{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"categoryState":{"relatedCategories":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-12-16T08:01:05+00:00"},"categoryId":33711,"data":{"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"parentCategory":{"categoryId":33687,"title":"Language & Language Arts","slug":"language-language-arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"}},"childCategories":[],"description":"What are you writing? Whether it's your doctoral dissertation or the great American novel, we can help you get organized, polish up your prose, and get the right kind of attention for your words.","relatedArticles":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles?category=33711&offset=0&size=5"},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":162,"bookCount":18},"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"relatedCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{"count":10,"total":162,"items":[{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-12-15T17:08:13+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-12-15T17:08:13+00:00","timestamp":"2022-12-15T18:01:20+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"The Many Benefits of Keeping a Journal","strippedTitle":"the many benefits of keeping a journal","slug":"the-many-benefits-of-keeping-a-journal","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about the many important benefits you can experience from journaling, including enhancing your mental and physical well-being.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The reason that so many people are drawn to journaling — and likely one of the reasons you’re reading this article — is because journaling is so very beneficial and in so many ways. These benefits have been proven and documented many times through decades of research.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_296374\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-296374\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/woman-journaling-outside-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> ©Ashlyn Ciara / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nFrom school children just learning to write to elderly adults, journaling has been shown to improve emotional, mental, and physical health. It can unleash creativity and enhance productivity. It helps you clarify your thoughts and feelings and can help you make tough decisions. It’s all in the how and the why you use it.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Emotional and mental health</h2>\r\nPeople who journal regularly report experiencing an enhanced sense of overall well-being. Moreover, many have gained tangible improvements to their emotional, mental, and physical health.\r\n\r\nThe area that has been studied the most when it comes to journaling is emotional and mental health. You’ve probably heard that journaling is an inexpensive form of psychotherapy. Most sayings contain a seed of truth; in this case, the seed has grown into a tree.\r\n\r\nStudies conducted in clinical and educational settings since the 1960s have shown the following mental and emotional effects of journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Reduces stress and anxiety</li>\r\n \t<li>Boosts feelings of well-being</li>\r\n \t<li>Supports self-love and acceptance</li>\r\n \t<li>Improves the ability to cope with grief, loss, and illness</li>\r\n \t<li>Increases mental clarity</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">I’m not saying that journaling should replace counseling or psychotherapy. Professional therapeutic services have benefits that journaling can’t provide. And it would be irresponsible of me to suggest otherwise. In fact, when combined with conventional therapy, journaling has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the therapy.</p>\r\nCounseling and psychotherapy both focus on communicating thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. The counselor or therapist acts as a mirror and resource for the person being counseled.\r\n\r\nLike a mirror, they reflect your own words and emotions back to you so that you can see them more objectively. As a resource, they can provide guidance, wisdom, and access to additional resources.\r\n\r\nJournaling gives you a safe space to communicate your deepest thoughts and emotions. Similar to a counselor or therapist, it acts like a mirror, reflecting back to you, in your own words, your feelings, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral patterns.\r\n\r\nWhen approached with curiosity and an open mind, journaling can help you become more self-aware and increase your ability to process and make meaning of life.\r\n\r\nJournaling also helps you tap into your inner wisdom, your innate guidance — that inner-self who knows what you really need and want and, when listened to, can help you shift your well-being in a positive direction.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Physical health benefits</h2>\r\nImproved mental health may be reason enough to journal, but did you know that journaling has also been shown to benefit physical health?\r\n\r\nDr. Ira Progoff, one of the first psychologists to study and document the effects of journaling, found that in addition to decreasing stress, anxiety, and fear, journal writing for just 15 to 20 minutes, three to five times a week, was correlated with increasing immune system function and decreasing blood pressure. The journal writers in the study went to the doctor less often and just felt better overall.\r\n\r\nA 2017 study published in <em>Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine</em> (Elsevier) found that those who kept journals during divorce had lower heart rates and higher heart rate variability — both indicators of good health. We can extrapolate from this that journaling could have the same benefits during any stressful loss or life transition.\r\n\r\nOther studies have shown that journaling improves overall memory function by enhancing the brain’s ability to intake, process, and retrieve information. And because of its positive effects on thinking, journaling has been used in educational settings to help students understand how to think more logically and analytically.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Supercharging inspiration and achievement</h2>\r\nBecause journaling is a safe and private activity, and lends itself well to delving into literally any topic or personal characteristic, it’s an excellent tool for exploring creative inspiration, practicing creative skills, and finding creative solutions to any kind of problem.\r\n\r\nInspirational ideas have a tendency to blossom into projects. It follows that journaling is a natural (and effective) way to develop and manage your project-related goals and tasks.\r\n\r\nHave you ever awakened from a dream inspired by a groundbreaking idea? Or had a brilliant solution to a problem while performing a routine task such as doing the dishes or taking a shower? Creative ideas come to us at all times of the day and night — often when we’re thinking about something else entirely.\r\n\r\nIn addition to using words to capture feelings and ideas, you can use your journal as a sketchbook to create mind maps, detail visual ideas, and express emotions through forms and colors. You can also use it to record those inspired dreams.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Your journal is a place to capture ideas when they happen and then explore them in more depth later, when you have time. Because it encourages capturing ideas and self-reflection, journaling can help you with your creative process, whether your art is painting, music, or writing itself.</p>\r\nOne of your journal’s greatest gifts is that it can be messy and unformed, and that’s okay. In your journal, you can develop ideas privately, without the burden of having to “make something good.”\r\n\r\nYour journal gives you a place to practice without pressure. Because of its judgement-free nature, your journal can help you build confidence in your craft, as well as create a rich resource of ideas that you can come back to over and over again.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Writing craft</h2>\r\nIf you like to write, and you dream of becoming a better writer, your journal is a wonderful playground in which to practice.\r\n\r\nI think the biggest breakthrough for me as a writer — that moment I went from writer-wannabe to knowing I was a writer — came when I recognized that journaling was writing practice. And it was in my journal that I found my authentic writing voice.\r\n\r\nConsider the following truths about your journal. It’s safe and private, and nothing you write is open to criticism. You can write from your heart, and your inner critic and editor — that voice in your head that’s constantly belittling your writing and telling you that you’re not a real writer — isn’t welcome. Your journal is a playground, and you can put together words however you want in this playground.\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to worry about spelling or punctuation, or whether your sentences flow coherently from one to the next. You can be as messy or neat as you want, and there’s no one to say otherwise.\r\n\r\nFor example, you can use your journal to\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Brainstorm plots</li>\r\n \t<li>Develop characters</li>\r\n \t<li>Sketch a scene</li>\r\n \t<li>Practice dialogue</li>\r\n \t<li>Create poetry</li>\r\n \t<li>Explore points of view</li>\r\n \t<li>Piece together story ideas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Writing is writing, whether it’s in your journal or in text or e-mail. The more you write from your heart — which journaling encourages and helps you practice — the more authentic all your writing becomes.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Discovering your Self</h2>\r\nEvery person has both an outer- and inner-self. The outer self is who you present to the world — you, on your best behavior. This is the self who holds back expressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that others might judge negatively.\r\n\r\nThe outer-self is mostly concerned with how you’re viewed by others, dressing and communicating appropriately so that you have a better chance of fitting in with your social and work groups.\r\n\r\nWhen I talk about <em>Self</em> with a capital S, I’m referring to your inner-self, that deep inner emotional/spiritual part of you — the person you really are on the inside. The part of you that contains inner wisdom. The you who’s creative and uninhibited, honest and vulnerable. The you who also has a dark side — who can be angry, depressed, or in pain — that you don’t always want to see.\r\n\r\nThere’s nothing wrong with having these outer and inner expressions of who you are. It’s part of being human. But if your outer- and inner-selves aren’t both aligned with your core values, you can feel conflicted and stressed.\r\n\r\nFor example, have you ever acted in a way or done something because of social (peer) pressure that you felt uncomfortable with or felt guilty about later? That discomfort is the tension between your outer- and inner-selves — between your words or actions, and what you truly value.\r\n\r\nHere are some ways that journaling can help you discover your Self and then assist you with aligning your inner and outer ways of being:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Identifying inner conflicts and influences:</strong> Using writing to explore the tension and discomfort you feel in those conflicted situations can help you identify the influences in your life that don’t support your values.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Increasing confidence:</strong> Putting your values and dreams in writing increases your confidence to live the life you want.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Acknowledging your darkness:</strong> Expressing your darker emotions and thoughts on the page allows you to bring light, compassion, and healing to the part of you that you hide from the world (and sometimes yourself).</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Being your Self:</strong> The self-awareness you gain from journaling can help you align and integrate your inner and outer personas so that you can be your authentic Self in the world.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWhen you have a strong sense of Self, you’re not easily swayed by others’ opinions or by <em>groupthink</em> — a forced or manipulated conformity to group ethics, values, and viewpoints. You’re self-aware; you have a sense of purpose and know what’s important to you. And you behave in ways that are consistent with your core values.\r\n\r\n ","description":"The reason that so many people are drawn to journaling — and likely one of the reasons you’re reading this article — is because journaling is so very beneficial and in so many ways. These benefits have been proven and documented many times through decades of research.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_296374\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-296374\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/woman-journaling-outside-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" /> ©Ashlyn Ciara / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nFrom school children just learning to write to elderly adults, journaling has been shown to improve emotional, mental, and physical health. It can unleash creativity and enhance productivity. It helps you clarify your thoughts and feelings and can help you make tough decisions. It’s all in the how and the why you use it.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Emotional and mental health</h2>\r\nPeople who journal regularly report experiencing an enhanced sense of overall well-being. Moreover, many have gained tangible improvements to their emotional, mental, and physical health.\r\n\r\nThe area that has been studied the most when it comes to journaling is emotional and mental health. You’ve probably heard that journaling is an inexpensive form of psychotherapy. Most sayings contain a seed of truth; in this case, the seed has grown into a tree.\r\n\r\nStudies conducted in clinical and educational settings since the 1960s have shown the following mental and emotional effects of journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Reduces stress and anxiety</li>\r\n \t<li>Boosts feelings of well-being</li>\r\n \t<li>Supports self-love and acceptance</li>\r\n \t<li>Improves the ability to cope with grief, loss, and illness</li>\r\n \t<li>Increases mental clarity</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">I’m not saying that journaling should replace counseling or psychotherapy. Professional therapeutic services have benefits that journaling can’t provide. And it would be irresponsible of me to suggest otherwise. In fact, when combined with conventional therapy, journaling has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the therapy.</p>\r\nCounseling and psychotherapy both focus on communicating thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. The counselor or therapist acts as a mirror and resource for the person being counseled.\r\n\r\nLike a mirror, they reflect your own words and emotions back to you so that you can see them more objectively. As a resource, they can provide guidance, wisdom, and access to additional resources.\r\n\r\nJournaling gives you a safe space to communicate your deepest thoughts and emotions. Similar to a counselor or therapist, it acts like a mirror, reflecting back to you, in your own words, your feelings, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral patterns.\r\n\r\nWhen approached with curiosity and an open mind, journaling can help you become more self-aware and increase your ability to process and make meaning of life.