You want to keep an illustrated journal as your daily art container, but you don’t want to share the nitty gritty details of your life with the public. What do you do?
The Pleiades. Because: Sisterhood. Because: sparks, synapses, light. Because: Stardust.
I think a lot about readers and writers. The fact that “no one reads anymore” — as impatient colleagues always remind me when I’m writing slowly and sweating details (words, syntax, tone, &c.) — is both horrifying and liberating. I like your point about preparing for both the prurient obsessives and the careless skimmers, while aiming for the few who matter. I think this is true for both writing in general, and, say, sharing an illustrated journal.
When I was posting regularly, i spent more time on the captions than the art. It’s all just a search for meaning. In writing — as in speaking — I prize authenticity. I am forthright. How does this jibe with a consuming need for privacy? My tendency toward the abstract and the metaphorical seems to be a sufficient veil. I don’t share much anymore not because I’m hiding, but because it takes so much energy to navigate the intersection of public and private creativity.
I am grateful (and awed) that you do this every week.
Thank you, as always, for a beautiful and thoughtful reply (and for replying at all). Absolutely relevant to writing in general. We are always making choices about what we share and what we show. In any journal context though, we are automatically drawing our fodder from life, which can complicate things. I wonder what you write in a business context, surrounded by impatient colleagues. I think I had started to fear my writing was drying up, so stifled as it is in my own day to day. Margins are at one slivers and vast. Your comment here about the abstract and the metaphorical…. Love that. I totally get that. I’ve been skirting those edges for years, I think. Energy, yes. But if the spark is there, you should tend it. Ready?
I'm not an illustrator but tend toward honesty and transparency in my words and photographic images. I don't put everything out there, though. We all need a little mystery, right? I've noticed with my own audio voiceovers that they're estimated to take almost twice as long as reading. Sometimes I'll listen as I'm washing dishes or folding laundry, and then I wonder if I'm doing the author a disservice that way. Most of the books I've completed in recent past have been audiobooks. I suppose driving is another form of multitasking, and I've never felt guilty about that! 😅
Constellation: Ursa Major
Middle of the road (though I'm pretty sure my middle of the road would be someone else's clutterbug.
Exactly. We should maintain some mystery — or at least realize it is our choice. Voiceovers are typically longer…. That’s an interesting comment about feeling bad about listening while doing other things. Coming from the podcast side, I know people always listen while doing something…. I can see how it may feel different though here because without the voiceover, readers may focus differently on the writing. Some people are really good listeners though! Don’t feel bad at all when you do the laundry while listening to someone’s post! Feel free to do so if you ever listen to mind :). I don’t always listen to substack posts even when audio is available. It really depends on what it is. But I do know that a certain subset of “readers” will prefer to listen. I think it’s wonderful how many authors here add voiceovers now, including you.
I'm not sure why I feel myself applying different standards to my Substack subscriptions than I might to a novel or non-fiction work. Something about not giving them my undivided attention, which sounds a little wackadoodle when I write it out. LOL! One more thing I can learn to let go! :)
Interestingly timed post… the whole privacy issue and sharing is what has had me frozen of late. Which is strange because I used to write openly but as I progress through the years, I worry more and have turned entire blogs to draft simply because I felt too exposed.
Doing the illustrated week is good for me to find that balance between what I’m comfortable with sharing and what I’m not. But I do struggle because I’m a wordsmith pre artist, my pages feel unfinished or unbalanced without words so I am mostly sharing them half finished.
This has to be the longest I’ve ever stuck with any project though so I’m hoping I find that happy medium soon 🫣😂
Love the added ideas for privacy. Love to read your posts each week!
Thank you for your comment, Car. I think this really can be an issue that poses a perceived stumbling block for people who really want to work in this format (e.g., illustrated journal or visual diary) but worry about privacy. You are not alone in worrying about what details you put out there. Not only do we change, but the world continues to change. I think you can still be a wordsmith in your pages — and find ways to cover and conceal. But, it’s also okay to show process shots or unfinished pages! The showing isn’t the goal…. The doing is. I’m happy to know you’ve been sticking with it and hope you find the right balance for you as you continue to inhabit the space each week.
