The First Step

Winging its way from snowy West Virginia....*

It's on its way to teabird! Let us know when you get it!

It was difficult, as I was writing, not to think of the people who would be reading the entry. When I write in my journal, my tone is much different than when I am writing for other people to read. I tend to wax pompous and dictatorial when I'm writing for other people, and that is because I tend to believe that I have fonts of marvelous information that everyone else MUST know.

I kept telling myself, write like you always do. Just write normally. Don't wig out.

I've tucked a postcard into the back of the notebook, a postcard that I first bought in Ithaca, NY, for a few cents. It's not old and it doesn't have anything paticularly fabulous about it, but it is important to me, for reasons even I don't know.

*Please, when the journal reaches you, let us know where you are (generally) so we have a vague idea of where it is going!

Say Hey!

I am very excited about this journal project. In a few days or weeks, I will be receiving the watercolor Moleskine notebook that will start this whole project. The person who originally conceived the idea, Hazel, will be sending it to me from the UK. Check out their co-blog at

http://purlsandchains.com/

The amount of people who joined the Journal Writers group and wanted to participate in the Traveling Journal Project surprised Hazel, and so she turned over the group and the project to the very capable AJ.

http://ajknitz.blogspot.com/

and your very bossy self, Genuine!

A few ideas and tips for the journal:

1. Don't stress out

Your handwriting isn't perfect. Your poetry is less than stellar. Your drawing tool of choice is a crayon. Don't stress out about it! The most important thing is to be yourself, and to communicate who you are! Whether that means that you include a magazine ad for Shav-O-Cream, or you do a full page watercolor, it doesn't matter. Just be you.

2. Pictures (or paper) can speak a thousand words

Do you have a local postcard you want to share with the others? A newspaper clipping? There's an holder (or should be!) in the back of the notebook. Stick it inside and send it on its way. Share your life through pictures, as well as words.

3. Have fun!

Maybe you have a quirky sense of humor. Share it with us! Including a party popper for the next person on the list could be fun! The important part is to have fun, and share it with the others.

The next post will be a little more boring, with a quick run-down of the facts and the rules, but for now, all I wanted to do was say hi!