\r\n\r\nJournaling also helps you tap into your inner wisdom, your innate guidance — that inner-self who knows what you really need and want and, when listened to, can help you shift your well-being in a positive direction.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Physical health benefits</h2>\r\nImproved mental health may be reason enough to journal, but did you know that journaling has also been shown to benefit physical health?\r\n\r\nDr. Ira Progoff, one of the first psychologists to study and document the effects of journaling, found that in addition to decreasing stress, anxiety, and fear, journal writing for just 15 to 20 minutes, three to five times a week, was correlated with increasing immune system function and decreasing blood pressure. The journal writers in the study went to the doctor less often and just felt better overall.\r\n\r\nA 2017 study published in <em>Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine</em> (Elsevier) found that those who kept journals during divorce had lower heart rates and higher heart rate variability — both indicators of good health. We can extrapolate from this that journaling could have the same benefits during any stressful loss or life transition.\r\n\r\nOther studies have shown that journaling improves overall memory function by enhancing the brain’s ability to intake, process, and retrieve information. And because of its positive effects on thinking, journaling has been used in educational settings to help students understand how to think more logically and analytically.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Supercharging inspiration and achievement</h2>\r\nBecause journaling is a safe and private activity, and lends itself well to delving into literally any topic or personal characteristic, it’s an excellent tool for exploring creative inspiration, practicing creative skills, and finding creative solutions to any kind of problem.\r\n\r\nInspirational ideas have a tendency to blossom into projects. It follows that journaling is a natural (and effective) way to develop and manage your project-related goals and tasks.\r\n\r\nHave you ever awakened from a dream inspired by a groundbreaking idea? Or had a brilliant solution to a problem while performing a routine task such as doing the dishes or taking a shower? Creative ideas come to us at all times of the day and night — often when we’re thinking about something else entirely.\r\n\r\nIn addition to using words to capture feelings and ideas, you can use your journal as a sketchbook to create mind maps, detail visual ideas, and express emotions through forms and colors. You can also use it to record those inspired dreams.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Your journal is a place to capture ideas when they happen and then explore them in more depth later, when you have time. Because it encourages capturing ideas and self-reflection, journaling can help you with your creative process, whether your art is painting, music, or writing itself.</p>\r\nOne of your journal’s greatest gifts is that it can be messy and unformed, and that’s okay. In your journal, you can develop ideas privately, without the burden of having to “make something good.”\r\n\r\nYour journal gives you a place to practice without pressure. Because of its judgement-free nature, your journal can help you build confidence in your craft, as well as create a rich resource of ideas that you can come back to over and over again.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Writing craft</h2>\r\nIf you like to write, and you dream of becoming a better writer, your journal is a wonderful playground in which to practice.\r\n\r\nI think the biggest breakthrough for me as a writer — that moment I went from writer-wannabe to knowing I was a writer — came when I recognized that journaling was writing practice. And it was in my journal that I found my authentic writing voice.\r\n\r\nConsider the following truths about your journal. It’s safe and private, and nothing you write is open to criticism. You can write from your heart, and your inner critic and editor — that voice in your head that’s constantly belittling your writing and telling you that you’re not a real writer — isn’t welcome. Your journal is a playground, and you can put together words however you want in this playground.\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to worry about spelling or punctuation, or whether your sentences flow coherently from one to the next. You can be as messy or neat as you want, and there’s no one to say otherwise.\r\n\r\nFor example, you can use your journal to\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Brainstorm plots</li>\r\n \t<li>Develop characters</li>\r\n \t<li>Sketch a scene</li>\r\n \t<li>Practice dialogue</li>\r\n \t<li>Create poetry</li>\r\n \t<li>Explore points of view</li>\r\n \t<li>Piece together story ideas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Writing is writing, whether it’s in your journal or in text or e-mail. The more you write from your heart — which journaling encourages and helps you practice — the more authentic all your writing becomes.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Discovering your Self</h2>\r\nEvery person has both an outer- and inner-self. The outer self is who you present to the world — you, on your best behavior. This is the self who holds back expressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that others might judge negatively.\r\n\r\nThe outer-self is mostly concerned with how you’re viewed by others, dressing and communicating appropriately so that you have a better chance of fitting in with your social and work groups.\r\n\r\nWhen I talk about <em>Self</em> with a capital S, I’m referring to your inner-self, that deep inner emotional/spiritual part of you — the person you really are on the inside. The part of you that contains inner wisdom. The you who’s creative and uninhibited, honest and vulnerable. The you who also has a dark side — who can be angry, depressed, or in pain — that you don’t always want to see.\r\n\r\nThere’s nothing wrong with having these outer and inner expressions of who you are. It’s part of being human. But if your outer- and inner-selves aren’t both aligned with your core values, you can feel conflicted and stressed.\r\n\r\nFor example, have you ever acted in a way or done something because of social (peer) pressure that you felt uncomfortable with or felt guilty about later? That discomfort is the tension between your outer- and inner-selves — between your words or actions, and what you truly value.\r\n\r\nHere are some ways that journaling can help you discover your Self and then assist you with aligning your inner and outer ways of being:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Identifying inner conflicts and influences:</strong> Using writing to explore the tension and discomfort you feel in those conflicted situations can help you identify the influences in your life that don’t support your values.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Increasing confidence:</strong> Putting your values and dreams in writing increases your confidence to live the life you want.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Acknowledging your darkness:</strong> Expressing your darker emotions and thoughts on the page allows you to bring light, compassion, and healing to the part of you that you hide from the world (and sometimes yourself).</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Being your Self:</strong> The self-awareness you gain from journaling can help you align and integrate your inner and outer personas so that you can be your authentic Self in the world.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nWhen you have a strong sense of Self, you’re not easily swayed by others’ opinions or by <em>groupthink</em> — a forced or manipulated conformity to group ethics, values, and viewpoints. You’re self-aware; you have a sense of purpose and know what’s important to you. And you behave in ways that are consistent with your core values.\r\n\r\n ","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Emotional and mental health","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Physical health benefits","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Supercharging inspiration and achievement","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Writing craft","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"Discovering your Self","target":"#tab5"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":296242,"title":"What Is Reflective Journaling?","slug":"what-is-reflective-journaling","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296242"}},{"articleId":296124,"title":"Journaling By Hand vs. Computer","slug":"is-it-better-to-journal-on-paper-or-a-computer","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296124"}},{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":296242,"title":"What Is Reflective Journaling?","slug":"what-is-reflective-journaling","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296242"}},{"articleId":296124,"title":"Journaling By Hand vs. Computer","slug":"is-it-better-to-journal-on-paper-or-a-computer","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296124"}},{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}},{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":295385,"slug":"journaling-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119900412","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119900417-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/journaling-for-dummies-cover-9781119900412-170x255.jpg","width":170,"height":255},"title":"Journaling For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35207\">Amber Lea Starfire</b></b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-639b60f0de554\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-639b60f0df5fc\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":296370},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-12-09T18:28:33+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-12-09T18:28:51+00:00","timestamp":"2022-12-09T21:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"What Is Reflective Journaling?","strippedTitle":"what is reflective journaling?","slug":"what-is-reflective-journaling","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn what reflective journaling is and the benefits of examining your thoughts, feelings, and interpretations of experiences.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<em>Reflective journaling</em> is a structured approach to journaling that focuses on finding meaning in life events by asking questions such as “What happened?” “How did I respond?” and “How did this event change me?”\r\n\r\nThrough the reflective journaling process, you can examine your thoughts, interpretations, and belief systems to become more self-aware and to grow from your life experiences. In addition, the reflective writing practice can improve your ability to challenge assumptions and think creatively.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Exploring life with reflective journaling</h2>\r\nWhen you picture yourself journaling, you likely see yourself writing in a free-form fashion about thoughts, feelings, and whatever comes to mind. This unstructured technique, referred to as <em>free-writing,</em> is probably the most well-known of all journaling methods.\r\n\r\nPeople usually free-write without a specific purpose. Similar to going on a Sunday afternoon drive without having a destination, you’re just out to see the sights, and maybe you meander down some side roads on a whim. Your drive may be a fun and relaxing activity that provides perspective on your neighborhood and its surroundings, and might possibly lead to somewhere new and exciting, but that’s not the intention.\r\n\r\nLike that Sunday drive, free-writing may lead to meaningful self-discoveries, but is most often just an exploration of familiar inner roads.\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, reflective journaling combines intention with exploration. This type of journaling goes on that metaphorical Sunday drive with a final destination in mind. You can still explore interesting sights and meander down those side roads along the way, but you arrive at a meaningful destination. Your trip fulfills a purpose beyond just getting in the car and driving.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Reflective journaling is a therapeutic practice that can help you identify, grow from, and find meaning in your past experiences. And the new perspective you gain along the way can change the way you respond to people and events in the future.</p>\r\nWe create our life stories by making meaning of events that happen in our lives. Reflective journaling allows you to reconsider those stories, to deeply explore all sides of an event, and to confirm or even rewrite those stories. Check out the nearby sidebar for an example.\r\n\r\nYou can use reflective journaling to examine events in the distant past, like in my example, or events that happened just yesterday. You can also use it to reflect on important topics in your life: relationships, life passages, parenting, and more.\r\n\r\nFortunately, like most journaling methods, you can quickly get the hang of reflective journaling. And, with practice, you can turn it into a powerful tool to enhance your understanding of your past, increase self-knowledge and self-awareness, help you change how you respond in stressful situations, and even improve relationships.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Defining reflection</h2>\r\nBefore you dive into practicing reflective journaling, I want to make sure you understand what I mean when I say “reflection.”\r\n\r\nYou can interpret the term reflection in a number of ways that apply to your reflective journaling practice. <em>To reflect</em> may include any or all of the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>To cause to change direction:</strong> “The glass reflects the light.” Reflective journaling can <em>reflect light on,</em> or bring insight to, related concepts, issues, and behaviors. For example, while reflecting on your relationship with your son, you suddenly see a similarity in your relationship with your father. Your reflective thinking bounces the light off the surface of your intended subject (your son) to a nearby subject (your father), which ultimately provides some insight into yourself in the process.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To mirror back:</strong> “The still water of the lake reflects the trees along its banks.” Nothing provides self-awareness as effectively as a mirror. Reflective journaling gives you the opportunity to see your behaviors and attitudes mirrored back to you, simply through the act of writing about them as well as reading and analyzing your entries afterwards. And when you maintain an intention of remaining curious about yourself, you can use reflective journaling to understand yourself better and make purposeful change in your life.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To make apparent:</strong> “Their work reflects their attitude.” You may have difficulty seeing patterns in your own life. However, writing consistently about the same issues from different angles can provide a work of reflection. Much like weaving a blanket thread by thread, then stepping back to see the patterns you created, reviewing journaling entries made over time can help you perceive behavioral patterns in your life.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To consider or think carefully about:</strong> “They reflected on the many mistakes they had made.” This definition provides the most direct explanation of what you’re doing when you write reflectively in your journal. You simply write down the thoughts, emotions, and responses that you have while you consider your topic.