I can’t choose one. Minimalist goals, middle of the road in spirit, chaos clutter in action. I think some people, when faced with things in life they can’t control, will control the things they can. I have been steamrolled by uncontrollable chaos, and have temporarily given up.
Although the big and Little Dipper and always visible in Texas, I prefer Orion.
I struggle with a few privacy concerns with my journal.
- Authenticity is my goal. It’s good practice for me, and I hope anyone reading will feel less alone.
- There are people I do not want to share all the things with. These are actually people I know well, but I think might be hurt/offended by what I write/draw, even if that wasn’t my intention. This has been an issue in the past, and I would prefer to avoid a repeat.
- I want to respect my kids’ privacy, but our lives are really entangled and it feels impossible to tell my story without revealing theirs.
I’m uncomfortable admitting this after reading your post, but I am that person who tilts and zooms to try to find the spoken and unspoken in pages I find interesting and mysterious. My interest isn’t judgmental, and it definitely isn’t prurient, I am just genuinely curious about people’s lives (and everything else on the planet).
I surely hope you realize that most of us zoom and pinch and tilt…. If it’s there…. We look. We read. We know. Yes, these can be bridges to connection, and yes, people really are just curious. No worries - so don’t be uncomfortable. Instead, we turn it around and realize that if we are at all worried about something being read that way, we can take steps to control it. Some of the issues you mentioned are ones I also think about or worry about, including the privacy of our kids and other family members. Just remember, you can still share - but disrupt the reading in whatever way makes you comfortable. Or, don’t. That’s okay, too! I love that some of you answered about constellations! Thank you for reading - and I hope you are off to a good start for the week.
My readiness to share my journals or art online have definitely waned this year, who knows if they might swing back. I love the Bansky quote, I consider myself more private than most. There is one I remember from my childhood: “fools’ names, like fools’ faces, are often seen in public places.” Lol it sounds almost totalitarian, I am not sure why I thought it was a sound proverb. But there is something prudent in it.
The Banksy was a total accidental find…. But really fitting even though it made me feel sort of silly for a minute that “this” is the art space I inhabit. I appreciate your comment. It’s helpful sometimes for us to think through our privacy limits. Since your art is often standalone art, you probably often have a pool of things that enable you to continue to share even if you don’t share your journal or planner. (That’s a good scenario and allows you to pick and choose, right?) Those of us “just” doing visual journals can sometimes get caught in “not” being able to share, if that makes sense. The tips are to help work around that. That’s a great “fools” adage. I’ve never heard that one before. Seems pretty apt these days. —- But I see that you feel your desire to share at all has waned….. I agree with you that might swing a bit, especially depending on what projects and series you do next? — Hope you have a good week.
I love all the tips for masking personal info here!
I do sometimes struggle with the sharing of my journal for a few reasons- the main one being that I've never thought I was "good" at drawing , I'm not an illustrator. I'm more of a doodler 🤣🤣 But I'm really finding that stepping outside my comfort zone is good for me - mind,, body, and soul
Constellation? Orion because even with all the lights in my city I can still see his belt🌟
The beautiful think about our journals is that the don’t judge our drawings! I enjoy the process of working in this way, and I enjoy the final look of pages, but I think all kinds of drawing, illustration, and doodling (including zentangle and other mindful doodling) can be used to great effect on pages. Filling space can be mindful. I hope you have fun with it — and I encourage you to take those steps out of your comfort zone to share IF that is something you are looking for in terms of connection. Thanks for commenting — and for the constellation!
What beautiful words you have in the lines you were left with, and what helpful tips shared for managing privacy and sharing - thank you. These and observing how you and others do this is what led to me feeling able to start an illustrated journal I could also share.
I love this I don't keep an illustrated journal but see them around in substack and admire them. I do journal however and my way of keeping it secret is to write so it is illegible. Even for me! Funnily enough, recently in a shared journaling group, I decided not to share my writing as some of it was too personal that I would not know how to cover it. This lead to questions and one thing led to another so the group got cancelled. Shame but that won't stop me from journaling. Amazing journal and artwork you have shared. Thank you.
