and then rip out the page (this is definitely easier with a spiral notebook), tear it into little pieces and burn it. I have occasionally used this method. It can be extremely satisfying. And it certainly puts your mind at ease.

Hopefully, one or more of these suggestions will give you the feeling of safety that you need in order to write freely and comfortably whatever is on your mind or in your heart. That, after all, is the whole point of journal writing. More on this later.