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Seeing the benefits of reflection</h2>\r\nSimply thinking or writing about your past doesn’t necessarily involve true reflection.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">Don’t play past events in your head over and over again, a practice called <em>ruminating.</em> This process doesn’t provide any constructive insights and can actually be unhealthy. Ruminating about your past can lead you to beat yourself up mentally about past mistakes and to dwell on regrets. Looking back in this manner can lead to sadness, anger, and depression.</p>\r\nIn contrast, reflective journaling, done with intention and purpose, provides a constructive outlet. You can get many benefits from considering past events introspectively and, in particular, thinking about your responses to those events. Here are a few potential benefits of reflective journaling. Reflection can\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Help you make connections between experiences.</strong> These connections, in turn, help you to see the past from a new perspective. Looking back, you can express compassion and empathy to that past version of yourself and other people who played a role in hurtful events in your life.For example, a good friend did something that seemed like an intentional slight at the time. Upon reflection, you can now perceive their behavior for what it was: They had a lot going on in their life, felt overwhelmed, and couldn’t give you what you needed. They didn’t slight you intentionally, you now realize. This realization, then, opens the door to forgiveness and healing.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Improve your critical thinking skills.</strong> One of the purposes of reflective journaling is to question assumptions you make about people and events in your life. An assumption is an unexamined belief or way of thinking that you’ve taken for granted. Assumptions guide conclusions and decisions you make, so becoming aware of and questioning your assumptions is key to critical thinking, resulting in improved self-awareness and better decision making.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Show you how far you’ve come.</strong> Each day, you do the best you can, but you can’t easily tell if you improve much over time. When you reflect on past behaviors and relationships, and compare those behaviors and relationships with where you are today, you can see how much you’ve changed and grown. And if you realize that you haven’t changed much, that realization can spur you to make life course corrections.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Give you the opportunity to reassess what you want in your life.</strong> Reflecting on where you’ve been and what you’ve experienced allows you to decide what you like or want in your life and what you don’t. It can inspire you to recommit to goals or change direction altogether.</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"<em>Reflective journaling</em> is a structured approach to journaling that focuses on finding meaning in life events by asking questions such as “What happened?” “How did I respond?” and “How did this event change me?”\r\n\r\nThrough the reflective journaling process, you can examine your thoughts, interpretations, and belief systems to become more self-aware and to grow from your life experiences. In addition, the reflective writing practice can improve your ability to challenge assumptions and think creatively.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Exploring life with reflective journaling</h2>\r\nWhen you picture yourself journaling, you likely see yourself writing in a free-form fashion about thoughts, feelings, and whatever comes to mind. This unstructured technique, referred to as <em>free-writing,</em> is probably the most well-known of all journaling methods.\r\n\r\nPeople usually free-write without a specific purpose. Similar to going on a Sunday afternoon drive without having a destination, you’re just out to see the sights, and maybe you meander down some side roads on a whim. Your drive may be a fun and relaxing activity that provides perspective on your neighborhood and its surroundings, and might possibly lead to somewhere new and exciting, but that’s not the intention.\r\n\r\nLike that Sunday drive, free-writing may lead to meaningful self-discoveries, but is most often just an exploration of familiar inner roads.\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, reflective journaling combines intention with exploration. This type of journaling goes on that metaphorical Sunday drive with a final destination in mind. You can still explore interesting sights and meander down those side roads along the way, but you arrive at a meaningful destination. Your trip fulfills a purpose beyond just getting in the car and driving.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Reflective journaling is a therapeutic practice that can help you identify, grow from, and find meaning in your past experiences. And the new perspective you gain along the way can change the way you respond to people and events in the future.</p>\r\nWe create our life stories by making meaning of events that happen in our lives. Reflective journaling allows you to reconsider those stories, to deeply explore all sides of an event, and to confirm or even rewrite those stories. Check out the nearby sidebar for an example.\r\n\r\nYou can use reflective journaling to examine events in the distant past, like in my example, or events that happened just yesterday. You can also use it to reflect on important topics in your life: relationships, life passages, parenting, and more.\r\n\r\nFortunately, like most journaling methods, you can quickly get the hang of reflective journaling. And, with practice, you can turn it into a powerful tool to enhance your understanding of your past, increase self-knowledge and self-awareness, help you change how you respond in stressful situations, and even improve relationships.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Defining reflection</h2>\r\nBefore you dive into practicing reflective journaling, I want to make sure you understand what I mean when I say “reflection.”\r\n\r\nYou can interpret the term reflection in a number of ways that apply to your reflective journaling practice. <em>To reflect</em> may include any or all of the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>To cause to change direction:</strong> “The glass reflects the light.” Reflective journaling can <em>reflect light on,</em> or bring insight to, related concepts, issues, and behaviors. For example, while reflecting on your relationship with your son, you suddenly see a similarity in your relationship with your father. Your reflective thinking bounces the light off the surface of your intended subject (your son) to a nearby subject (your father), which ultimately provides some insight into yourself in the process.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To mirror back:</strong> “The still water of the lake reflects the trees along its banks.” Nothing provides self-awareness as effectively as a mirror. Reflective journaling gives you the opportunity to see your behaviors and attitudes mirrored back to you, simply through the act of writing about them as well as reading and analyzing your entries afterwards. And when you maintain an intention of remaining curious about yourself, you can use reflective journaling to understand yourself better and make purposeful change in your life.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To make apparent:</strong> “Their work reflects their attitude.” You may have difficulty seeing patterns in your own life. However, writing consistently about the same issues from different angles can provide a work of reflection. Much like weaving a blanket thread by thread, then stepping back to see the patterns you created, reviewing journaling entries made over time can help you perceive behavioral patterns in your life.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>To consider or think carefully about:</strong> “They reflected on the many mistakes they had made.” This definition provides the most direct explanation of what you’re doing when you write reflectively in your journal. You simply write down the thoughts, emotions, and responses that you have while you consider your topic.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Seeing the benefits of reflection</h2>\r\nSimply thinking or writing about your past doesn’t necessarily involve true reflection.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">Don’t play past events in your head over and over again, a practice called <em>ruminating.</em> This process doesn’t provide any constructive insights and can actually be unhealthy. Ruminating about your past can lead you to beat yourself up mentally about past mistakes and to dwell on regrets. Looking back in this manner can lead to sadness, anger, and depression.</p>\r\nIn contrast, reflective journaling, done with intention and purpose, provides a constructive outlet. You can get many benefits from considering past events introspectively and, in particular, thinking about your responses to those events. Here are a few potential benefits of reflective journaling. Reflection can\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Help you make connections between experiences.</strong> These connections, in turn, help you to see the past from a new perspective. Looking back, you can express compassion and empathy to that past version of yourself and other people who played a role in hurtful events in your life.For example, a good friend did something that seemed like an intentional slight at the time. Upon reflection, you can now perceive their behavior for what it was: They had a lot going on in their life, felt overwhelmed, and couldn’t give you what you needed. They didn’t slight you intentionally, you now realize. This realization, then, opens the door to forgiveness and healing.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Improve your critical thinking skills.</strong> One of the purposes of reflective journaling is to question assumptions you make about people and events in your life. An assumption is an unexamined belief or way of thinking that you’ve taken for granted. Assumptions guide conclusions and decisions you make, so becoming aware of and questioning your assumptions is key to critical thinking, resulting in improved self-awareness and better decision making.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Show you how far you’ve come.</strong> Each day, you do the best you can, but you can’t easily tell if you improve much over time. When you reflect on past behaviors and relationships, and compare those behaviors and relationships with where you are today, you can see how much you’ve changed and grown. And if you realize that you haven’t changed much, that realization can spur you to make life course corrections.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Give you the opportunity to reassess what you want in your life.</strong> Reflecting on where you’ve been and what you’ve experienced allows you to decide what you like or want in your life and what you don’t. It can inspire you to recommit to goals or change direction altogether.</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Exploring life with reflective journaling","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Defining reflection","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Seeing the benefits of reflection","target":"#tab3"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":296124,"title":"Journaling By Hand vs. Computer","slug":"is-it-better-to-journal-on-paper-or-a-computer","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296124"}},{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":296124,"title":"Journaling By Hand vs. Computer","slug":"is-it-better-to-journal-on-paper-or-a-computer","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296124"}},{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}},{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":295385,"slug":"journaling-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119900412","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119900417-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/journaling-for-dummies-cover-9781119900412-170x255.jpg","width":170,"height":255},"title":"Journaling For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35207\">Amber Lea Starfire</b></b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6393a20e9c634\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6393a20e9d71b\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-12-09T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":296242},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-12-06T21:49:37+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-12-07T14:23:43+00:00","timestamp":"2022-12-07T15:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"Journaling By Hand vs. Computer","strippedTitle":"journaling by hand vs. computer","slug":"is-it-better-to-journal-on-paper-or-a-computer","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you're not sure whether to journal in a notebook or on your computer, these considerations will help you make the decision.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Many people assume that journaling is always done by hand. For me, the primary advantage of journaling by hand is that your journal and writing instruments are inexpensive and portable. However, there are disadvantages, including that your journal might not be safe from prying eyes, loss, or natural disasters.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_296127\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-296127\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/man-journaling-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" /> ©Brad Neathery / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n\r\nConsider the following advantages and disadvantages for both analog and digital journaling before you decide for yourself.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The pros of analog journaling</h2>\r\nThere are many reasons that journaling by hand is preferred by the majority of journal keepers. Some of the most compelling reasons include\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Memory and comprehension:</strong> The sensory-motor coordination involved in handwriting activates more parts of the brain than typing does, while also slowing cognitive processing. The benefits of this increased brain activity include improved memory and deeper comprehension of concepts.When journaling by hand, these benefits may enhance your ability to gain insights while journaling reflectively.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stress reduction:</strong> The very act of writing by hand can reduce stress. This stress reduction occurs, in part, because you have to slow down your thought processes while you write, giving it a meditative quality.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Simplicity:</strong> A paper journal is simple. It’s cheap, portable, and doesn’t depend on batteries.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Enjoyment:</strong> For those who prefer the tactile feeling, writing on paper can be a more enjoyable experience than journaling on an electronic device.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >The cons of analog journaling</h2>\r\nIn spite of its popularity and benefits, there are also reasons that journaling by hand might not be your ultimate choice. Analog journaling is\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Messy:</strong> For those who write slowly or whose hands tend to cramp or smear ink (I’m thinking of us lefties), writing by hand can be messy and sometimes painful.