The Way in: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery

William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "To Thine Own Self Be True." But how does one remain true to Shakespeare's maxim within our modern times when the self seems as difficult to reach as the life forms at the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully, Rita D. Jacobs' delightful, concise book, The Way In, provides the necessary oxygen for our deep journey to the bottomless pit of our self. Part three, the essence of the book, enables the reader to plunge the self through journal writing. Jacob gives simple yet effective advice, such as writing about one's self in the third person. Part one consists of journal excerpts and their different purposes. Anne Frank, hiding from the Nazis, uses the journal as a confidante. Part two represents the myriad of journals one can keep: travel, transition, crisis, love and the increasingly popular divorce chronicle. The author's spirited writing will spark the journal writer within to seek the buried, dusty treaures lurking in the vast unmined soul. Jacob concludes, "There is an unending self within you to be fathomed, explored and revisited time and again in your journal." The Way In offers helpful common sense tidbits for your journal, whether it be confessional, travel or self-exploratory; I imagine good ol' Bill kept some kind of journal, and hey, look how well it worked out for him. Bohdan Kot

"The urge to write can come from anywhere-the desire to have a serious conversation with yourself, the need to sort out what seems like an overwhelming number of tasks, the urge to capture the past or pin down a current insight, the impulse to record an event or perceptions of an event, or simply the desire to create a record of life's journey." ~Rita D. Jacobs There are two books in one beautiful keepsake box. The color of the box is reminiscent of burgundy leather and there are beautiful gold, pink, yellow and blue flowers on the top, sides and around the title on the front. These are high-quality books with beautiful long-lasting bindings, wonderful smooth warm covers and crisp pages. The type of books you dream about. The journal also has a gold thread bookmark to add a touch of elegance. You will receive: 1. A Journal - a beautiful hardcover book with lined pages. Each page has a scroll design at the top. This book is for people with very small handwriting. 2. "The Way In: Journal Writing for Self-Discovery" by Rita D. Jacobs This is a high-quality journal set. When I first found this item, I thought it was just two blank journal books. What a wonderful surprise to find there was an actual book by Rita D. Jacobs. "The Way In" is divided into three sections: PART ONE: The Journal-writing Tradition If you love reading journals, there are a few treats in this book. You can ready an entry from Ralph Waldo Emerson's journal dated April 12-15, 1836. There are lists of prolific diarists like Anais Nin. Rita also shows how F. Scott Fitzgerald collected random observations in a series of notebooks and these were organized alphabetically. So, she explains how your diary/journal can be as unique as you want it to be. I loved the ideas of creating journals for fictional characters: "as a way of letting the reader understand more fully the motivations and internal landscapes of the characters." There is also the famous quote from Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, where she talks about her diary being a sensational read. PART TWO: Keeping Your Own Journal This section is especially for your own writing experience. I was especially interested in the difference between a journal and a memoir. The author shows how you have to create a "creature of remarkable depth" to capture an audiences attention. She also explains how writing on a computer is another option, but I think it is sometimes more fun to write in a real book. If you do have a lot to say, the computer might be a better option. I can say, I've never written a poem on a computer, so I have to agree with the author when she says that we can reach our uncensored depths by using free-flowing journal writing. Writing on real paper can also be rather therapeutic. You might want to keep a dream journal or a scrapbook journal. I like the idea of a scrapbook journal because often people say things to you that you want to remember and you can make up a journal of "others" tho

I've kept a journal on and off since I was a kid. This book has inspired me to keep writing and not make journaling a "chore" but something to look forward to and get excited about! If you are thinking of starting a journal or you've kept one but neglected it, read this book. It will inspire you to keep writing and you'll find many great exercises to get you thinking and start you writing and keep you writing. This will be a book I will refer to over and over again throughout my life.

The quintessential "bible" for anyone who keeps a journal or is remotely thinking about keeping one. Ms. Jacobs style, clarity, and wit make learning the "way in" a sheer joy. If you've ever thought about writing or keeping a journal, this is THE book for you. A wonderful gift for people of all ages, it the perfect present that will keep on reminding them of your thoughfulness.And so to write

This book inspired me to start a journal. It is extremely interesting and thought provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for self-discovery and self-expression.