Thank you for reading and commenting - I appreciate the feedback! Your note about writing illegibly (or writing so as to deliberately obscure the reading) is a really good one! I know many people who do that in various ways — I should have included that. Are you able to read back later yourself? Or is the goal the writing and getting things on paper - without worry about looking back? — I’m really sorry that happened in a group. I would hope that our privacy always has a place and is respected. I think it’s cool that you HAD a shared journaling group, but I do hate hearing that it ended over something like that.
I don't mind really, I do not let it affect it. Most times I can read it back but some of it I cannot... I think it is a relief to put on paper. It's a practice that brings both gifts and questions but it helps with peace somehow. I can only imagine how fulfilling illustrated journals are. I think at some point however we do look back and that experience can also go both ways. You try not to judge yourself but what if others judge the writing because they may misunderstand it. I don't know. At the end of the day, journaling is for oneself right? Thank you for this in depth response.
Thank you for these tips, Amy. Though I haven’t done an illustrated journal in a long time, I do include writing in my sketchbooks that I don’t always want to share when I post sketchbook photos. It helps maintain that special space for an open flow of personal expression knowing you can always share as much or as little as you choose.
Orion, because it’s one of the few I can easily see in the Manhattan sky. Since I’ve been taking care of my mom on Long Island, I can see many more stars but I haven’t found too many constellations. Have you ever seen H.A. Rey’s book, The Stars? He wrote Curious George, too.
I’m a clutterbug but always fighting against it.
In my high school diaries, I made up an alphabet based on Tolkien elvish letters. Amazingly, I still have the keys to some of the variations I created, but it’s very slow going trying to read it now.
When I share journal pages now, I use markup and kind of scribble over any writing I want to hide.
Thank you for commenting. I am glad to hear you have more sky where you are now. Typically no visible stars where I am. It is something we sometimes forget about. I haven't see The Stars (book). I'll take a look. That's awesome about the high school encoded diaries. That you have the key is great. We do grow up, I think, and realize that such steps take a lot of time!
The Pleiades. Because: Sisterhood. Because: sparks, synapses, light. Because: Stardust.
I think a lot about readers and writers. The fact that “no one reads anymore” — as impatient colleagues always remind me when I’m writing slowly and sweating details (words, syntax, tone, &c.) — is both horrifying and liberating. I like your point about preparing for both the prurient obsessives and the careless skimmers, while aiming for the few who matter. I think this is true for both writing in general, and, say, sharing an illustrated journal.
When I was posting regularly, i spent more time on the captions than the art. It’s all just a search for meaning. In writing — as in speaking — I prize authenticity. I am forthright. How does this jibe with a consuming need for privacy? My tendency toward the abstract and the metaphorical seems to be a sufficient veil. I don’t share much anymore not because I’m hiding, but because it takes so much energy to navigate the intersection of public and private creativity.
I am grateful (and awed) that you do this every week.
Thank you, as always, for a beautiful and thoughtful reply (and for replying at all). Absolutely relevant to writing in general. We are always making choices about what we share and what we show. In any journal context though, we are automatically drawing our fodder from life, which can complicate things. I wonder what you write in a business context, surrounded by impatient colleagues. I think I had started to fear my writing was drying up, so stifled as it is in my own day to day. Margins are at one slivers and vast. Your comment here about the abstract and the metaphorical…. Love that. I totally get that. I’ve been skirting those edges for years, I think. Energy, yes. But if the spark is there, you should tend it. Ready?
Almost 😅
Thanks for putting a hand out.
I’m so appreciating this ongoing conversation — it’s part of the (tentative) tending.
Ugh. Sorry about your unexpected morning cleanup.
I'm not an illustrator but tend toward honesty and transparency in my words and photographic images. I don't put everything out there, though. We all need a little mystery, right? I've noticed with my own audio voiceovers that they're estimated to take almost twice as long as reading. Sometimes I'll listen as I'm washing dishes or folding laundry, and then I wonder if I'm doing the author a disservice that way. Most of the books I've completed in recent past have been audiobooks. I suppose driving is another form of multitasking, and I've never felt guilty about that! 😅
Constellation: Ursa Major
Middle of the road (though I'm pretty sure my middle of the road would be someone else's clutterbug.