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not versatile:</strong> You can’t include multimedia, such as audio or video recordings, and attaching pictures is complicated. Also, it’s time-consuming and challenging to search for specific content, create a backup, or convert the contents to another format.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Hard to edit:</strong> It’s difficult to make clean corrections, and copying and pasting requires additional tools.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Less private:</strong> From a privacy perspective, analog is less safe than digital. Even if you lock your notebook in a safe, your journal is subject to being found and read by someone else. So you need to rely on the integrity of those around you.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not physically safe:</strong> An analog journal is also less safe from loss or disaster, such as fires and floods, while a digital journal can be easily backed up to the cloud or another device.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >The advantages of digital journaling</h2>\r\nCheck out the following list of advantages to digital journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Ease of use:</strong> A digital journal can be easier to organize and manage than a paper one.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Physical safety:</strong> Because it can be stored in multiple places (in the cloud, as well as on a hard drive), your digital journal can be safe from loss and natural disasters.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Privacy:</strong> Definitely a pro of the digital journal. You can password protect and double authenticate access to it.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Access:</strong> If you carry a smartphone, your digital journal is available to you everywhere you go, making it easy to add notes throughout the day, whereas, you might not always want to tote your paper journal around.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Versatility:</strong> You can include digital multimedia in your journal entries: audio, video, images, and so on.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Speed:</strong> If you type quickly, or use speech to text technology, it can be easier to pour out your thoughts and emotions onto the page because you don’t have to slow down as much.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Editing capabilities:</strong> You can freely correct errors, copy, paste, and rearrange your writing.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Therapeutic value:</strong> Exploring your thoughts and emotions through digital entry — including typing, speech to text, and using a digital pen — can provide the same therapeutic value as handwriting.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >The disadvantages of digital journaling</h2>\r\nThe following list outlines reasons you might not prefer digital journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Linear thought dominates</strong>: The primary disadvantage to digital journaling is that keyboarding tends to encourage linear, rather than associative/creative thinking. However, that disadvantage may be overcome by using a digital pen, combined with a handwriting or drawing application.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Expense:</strong> Digital journals require a device, such as computer, smartphone, or tablet, all of which cost more than a paper notebook.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Energy:</strong> A digital journal requires power from some source, such as batteries (and you need the ability to recharge those batteries).</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Emotional distance:</strong> Because of the technical nature of typing and working within software limitations, digital journaling can distance you from your emotions when compared with writing by hand.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Risk of loss:</strong> If you don’t back up your journal to the cloud or a hard drive, you run the risk of losing all of your journal entries forever if something should happen to the device on which it’s stored.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not tactile:</strong> Journaling on a computer or other digital device might not feel as pleasurable, from a tactile perspective.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Figuring out what works best for you</h2>\r\nRead through the lists in the preceding sections. Do any pros or cons stand out for you?\r\n\r\nMaybe there’s just one item that’s a deal clincher — the enhanced privacy of digital journaling, for example. Or the ability to copy and paste. Or perhaps you don’t like computers and love the tactile feeling of pen on paper. Whichever method you use, the choice is deeply personal.\r\n\r\nIf you’re still not sure which mode to use, I recommend starting out with the one that seems easiest. You can always switch — or even blend modes — later on.","description":"Many people assume that journaling is always done by hand. For me, the primary advantage of journaling by hand is that your journal and writing instruments are inexpensive and portable. However, there are disadvantages, including that your journal might not be safe from prying eyes, loss, or natural disasters.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_296127\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-296127\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/man-journaling-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" /> ©Brad Neathery / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n\r\nConsider the following advantages and disadvantages for both analog and digital journaling before you decide for yourself.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The pros of analog journaling</h2>\r\nThere are many reasons that journaling by hand is preferred by the majority of journal keepers. Some of the most compelling reasons include\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Memory and comprehension:</strong> The sensory-motor coordination involved in handwriting activates more parts of the brain than typing does, while also slowing cognitive processing. The benefits of this increased brain activity include improved memory and deeper comprehension of concepts.When journaling by hand, these benefits may enhance your ability to gain insights while journaling reflectively.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stress reduction:</strong> The very act of writing by hand can reduce stress. This stress reduction occurs, in part, because you have to slow down your thought processes while you write, giving it a meditative quality.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Simplicity:</strong> A paper journal is simple. It’s cheap, portable, and doesn’t depend on batteries.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Enjoyment:</strong> For those who prefer the tactile feeling, writing on paper can be a more enjoyable experience than journaling on an electronic device.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >The cons of analog journaling</h2>\r\nIn spite of its popularity and benefits, there are also reasons that journaling by hand might not be your ultimate choice. Analog journaling is\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Messy:</strong> For those who write slowly or whose hands tend to cramp or smear ink (I’m thinking of us lefties), writing by hand can be messy and sometimes painful.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not versatile:</strong> You can’t include multimedia, such as audio or video recordings, and attaching pictures is complicated. Also, it’s time-consuming and challenging to search for specific content, create a backup, or convert the contents to another format.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Hard to edit:</strong> It’s difficult to make clean corrections, and copying and pasting requires additional tools.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Less private:</strong> From a privacy perspective, analog is less safe than digital. Even if you lock your notebook in a safe, your journal is subject to being found and read by someone else. So you need to rely on the integrity of those around you.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not physically safe:</strong> An analog journal is also less safe from loss or disaster, such as fires and floods, while a digital journal can be easily backed up to the cloud or another device.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >The advantages of digital journaling</h2>\r\nCheck out the following list of advantages to digital journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Ease of use:</strong> A digital journal can be easier to organize and manage than a paper one.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Physical safety:</strong> Because it can be stored in multiple places (in the cloud, as well as on a hard drive), your digital journal can be safe from loss and natural disasters.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Privacy:</strong> Definitely a pro of the digital journal. You can password protect and double authenticate access to it.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Access:</strong> If you carry a smartphone, your digital journal is available to you everywhere you go, making it easy to add notes throughout the day, whereas, you might not always want to tote your paper journal around.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Versatility:</strong> You can include digital multimedia in your journal entries: audio, video, images, and so on.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Speed:</strong> If you type quickly, or use speech to text technology, it can be easier to pour out your thoughts and emotions onto the page because you don’t have to slow down as much.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Editing capabilities:</strong> You can freely correct errors, copy, paste, and rearrange your writing.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Therapeutic value:</strong> Exploring your thoughts and emotions through digital entry — including typing, speech to text, and using a digital pen — can provide the same therapeutic value as handwriting.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >The disadvantages of digital journaling</h2>\r\nThe following list outlines reasons you might not prefer digital journaling:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Linear thought dominates</strong>: The primary disadvantage to digital journaling is that keyboarding tends to encourage linear, rather than associative/creative thinking. However, that disadvantage may be overcome by using a digital pen, combined with a handwriting or drawing application.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Expense:</strong> Digital journals require a device, such as computer, smartphone, or tablet, all of which cost more than a paper notebook.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Energy:</strong> A digital journal requires power from some source, such as batteries (and you need the ability to recharge those batteries).</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Emotional distance:</strong> Because of the technical nature of typing and working within software limitations, digital journaling can distance you from your emotions when compared with writing by hand.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Risk of loss:</strong> If you don’t back up your journal to the cloud or a hard drive, you run the risk of losing all of your journal entries forever if something should happen to the device on which it’s stored.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Not tactile:</strong> Journaling on a computer or other digital device might not feel as pleasurable, from a tactile perspective.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Figuring out what works best for you</h2>\r\nRead through the lists in the preceding sections. Do any pros or cons stand out for you?\r\n\r\nMaybe there’s just one item that’s a deal clincher — the enhanced privacy of digital journaling, for example. Or the ability to copy and paste. Or perhaps you don’t like computers and love the tactile feeling of pen on paper. Whichever method you use, the choice is deeply personal.\r\n\r\nIf you’re still not sure which mode to use, I recommend starting out with the one that seems easiest. You can always switch — or even blend modes — later on.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"The pros of analog journaling","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"The cons of analog journaling","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"The advantages of digital journaling","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"The disadvantages of digital journaling","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"Figuring out what works best for you","target":"#tab5"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}},{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":295385,"slug":"journaling-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119900412","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119900417-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/journaling-for-dummies-cover-9781119900412-170x255.jpg","width":170,"height":255},"title":"Journaling For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35207\">Amber Lea Starfire</b></b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6390aaae9920a\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6390aaae99a85\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-12-06T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":296124},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-08-15T19:46:40+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-11-09T21:04:14+00:00","timestamp":"2022-11-10T00:01:03+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"college writing for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"College students have style, and it shows with their aggressiveness for good grades, attire in the classroom, and energy on campus. This Cheat Sheet offers you ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"College students have style, and it shows with their aggressiveness for good grades, attire in the classroom, and energy on campus. This Cheat Sheet offers you help with your style when writing your college essay during your first year in college.","description":"College students have style, and it shows with their aggressiveness for good grades, attire in the classroom, and energy on campus. This Cheat Sheet offers you help with your style when writing your college essay during your first year in college.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":34539,"name":"Joseph J. Giampalmi","slug":"joseph-j-giampalmi","description":"","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34539"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":295412,"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295412"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":294549,"slug":"college-writing-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119895039","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119895030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119895030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119895030-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119895030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119895030/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/college-writing-for-dummies-cover-9781119895039-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"College Writing For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b><b data-author-id=\"34513\">Joe Giampalmi</b>, EdD,</b> is a hall-of-fame educator who&#8217;s been teaching students to mind their P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s, use active voice, include Oxford commas, and support their arguments for more than 50 years. He has taught more than 100 English composition courses.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34513,"name":"Joe Giampalmi","slug":"joe-giampalmi","description":" <p><b>Joe Giampalmi, EdD,</b> is a hall-of-fame educator who&#8217;s been teaching students to mind their P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s, use active voice, include Oxford commas, and support their arguments for more than 50 years. He has taught more than 100 English composition courses.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34513"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119895039&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-636c3f3f236c2\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119895039&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-636c3f3f246e2\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Eliminating unnecessary and overused words in your essays","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Extra words in a sentence are as useless as a fifth wheel on an ATV four-wheeler. They not only serve no purpose, but also inhibit forward progress. Unnecessary and overused words also distract your reader’s understanding of your message.</p>\n<p>When you eliminate unnecessary words and avoid overused words, you communicate a stronger message with fewer words. You say more with less. Here’s a two-step process for eliminating unnecessary and overused words:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Test the need for every word in a sentence and delete unnecessary words.</li>\n<li>Study this previous sentence. These are the unnecessary words you can cross out:</li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">Test the need for every word in a sentence and</span> delete unnecessary words.</li>\n<li>Now look at the remaining words. Can they be reduced further? Yes:</li>\n<li>Avoid wordiness.</li>\n<li>That’s how writers build style.</li>\n<li>If a word or expression sounds familiar and you hear it regularly in spoken language, replace it. Here’s an example:</li>\n<li>Overused words: Back in the day, first-year students were not permitted to park vehicles on campus.</li>\n<li>Revised: In the 1990s, first-year students were not permitted to park vehicles on campus.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Steering clear of style sabotage","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Building style not only includes what you add to your writing, but also what you subtract from your writing. Here’s a look at additions by subtraction. Avoid the following style imposters.</p>\n<h3><strong>Repeating words</strong></h3>\n<p>As a general rule avoid repeating key words in the same sentence. Steer clear of writing a sentence, such as in the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Original:</strong> Children should wear bicycle <em>helmets</em> because <em>helmets</em> are inexpensive and wearing <em>helmets</em> protects against head injury.</li>\n<li><strong>Revised:</strong> Children should wear bicycle helmets because they’re inexpensive and protect against head injury.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3><strong>Self-referencing</strong></h3>\n<p>Eliminate self-referencing yourself as the author, such as in the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Original:</strong> When I was deciding on my topic for my research paper, I chose to write about wind energy.</li>\n<li><strong>Revised: </strong>I chose to write about wind energy.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Other self-references include the following phrases:</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>The idea came to me when</td>\n<td>My friend suggested I include</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>From my perspective</td>\n<td>As I see it</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>When I thought about</td>\n<td>From my perspective</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I discovered that</td>\n<td>It seems to me</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<h3><strong>Writing like you talk</strong></h3>\n<p>Have you ever recorded yourself, listened to it, and tried to figure out what you said? People think at 800 words per minute, talk at 125 words per minute, and write at 10 words per minute. If you write like you talk, you’re going to have a bundle of overused words and no place to use them.</p>\n<p>Write in the pattern you talk. Identify a topic and follow it with an action verb, as in the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Talking pattern:</strong> The person the professor talked about who wrote the book <em>The Great Gatsby</em> was F. Scott Fitzgerald.</li>\n<li><strong>Writing pattern:</strong> The professor said F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote <em>The Great Gatsby. </em></li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Avoid sources of contention in college writing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Sources are high-priority to your college writing professors, who usually read the reference page before reading the content of your research paper. Here are categories of sources that your professors don’t want to see:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Outdated sources generally older than ten years, although some topics are outdated after three years</li>\n<li>.com (commercial) sites where information is influenced by money</li>\n<li>Social media posts and personal websites representing personal opinion</li>\n<li>Sources that lack citations, indicating lack of validation by the academic community</li>\n<li>Personal websites</li>\n<li>Movies</li>\n<li>Novels and similar literary fiction — unless, of course, you’re writing a literary topic</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">When you have questions about a source, ask your professor or a reference librarian.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-08-15T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":294700},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-10-25T20:43:07+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-10-25T20:43:07+00:00","timestamp":"2022-10-25T21:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"journaling for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"journaling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about the benefits of keeping a journal, how to get started, the different methods, and how to keep your journaling going.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Journaling, in the most basic terms, is the practice of recording life events. However, journaling also entails delving into thoughts and emotions by using writing and visual forms of expression for personal growth and development.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet outlines how to get started in journaling, including the benefits of the practice, different methods of journaling, and how to get into the habit of keeping a journal.","description":"Journaling, in the most basic terms, is the practice of recording life events. However, journaling also entails delving into thoughts and emotions by using writing and visual forms of expression for personal growth and development.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet outlines how to get started in journaling, including the benefits of the practice, different methods of journaling, and how to get into the habit of keeping a journal.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":295385,"slug":"journaling-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119900412","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119900417-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119900417/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"title":"Journaling For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"35207\">Amber Lea Starfire</b></b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35207,"name":"Amber Lea Starfire","slug":"amber-lea-starfire","description":" <p><b>Amber Lea Starfire</b> is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped hundreds of people journal and deepen their writing practice. Find out more at www.writingthroughlife.com. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35207"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63584e8ec91ec\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119900412&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63584e8ec9744\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Benefits of keeping a journal","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Because journaling is a uniquely personal form of documenting and exploring life experiences, there are as many purposes for keeping a journal as there are people.</p>\n<p>Some common reasons for journaling include:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keeping a record of events</li>\n<li>Processing thoughts and emotions</li>\n<li>Managing projects, goals, and tasks</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Some lesser-known ways that journaling can help you, which you may not have considered before, include:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Developing self-awareness and knowledge</li>\n<li>Improving decision-making skills</li>\n<li>Healing trauma and emotional wounds</li>\n<li>Managing anxiety and depression</li>\n<li>Enhancing well-being through self-expression and gratitude</li>\n<li>Strengthening your immune system</li>\n<li>Collecting ideas</li>\n<li>Boosting memory and comprehension</li>\n<li>Building creative and problem-solving skills</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Getting started with journaling","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Journaling is an easy and inexpensive self-help tool, requiring only an intention to explore life honestly (and a few implements). To get started, do the following.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Define your primary purpose for journaling. That is, what do you hope to gain from journaling?</li>\n<li>Decide whether you want to journal by hand (analog) or use a software application (digital).</li>\n<li>Gather your journaling supplies:</li>\n<li><em>Analog:</em> If you’re planning to journal by hand, at minimum, you need a notebook that has blank or lined pages and a writing instrument.</li>\n<li><em>Digital:</em> If you’re planning to journal digitally, you need your preferred device — computer, tablet, or smartphone — and a word processing or journaling application that works with your device.</li>\n<li>Determine what type of journaling you want to do and, if appropriate, begin with some writing prompts. Or, you can just begin writing whatever comes to mind.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Different types of journaling techniques","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Just as there are countless reasons to keep a journal, there are a variety of journaling techniques, or methods, that have naturally developed over time to meet specific goals. The following list outlines many popular journaling methods. Use it as a guide for the type(s) of journaling that can provide the benefits you hope to gain in your journaling practice.</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Unstructured: </strong>As the name suggests, this type of journaling is completely freeform, consisting of simply writing whatever is on your mind at the time (also known as <em>free-writing</em>). This type of journaling can be used to clear the mind of distracting clutter and stress so you can think more clearly and calmly.</li>\n<li><strong>Reflective: </strong>A structured method focused on finding meaning by examining life events and asking deep questions. when you use reflective journaling, you examine emotional responses, thoughts, belief systems, and behaviors to increase self-awareness and potentially take action for improvement.</li>\n<li><strong>Mindfulness:</strong> The goal of this meditative process is to bring your awareness into the present moment through the observation of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Benefits of mindfulness journaling include feelings of peace, reduced stress, and increased well-being.</li>\n<li><strong>Bullet:</strong> Bullet Journaling is a structured system developed in 2013 by Ryder Carroll to organize thinking and remain focused on important priorities. Bullet Journaling helps to increase productivity, document and track life events, and build desired habits, among other benefits.</li>\n<li><strong>Creative: </strong>Most journaling methods focus on writing. Creative journaling, which may be incorporated into any of the other journaling methods, allows for self-expression by using a variety of (mostly) visual methods. Along with writing, creative journaling may include drawing, doodling, painting, photo collages, and other forms of multimedia. Digital versions of creative journaling may also include audio and video.</li>\n<li><strong>Gratitude: </strong>Focuses specifically on identifying things and people in your life to be thankful for, with the purpose of building an overall sense of gratitude. Benefits of gratitude journaling include decreased stress levels, increased self-awareness, a different or renewed perspective on challenges, improved emotional health, and enhanced happiness.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Establishing a journaling habit","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>To successfully establish a robust journaling practice, take the following actions:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Define your purpose for journaling. </strong>Knowing <em>why</em> you want to journal will strengthen your commitment to the practice and help you start strong.</li>\n<li><strong>Set practical expectations and start small. </strong>Decide how often you want to journal and how much time you want to devote, then start with a small fraction of your goal. For example, if your goal is to write 20 minutes per session, start by writing 10 minutes each session. By starting off small, you’re more likely to be successful at incorporating journaling into your regular routine.</li>\n<li><strong>Put journaling on your calendar. </strong>Schedule your journaling time and set a reminder. Then, keep that date with yourself.</li>\n<li><strong>Pair journaling with something else you love to do. </strong>When you pair a new activity with something you already habitually find pleasure in doing, it activates the pleasure and reward centers in the brain, encouraging your journaling practice to stick.</li>\n<li><strong>Create a cozy, comfortable, and private place in which to journal.</strong> You’ll look forward to keeping this special time just for you.</li>\n<li><strong>Remove distractions.</strong> Set yourself up for success by avoiding distractions and interruptions. For example, turn off your telephone and digital notifications. And if you have children, arrange for their care so that they won’t interrupt you. Or schedule your sessions for times when you’re alone.</li>\n<li><strong>Identify yourself as a journal writer.</strong> You become who you think you are. When you see yourself as a person who has a rich journaling practice, you act upon that vision of yourself.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-10-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":295412},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:50:37+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-16T14:10:58+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:28+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"Writing Children's Books For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"writing children's books for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"writing-childrens-books-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This Cheat Sheet offers sound advice on writing children's books, including rules to follow, and how to edit your own work.