Exactly. We should maintain some mystery — or at least realize it is our choice. Voiceovers are typically longer…. That’s an interesting comment about feeling bad about listening while doing other things. Coming from the podcast side, I know people always listen while doing something…. I can see how it may feel different though here because without the voiceover, readers may focus differently on the writing. Some people are really good listeners though! Don’t feel bad at all when you do the laundry while listening to someone’s post! Feel free to do so if you ever listen to mind :). I don’t always listen to substack posts even when audio is available. It really depends on what it is. But I do know that a certain subset of “readers” will prefer to listen. I think it’s wonderful how many authors here add voiceovers now, including you.
I'm not sure why I feel myself applying different standards to my Substack subscriptions than I might to a novel or non-fiction work. Something about not giving them my undivided attention, which sounds a little wackadoodle when I write it out. LOL! One more thing I can learn to let go! :)
Interestingly timed post… the whole privacy issue and sharing is what has had me frozen of late. Which is strange because I used to write openly but as I progress through the years, I worry more and have turned entire blogs to draft simply because I felt too exposed.
Doing the illustrated week is good for me to find that balance between what I’m comfortable with sharing and what I’m not. But I do struggle because I’m a wordsmith pre artist, my pages feel unfinished or unbalanced without words so I am mostly sharing them half finished.
This has to be the longest I’ve ever stuck with any project though so I’m hoping I find that happy medium soon 🫣😂
Love the added ideas for privacy. Love to read your posts each week!
Thank you for your comment, Car. I think this really can be an issue that poses a perceived stumbling block for people who really want to work in this format (e.g., illustrated journal or visual diary) but worry about privacy. You are not alone in worrying about what details you put out there. Not only do we change, but the world continues to change. I think you can still be a wordsmith in your pages — and find ways to cover and conceal. But, it’s also okay to show process shots or unfinished pages! The showing isn’t the goal…. The doing is. I’m happy to know you’ve been sticking with it and hope you find the right balance for you as you continue to inhabit the space each week.
Thanks for reading!
I can’t choose one. Minimalist goals, middle of the road in spirit, chaos clutter in action. I think some people, when faced with things in life they can’t control, will control the things they can. I have been steamrolled by uncontrollable chaos, and have temporarily given up.
Although the big and Little Dipper and always visible in Texas, I prefer Orion.
I struggle with a few privacy concerns with my journal.
- Authenticity is my goal. It’s good practice for me, and I hope anyone reading will feel less alone.
- There are people I do not want to share all the things with. These are actually people I know well, but I think might be hurt/offended by what I write/draw, even if that wasn’t my intention. This has been an issue in the past, and I would prefer to avoid a repeat.
- I want to respect my kids’ privacy, but our lives are really entangled and it feels impossible to tell my story without revealing theirs.
I’m uncomfortable admitting this after reading your post, but I am that person who tilts and zooms to try to find the spoken and unspoken in pages I find interesting and mysterious. My interest isn’t judgmental, and it definitely isn’t prurient, I am just genuinely curious about people’s lives (and everything else on the planet).
I surely hope you realize that most of us zoom and pinch and tilt…. If it’s there…. We look. We read. We know. Yes, these can be bridges to connection, and yes, people really are just curious. No worries - so don’t be uncomfortable. Instead, we turn it around and realize that if we are at all worried about something being read that way, we can take steps to control it. Some of the issues you mentioned are ones I also think about or worry about, including the privacy of our kids and other family members. Just remember, you can still share - but disrupt the reading in whatever way makes you comfortable. Or, don’t. That’s okay, too! I love that some of you answered about constellations! Thank you for reading - and I hope you are off to a good start for the week.
My readiness to share my journals or art online have definitely waned this year, who knows if they might swing back. I love the Bansky quote, I consider myself more private than most. There is one I remember from my childhood: “fools’ names, like fools’ faces, are often seen in public places.” Lol it sounds almost totalitarian, I am not sure why I thought it was a sound proverb. But there is something prudent in it.