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When you explore writing children's books, you enter a different world, one filled with book formats — from board books to young adult novels — and a whole different set of rules to follow and restrictions to heed for each.\r\n\r\nIf you want to become a successful children's book author, you need to know how to edit your work and how to promote your book.","description":"When you explore writing children's books, you enter a different world, one filled with book formats — from board books to young adult novels — and a whole different set of rules to follow and restrictions to heed for each.\r\n\r\nIf you want to become a successful children's book author, you need to know how to edit your work and how to promote your book.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9734,"name":"Peter Economy","slug":"peter-economy","description":" <p><b>Lisa Rojany</b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b>Peter Economy</b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9734"}},{"authorId":9757,"name":"Lisa Rojany","slug":"lisa-rojany","description":" <p><b>Lisa Rojany</b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b>Peter Economy</b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9757"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":204825,"title":"Children's Books Genres","slug":"childrens-books-genres","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204825"}},{"articleId":204824,"title":"Baby and Toddler-Friendly Books with Lots of Pictures","slug":"baby-and-toddler-friendly-books-with-lots-of-pictures","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204824"}},{"articleId":204823,"title":"Children's Books with Lots of Words","slug":"childrens-books-with-lots-of-words","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204823"}},{"articleId":204816,"title":"Walk through the Illustration Process for Children's Books","slug":"walk-through-the-illustration-process-for-childrens-books","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204816"}},{"articleId":204623,"title":"How to Set Up Your Workspace for Writing Children's Books","slug":"how-to-set-up-your-workspace-for-writing-childrens-books","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/204623"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282681,"slug":"writing-childrens-books-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119870012","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119870011/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119870011/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119870011-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119870011/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119870011/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119870012-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Writing Children's Books For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b><b data-author-id=\"9757\">Lisa Rojany</b></b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b>Peter Economy</b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p> <p><b>Lisa Rojany</b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"9734\">Peter Economy</b></b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9757,"name":"Lisa Rojany","slug":"lisa-rojany","description":" <p><b>Lisa Rojany</b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b>Peter Economy</b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9757"}},{"authorId":9734,"name":"Peter Economy","slug":"peter-economy","description":" <p><b>Lisa Rojany</b> is a writer and publishing professional. Lisa has her own company, Editorial Services of L.A., for writers of fiction and nonfiction.</p><p><b>Peter Economy</b> is a <i>Wall Street Journal</i> best-selling business author and ghostwriter with more than 125 books to his credit, including multiple <i>For Dummies</i> titles.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9734"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119870012&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b300d130\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119870012&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b300dc35\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":171683,"title":"Tips for Editing Your Children's Book","slug":"tips-for-editing-your-childrens-book","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/171683"}},{"articleId":171693,"title":"Tips for Writing Books for Younger Children","slug":"tips-for-writing-books-for-younger-children","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/171693"}},{"articleId":171692,"title":"What Not to Do when Writing Children's Books","slug":"what-not-to-do-when-writing-childrens-books","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/171692"}},{"articleId":171691,"title":"How to Promote Your Children's Book","slug":"how-to-promote-your-childrens-book","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/171691"}},{"articleId":171690,"title":"Age Levels for Children's Books","slug":"age-levels-for-childrens-books","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/171690"}}],"content":[{"title":"Tips for editing your children's book","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>After you have a solid draft of the children’s book you’re writing, begin the editing process. Here’s a quick overview of the most important points to keep in mind:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>If a sentence doesn’t contribute to plot, character development, or setting, delete it.</li>\n<li>Make sure your characters don’t all sound the same when they speak.</li>\n<li>If you have a page or more of continuous dialogue, you probably need to tighten it up.</li>\n<li>When changing place or time, or starting a new scene or chapter, provide brief transitions to keep your story moving smoothly.</li>\n<li>Make sure to keep the pace moving from action to action, scene to scene, and chapter to chapter.</li>\n<li>If you find yourself using a lot of punctuation (!!!), CAPITAL LETTERS, <em>italics,</em> or <strong>bold,</strong> you don’t have your words working hard enough for you.</li>\n<li>If you can find one word to replace two or more words, do it.</li>\n<li>Be careful with changing tenses midstream. If you tell your story in the past tense, stick with it throughout. If you tell it in present tense, then stick with that. Be consistent.</li>\n<li>Don’t use an excessive amount of adjectives, adverbs, and long descriptive passages.</li>\n<li>After you choose a point of view for a character, stick to it.</li>\n<li>If your character hasn’t changed by the end of your story, you probably haven’t yet fully fleshed them out.</li>\n<li>If your character talks to themselves or does a lot of wondering aloud, give them a friend to talk to.</li>\n<li>If you’re bored with a character, your reader will be, too.</li>\n<li>If you can’t tell your story in three well-crafted sentences — the first one covering the beginning, the second one alluding to the climax (the middle), and the last one hinting at the ending — you may not have a complete story yet.</li>\n<li>If you find yourself overwriting because you’re having trouble expressing exactly what you mean, sit back and say it aloud to yourself, and then try again.</li>\n<li>Get quality feedback; you don’t have to edit in an isolation bubble.</li>\n<li>After you finish your draft, set your project aside for some time — at least one day and sometimes even a few months. Return to it with fresh eyes and a clear head. You can edit much more effectively with some time away, and how to fix sticky places becomes more obvious.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Tips for writing books for children ages 2 to 8","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The rules for writing books for children ages 2 to 8 are different from the rules for writing books for middle graders or young adults. Keep the following 12 commandments in mind.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">It&#8217;s okay to be different from others, but it&#8217;s not easy.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Bad guys never win.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">The good guy must come out on top in the end.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Extremes rule (the world is black or white, not both — most children ages 10 and under can be quite literal).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">All characters should be drawn with both good points and weaknesses. No one is just one or the other — even the good and the bad guy.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">It&#8217;s fine for something to be scary, but it can never touch a little kid&#8217;s body.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Little people can triumph over big people.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Poopoo, peepee, tushies, passing gas, burping, underwear — they&#8217;re all hilarious.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Turning things upside down is funny — as long as those things make sense in the first place right side up.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Magic can occur as a logical reaction to an action.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Regular children can perform extraordinary feats.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Regular children can go on implausible missions sanctioned (or not) by adults in charge.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Like with most commandments, you may be able to dance around one or two, but you’d better have a good reason.</p>\n"},{"title":"What not to do when writing a children's book","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In the same way that writing children’s books has a unique set of rules to follow (you know that the good guy or gal always wins), you should never do some things — never!</p>\n<p>Don’t even consider doing any of the following in a book for children:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Write books that preach or lecture.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Talk down to children as if they&#8217;re small, idiotic adults.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Write books that have no real story (nor a plot with beginning, middle, end).</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use art that is totally inappropriate for the story or vice versa.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pack picture books with lots of text.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pack nonfiction books with too much text and too few visuals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Create characters who are boring or unnecessary to the development of the story.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Create main characters who have a problem they don&#8217;t solve themselves or who don&#8217;t change throughout the course of the story.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Tell instead of showing by using narrative as a soapbox.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Anthropomorphize animals or use alliterative names (Squishy Squirrel, Morty Mole — Wretched Writer).</p>\n</li>\n<li>Assume that writing for kids is easy.</li>\n<li>Illustrate your story if you&#8217;re not already an illustrator.</li>\n<li>Use an adult as the main character (except maybe in young adult fiction).</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to promote your children's book","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>After you&#8217;ve written a children&#8217;s book, you have to sell it — you didn&#8217;t spend all that time and effort just to entertain yourself, did you? Try to accomplish one of the following tasks each week to help your labor of love blossom to life in the marketplace:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Add new content weekly to your website, social media, or blog to keep it fresh.</li>\n<li>Try to line up live readings in bookstores, schools, or libraries.</li>\n<li>Do an interview for a children’s book–related podcast.</li>\n<li>Submit your book for an award or prize — or ask your publisher to do so.</li>\n<li>Get your book reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads, by a children’s book blogger, or some other review site.</li>\n<li>Consider creating a trailer for your book and conduct and post a Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok (use the #BookTok hashtag!), and other social media to keep fans updated on professional news related to your book or your writing (or illustrating).</li>\n<li>Set up a book giveaway, using Amazon’s giveaway feature.</li>\n<li>Start working on your next book. The next book provides great publicity for previous books.</li>\n<li>Make business cards for your book, with its website and sales links included, and hand them out to everyone you know.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Age levels for children's books","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you’re writing a children’s book, familiarize yourself with how publishers classify those books. Publishers generally assign various formats to these reader age groups:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Board books: Newborn to age 3</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Picture books: Ages 3 to 8</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Coloring and activity (C&amp;A) books: Ages 3 to 8</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Novelty books: Ages 3 and up, depending on content</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Early, leveled readers: Ages 5 to 9</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">First chapter books: Ages 6 to 9 or 7 to 10</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Middle-grade books: Ages 8 to 12</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Young adult novels: Ages 12 and up, or 14 and up</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"Remember\">You can veer off a year or so in either direction when you assign a target audience age range to your work.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208138},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:53:48+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-15T20:34:27+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:27+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"writing young adult fiction for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"writing-young-adult-fiction-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the rules and quirks of writing for the very opinionated audience of teens and tweens, including crafting realistic dialogue.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The elements of storytelling are the same for young adult fiction and adult fiction, but writers of young adult fiction must come at those elements with a wholly different mindset. After all, this category has its own rules, its own quirks, and its own very opinionated audience: teens and tweens.","description":"The elements of storytelling are the same for young adult fiction and adult fiction, but writers of young adult fiction must come at those elements with a wholly different mindset. After all, this category has its own rules, its own quirks, and its own very opinionated audience: teens and tweens.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10170,"name":"Deborah Halverson","slug":"deborah-halverson","description":" <b>Deborah Halverson</b> founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels <i>Big Mouth</i> and <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10170"}},{"authorId":10171,"name":"M. T. Anderson","slug":"m-t-anderson","description":" <b>Deborah Halverson</b> founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels <i>Big Mouth</i> and <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10171"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":187560,"title":"Creating Teen Dialogue when Writing Young Adult Fiction","slug":"creating-teen-dialogue-when-writing-young-adult-fiction","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187560"}},{"articleId":187555,"title":"Evaluating Character and Plot in Young Adult Fiction","slug":"evaluating-character-and-plot-in-young-adult-fiction","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187555"}},{"articleId":187552,"title":"Young Adult Fiction Categories and Age Ranges","slug":"young-adult-fiction-categories-and-age-ranges","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187552"}},{"articleId":187551,"title":"Writing Young Adult Fiction: Creating a Youthful Narrative Voice","slug":"writing-young-adult-fiction-creating-a-youthful-narrative-voice","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187551"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282683,"slug":"writing-young-adult-fiction-for-dummies","isbn":"9780470949542","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470949546/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470949546/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0470949546-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470949546/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0470949546/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/writing-young-adult-fiction-for-dummies-cover-9780470949542-202x255.jpg","width":202,"height":255},"title":"Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<b data-author-id=\"10170\">Deborah Halverson</b> founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels <i>Big Mouth</i> and <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>.","authors":[{"authorId":10170,"name":"Deborah Halverson","slug":"deborah-halverson","description":" <b>Deborah Halverson</b> founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels <i>Big Mouth</i> and <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10170"}},{"authorId":10171,"name":"M. T. Anderson","slug":"m-t-anderson","description":" <b>Deborah Halverson</b> founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels <i>Big Mouth</i> and <i>Honk If You Hate Me</i>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10171"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470949542&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2f9f63a\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470949542&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2fa00c7\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":187552,"title":"Young Adult Fiction Categories and Age Ranges","slug":"young-adult-fiction-categories-and-age-ranges","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187552"}},{"articleId":187551,"title":"Writing Young Adult Fiction: Creating a Youthful Narrative Voice","slug":"writing-young-adult-fiction-creating-a-youthful-narrative-voice","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187551"}},{"articleId":187560,"title":"Creating Teen Dialogue when Writing Young Adult Fiction","slug":"creating-teen-dialogue-when-writing-young-adult-fiction","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187560"}},{"articleId":187555,"title":"Evaluating Character and Plot in Young Adult Fiction","slug":"evaluating-character-and-plot-in-young-adult-fiction","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187555"}}],"content":[{"title":"Young adult fiction categories and age ranges","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The two categories of young adult literature — young adult (YA or &#8220;teen fiction&#8221;) and middle grade (&#8220;MG fiction&#8221;) — are split into several age ranges to help book buyers and readers judge the age-appropriateness of the content and the writing. The shift from tween to teen begins around age 12, and standard age ranges reflect that.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Middle Grade (MG)</b><b></b></p>\n<p>25,000 to 45,000 words</td>\n<td>Ages 9 to 12</td>\n<td>Older elementary into middle school, grades 4 through 7</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td></td>\n<td>Ages 10 to 14</td>\n<td>Middle school into early high school, grades 5 through 9; these<br />\nkids may be reading older MG and younger YAs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Young Adult (YA)</b><b></b></p>\n<p>40,000 to 60,000 words</td>\n<td>Ages 12 and up</td>\n<td>Older middle school into high school, grades 7 through 12</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td></td>\n<td>Ages 14 and up</td>\n<td>High school, grades 9 and up; generally understood to cap at<br />\nage 17</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Writing young adult fiction: creating a youthful narrative voice","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><i>Narrative voice</i> — what your narrator says and how he says it — is a defining feature of young adult fiction. Here are five ways to make your narrative voice teen-friendly, whether your narrator is your young main character or an all-knowing omniscient being:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Embrace your inner drama queen. </b>Use hyperbole, or words and phrases that suggest an overly dramatic view of the situation, its extent, its implications, and its impact on the protagonist herself. &#8220;It was the best day ever.&#8221; &#8220;Mom was going to kill me.&#8221; Many teens lack the experience to put things in perspective, and their stress and frustration often show up as exaggeration.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Relax your grammar. </b>Let sentences purposely run on, double-back on themselves, repeat, and end prematurely for a natural flow. As long as you keep the meaning clear, the grammar police won&#8217;t come after you. Creative grammar lets you selectively deviate from the rules for a more casual, off-the-cuff, and ultimately youthful quality.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Match sentence structure and paragraphing to your audience. </b>As young people&#8217;s emotions, intellect, and interests change, a writer&#8217;s word choice and sentence structure must adjust. Generally, use shorter, more declarative sentences and frequent paragraph breaks for tweens and younger teens so the pages don&#8217;t seem dense and daunting; slip in longer sentences for rhythmic variety as long as they&#8217;re direct and active. More complex sentence structure and longer paragraphs tend to convey a more mature voice for older readers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Embrace immaturity. </b>Young tweens are typically focused inward, with conflicts stemming from that. They&#8217;re struggling to find out who they are, first and foremost.<b> </b>Don&#8217;t let young narrators sound too self-aware by analyzing themselves or others. Let them judge and act quickly, harshly, and wrongly — and then face the consequences. Teens are starting to look outward as they try to find their places in the world and realize that their actions have consequences in the grander scheme of life, affecting others in immense ways. Your narrator&#8217;s observations and commentary must reflect the appropriate youthful outlook for your protagonist and audience age range.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Don&#8217;t preach. </b>Let the characters embody your message and live your lessons.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Creating teen dialogue when writing young adult fiction","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Writing dialogue that sounds like it spilled from the lips of teens makes your young adult fiction novel more believable to your audience. Use these five tips to defy your age and write dialogue that&#8217;s both young-sounding and youth-pleasing:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Blurt things out. </b>Teens often talk first and think second. And their tact filters aren&#8217;t fully developed yet.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Choose simple words. </b>Young people don&#8217;t generally break out the 50-cent words in normal dialogue unless they&#8217;re fascinated by words or maybe want to show off how smart they are.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Exaggerate. </b>For emphasis, teens and tweens often talk in exaggerations, revealing their still-developing perspective of the world and their tendency to overstate in times of high emotion and frustration. Think, &#8220;I&#8217;m a total loser.&#8221;</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Lighten up.</b> Ditch stiff, proper grown-up delivery and embrace casual syntax instead. String your words together in a more footloose fashion, and maybe throw in a little bad grammar while you&#8217;re at it. Few people implement grammar precisely when they&#8217;re in a back-and-forth. After all, when you&#8217;re trying to get the words out, why bother sorting out sentence structure just so you can use &#8220;whom&#8221; properly? Loose syntax is more effective at conveying youthfulness than depending on slang, which can date your book.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Make the conversation about the speaker. </b>Teens are a self-absorbed lot, and that can come out in their words. Frame teen dialogue from a perspective that focuses on how the circumstances affect the speaker. Thus, instead of &#8220;Tom seemed sad today. I wonder why?&#8221; use &#8220;Tom blew me off today. What&#8217;s up with that? What did I do to him?&#8221;</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Evaluating character and plot in young adult fiction","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"Tip\">As you write your manuscript for young adult fiction, edit your work by evaluating characters and plot. Self-editing lets you address story issues even before you ask someone to read your young adult novel. Here are five questions to help you decide whether you still have some character- and plot-shaping to do:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Did you force your protagonist out of their comfort zone at crucial moments?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Has each obstacle pushed the plot and characters forward?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Are the consequences of failure dire enough at each stage of the plot?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Does each scene in each chapter contribute to its chapter&#8217;s overall goal, and does every chapter contribute to the character&#8217;s achievement of their story goal?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you take your protagonist as they are in the final scene and drop them back into the first scene of the story, have they matured enough to handle the initial conflict so well this time around that your novel wouldn&#8217;t even be necessary?</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>If you&#8217;re confident answering <i>yes</i> to all, you may indeed be at word-tweaking stage and perhaps last draft.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-15T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208603},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2021-09-16T18:33:37+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-15T20:23:06+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:27+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"apa style and citations for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Get advice for using the APA style, which is essential for writing college essays and adjusting to college experiences.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Life requires regular adjustments to new environments — college is one of the most demanding. Maybe you're an undergraduate and want help deciphering the <em>Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition.</em> In order to write A-worthy papers, you need to be able to understand and implement the APA style. This handy Cheat Sheet offers advice for using the APA style and adjusting to college experiences.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_285237\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-285237\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/apa-college-student-writing.jpg\" alt=\"college student writing an essay\" width=\"556\" height=\"371\" /> © insta_photos / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"Life requires regular adjustments to new environments — college is one of the most demanding. Maybe you're an undergraduate and want help deciphering the <em>Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition.</em> In order to write A-worthy papers, you need to be able to understand and implement the APA style. This handy Cheat Sheet offers advice for using the APA style and adjusting to college experiences.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_285237\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-285237\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/apa-college-student-writing.jpg\" alt=\"college student writing an essay\" width=\"556\" height=\"371\" /> © insta_photos / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}},{"articleId":283552,"title":"10 Steps to Writing a Book","slug":"10-steps-to-writing-a-book","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283552"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":284220,"slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119716440","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119716446/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119716446/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119716446-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119716446/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119716446/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/apa-style-and-citations-for-dummies-cover-9781119716440-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"APA Style & Citations For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b><b data-author-id=\"34513\">Joe Giampalmi</b>, EdD,</b> is a hall-of-fame educator who&#8217;s been teaching students to mind their P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s, use active voice, include Oxford commas, and support their arguments for more than 50 years. He has taught more than 100 English composition courses.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34513,"name":"Joe Giampalmi","slug":"joe-giampalmi","description":" <p><b>Joe Giampalmi, EdD,</b> is a hall-of-fame educator who&#8217;s been teaching students to mind their P&#8217;s and Q&#8217;s, use active voice, include Oxford commas, and support their arguments for more than 50 years. He has taught more than 100 English composition courses.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34513"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119716440&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2f956e5\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119716440&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2f96189\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Transitioning to college essay writing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>High school English classes generally prepare students very well for college essay-writing courses, especially advanced high school classes and classes with self-motivated students who read regularly. But a number of students enter college unprepared for the academic demands of college essay writing.