The Banksy was a total accidental find…. But really fitting even though it made me feel sort of silly for a minute that “this” is the art space I inhabit. I appreciate your comment. It’s helpful sometimes for us to think through our privacy limits. Since your art is often standalone art, you probably often have a pool of things that enable you to continue to share even if you don’t share your journal or planner. (That’s a good scenario and allows you to pick and choose, right?) Those of us “just” doing visual journals can sometimes get caught in “not” being able to share, if that makes sense. The tips are to help work around that. That’s a great “fools” adage. I’ve never heard that one before. Seems pretty apt these days. —- But I see that you feel your desire to share at all has waned….. I agree with you that might swing a bit, especially depending on what projects and series you do next? — Hope you have a good week.
I love all the tips for masking personal info here!
I do sometimes struggle with the sharing of my journal for a few reasons- the main one being that I've never thought I was "good" at drawing , I'm not an illustrator. I'm more of a doodler 🤣🤣 But I'm really finding that stepping outside my comfort zone is good for me - mind,, body, and soul
Constellation? Orion because even with all the lights in my city I can still see his belt🌟
The beautiful think about our journals is that the don’t judge our drawings! I enjoy the process of working in this way, and I enjoy the final look of pages, but I think all kinds of drawing, illustration, and doodling (including zentangle and other mindful doodling) can be used to great effect on pages. Filling space can be mindful. I hope you have fun with it — and I encourage you to take those steps out of your comfort zone to share IF that is something you are looking for in terms of connection. Thanks for commenting — and for the constellation!
What beautiful words you have in the lines you were left with, and what helpful tips shared for managing privacy and sharing - thank you. These and observing how you and others do this is what led to me feeling able to start an illustrated journal I could also share.
I always look for The Southern Cross, Orion's belt, and to see if it's dark enough to enjoy the wonders of the whole Milky Way.
Thank you for reading, Alayne. I’m glad tips like these are helpful. Your illustrated journals are beautiful.
I love this I don't keep an illustrated journal but see them around in substack and admire them. I do journal however and my way of keeping it secret is to write so it is illegible. Even for me! Funnily enough, recently in a shared journaling group, I decided not to share my writing as some of it was too personal that I would not know how to cover it. This lead to questions and one thing led to another so the group got cancelled. Shame but that won't stop me from journaling. Amazing journal and artwork you have shared. Thank you.
Thank you for reading and commenting - I appreciate the feedback! Your note about writing illegibly (or writing so as to deliberately obscure the reading) is a really good one! I know many people who do that in various ways — I should have included that. Are you able to read back later yourself? Or is the goal the writing and getting things on paper - without worry about looking back? — I’m really sorry that happened in a group. I would hope that our privacy always has a place and is respected. I think it’s cool that you HAD a shared journaling group, but I do hate hearing that it ended over something like that.
I don't mind really, I do not let it affect it. Most times I can read it back but some of it I cannot... I think it is a relief to put on paper. It's a practice that brings both gifts and questions but it helps with peace somehow. I can only imagine how fulfilling illustrated journals are. I think at some point however we do look back and that experience can also go both ways. You try not to judge yourself but what if others judge the writing because they may misunderstand it. I don't know. At the end of the day, journaling is for oneself right? Thank you for this in depth response.
Thank you for these tips, Amy. Though I haven’t done an illustrated journal in a long time, I do include writing in my sketchbooks that I don’t always want to share when I post sketchbook photos. It helps maintain that special space for an open flow of personal expression knowing you can always share as much or as little as you choose.
Exactly, Erin! Thank you for commenting - I always love whatever bits of your sketchbook we get to see!
Orion, because it’s one of the few I can easily see in the Manhattan sky. Since I’ve been taking care of my mom on Long Island, I can see many more stars but I haven’t found too many constellations. Have you ever seen H.A. Rey’s book, The Stars? He wrote Curious George, too.
I’m a clutterbug but always fighting against it.
In my high school diaries, I made up an alphabet based on Tolkien elvish letters. Amazingly, I still have the keys to some of the variations I created, but it’s very slow going trying to read it now.
When I share journal pages now, I use markup and kind of scribble over any writing I want to hide.
Thanks as always, for the inspiration.
Thank you for commenting. I am glad to hear you have more sky where you are now. Typically no visible stars where I am. It is something we sometimes forget about. I haven't see The Stars (book). I'll take a look. That's awesome about the high school encoded diaries. That you have the key is great. We do grow up, I think, and realize that such steps take a lot of time!