</p>\n<p>Here’s a quick comparison showing differences between high school and college essays:</p>\n<table>\n<caption><strong>High School and College Essay Differences</strong></caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\"><strong>Criteria</strong></td>\n<td width=\"180\"><strong>High School Essays</strong></td>\n<td width=\"183\"><strong>College Essays</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Grading time</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Teacher teaches approximately 150 students, five periods a day, five days a week —ten minutes grading per essay requires 25 out-of-class hours</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Teacher teaches approximately 80 students, twice a week — 20 minutes grading per essay requires 26.5 hours, allocated over nonteaching days</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Drafts</td>\n<td width=\"180\">One draft</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Portfolio of essays require two to three drafts</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Reader value</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Essay message written for high school reading audience</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Essay message written for college reading audience</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Instructional delivery</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Assigned with minimal assignment sheet, limited class instruction, and teacher-centered goals and objectives</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Taught regularly in class; detailed assignment sheet includes department goals and objectives</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Sources</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Summarizing outside reading source may be required; unsupported student opinion common</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Synthesizing two to three reading sources required; unsupported student opinion not accepted</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Opening strategy</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Not usually required or part of class instruction; not graded</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Taught as part of class instruction; graded</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Compositional risks</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Not usually required or part of instruction or grading</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Specific to assignment and department goals; part of classroom instruction and graded</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Support availability</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Limited support; availability of teacher support after school</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Constant support availability during walk-in office hours, at college writing center, and academic success center</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Revising</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Synonymous with editing of spelling, grammar, and punctuation</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Classroom revising required at three levels: structural, paragraph and sentences, and word level</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Length</td>\n<td width=\"180\">500 to 550 words</td>\n<td width=\"183\">600 to 650 words</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Structure</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Generally centered around five paragraphs</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Thematic requirement and length necessitate multi-paragraph development.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Topic requirements</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Centered on supporting a thesis with the focus on who and what</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Centered on developing an argument to support a thesis with the focus on how and why</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"101\">Essay completion rate</td>\n<td width=\"180\">Approximately 15 percent of high school students neglect to submit essays or submit incomplete essays</td>\n<td width=\"183\">Neglecting one college essay almost always results in a course failure</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Preparing APA seventh edition assignments for final submission","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Take a deep breath, a celebratory drink from your water bottle, and high-five a friend. You completed a research paper with your best effort. Here are some questions to check your compliance with APA’s seventh edition before submitting your paper:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Title page: </strong>Is each element centered and double spaced? Is the title bold, centered, and written in title case? Is the title positioned in the top half of the page? Is your name written two double spaces below the title? Does the title page include your professor’s name and title as well as the name of the department and the course name and number? Do you address professor and department variations of the title page, variations that supersede APA requirements?</li>\n<li><strong>Formatting: </strong>Does paper formatting include the title at the top of page 2, numbering in the right corner, one-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font? Are paper sections properly sequenced and heading levels accurately positioned? Does page formatting address font, spacing, numbering, and margins? Do bulleted lists that aren’t sentences end without end punctuation? Are hard page breaks inserted to introduce new sections that begin at the top of a new page? Does the research paper pass the eye test of what a college paper should look like?</li>\n<li><strong>Organization: </strong>Does the organized sequence of paper sections include title page, abstract or executive summary, contents, references, endnotes, tables and figures, and appendices? Does the organizational structure include the use of five levels of headings, section labels, and appropriate uses of lists?</li>\n<li><strong>Writing style: </strong>Does the writing style include strategies for audience, purpose, focus, approach, transitions, and flow? Does sentence structure address active verbs, specific nouns, agreement, and misplaced description? Does language include bias-free references to race, ethnicity, age, disabilities, gender and gender identity, and sexual orientation? Does the writing include accurate use of conventions of style? Does the writing include feedback and revising at three levels: structural, sentence, and word?</li>\n<li><strong>Citations and references: </strong>Is every idea taken from another source cited and listed in the reference? Do citations follow the general format of author and date? Are references accurately formatted with alphabetizing, double spacing, hanging indentations, and other required elements? Do you have an appropriate ratio of primary and secondary sources? Was the writing, especially citations and references, reviewed by writing experts, such as those available at the college writing center?</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Does the assignment represent your best effort, an effort that you’re proud of? Before final submission, did you first email your paper to yourself to ensure no loss of formatting?</p>\n"},{"title":"Tips for adjusting to a new college climate","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>First-year college students adjust to campus life at different rates and acclimating may take two to three semesters. Avoid comparing yourself to others and remain patient and positive. Here are a few tips for socializing on campus and meeting new people.</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Attend every class.</strong> Attending class not only offers you socialization opportunities, but it also reinforces your reason for attending college.</li>\n<li><strong>Attend athletic events and similar activities. </strong>That’s a great way to find people with the same interests as you.</li>\n<li><strong>Avoid socializing with one person exclusively and analyze pros and cons of rooming with a good friend.</strong> Give yourself the opportunity to meet as many people as possible.</li>\n<li><strong>Attend college sponsored orientations, scheduled for students like you.</strong> Student orientations are designed to provide you a variety of experiences to meet people.</li>\n<li><strong>Arrive at classes ten to fifteen minutes early to socialize with students in your classes.</strong> Initiate conversation related to course topics such as: How’s your essay going? What&#8217;s the most interesting thing you&#8217;ve learned so far in this class?</li>\n<li><strong>Join a couple of campus organizations to meet students with diverse interests. </strong>Look for an organization related to your major. Attend a number of initial meetings of organizations, then follow up with the organizations that most interest you.</li>\n<li><strong>Walk the campus regularly taking a different route each time. </strong>Make eye contact with people you see and say “hi.”</li>\n<li><strong>Avoid going home every weekend.</strong> Decorate your dorm room with a few mementos of your home life. If you’re a commuter, spend as much time on campus as you can. Colleges offer accommodations for commuters.</li>\n<li><strong>Eat regularly at the busiest campus dining hall.</strong> Sit at a table with a large number of students and introduce yourself.</li>\n<li><strong>When working with students on group projects, exchange contact information and suggest a group text for communicating.</strong> You’ll need these contacts for completing your group academic projects, and they also increase your social network.</li>\n<li><strong>Ask questions. </strong>You not only learn new information, but each question is an opportunity to make a new acquaintance.</li>\n<li><strong>Frequent the campus fitness center.</strong> Exercise helps you physically and mentally and also provides an opportunity to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-09-16T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":285236},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-10T19:10:11+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:23+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"Creative Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"creative writing for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"creative-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Get started crafting page-turning fiction following a few tried-and-tested writing and editing strategies.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Do you want to be the next J.K. Rowling and dream up a character like Harry Potter? Do you want to write poems or plays? Follow this handy Cheat Sheet, which breaks down the process into manageable tasks, and helps you to develop your style.","description":"Do you want to be the next J.K. Rowling and dream up a character like Harry Potter? Do you want to write poems or plays? Follow this handy Cheat Sheet, which breaks down the process into manageable tasks, and helps you to develop your style.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":288489,"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/288489"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2b643dd\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b2b64f01\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194566,"title":"Before You Begin Your Creative Writing","slug":"before-you-begin-your-creative-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194566"}},{"articleId":194555,"title":"How to Generate Creative Writing Ideas","slug":"how-to-generate-creative-writing-ideas","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194555"}},{"articleId":194554,"title":"Writing Your First Draft","slug":"writing-your-first-draft","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194554"}},{"articleId":194565,"title":"Rewriting and Editing Your Creative Writing Project","slug":"rewriting-and-editing-your-creative-writing-project","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194565"}},{"articleId":194550,"title":"Ways to Develop and Improve Your Creative Writing","slug":"ways-to-develop-and-improve-your-creative-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194550"}}],"content":[{"title":"Before you begin your creative writing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Always be prepared! Here’s a checklist of useful writing aids to have with you as you begin to write – just don’t forget the chocolate biscuits.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A good notebook</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A decent pen</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plenty of paper</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A computer or laptop</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A desk or other writing space</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A dictionary</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A thesaurus</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to generate creative writing ideas","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Writer’s block affects all writers from time to time. If you feel a bit stuck for inspiration, try these techniques to get your creative juices flowing.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Find a postcard, photograph or painting depicting two or more people and write a story about them.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Look at any object and write about it – where does it come from, who does it belong to, who might want it?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Read the newspaper for unusual and interesting stories and develop them as fiction.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Listen to conversations on the bus, in a café or at the supermarket. Jot them down and carry them on, seeing where they lead you.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick up a book you really like and open it at a random page. Pick a sentence you like and write it down, and then carry on writing your own story.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick an emotion and create a story around it. Pick another, and carry on writing. Make the characters move from the first emotion to the second.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Writing your first draft","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Writing a first draft of your creative writing project – whether a novel, short story, poem or play – can be a bit daunting. Follow these handy hints to help you organise your thoughts and manage your time:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Don’t worry about a great opening line yet. Simply start writing wherever you like.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keep the flow going in the early stages – keep writing without stopping, going back, re-reading or changing what you’ve written.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Remember to show not tell – think about how to dramatise what you’re writing about and create visual images.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Start somewhere else and get going again if you become stuck on a particular passage.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Rewriting and editing your creative writing project","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Rewriting and editing helps to tighten up your work. But it can be difficult – what to chop and when to stop may not be clear, and you may change your mind more than once during the process. Ask yourself whether you need to take out:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Unnecessary information and explanation.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Passages of dialogue that go on too long.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Clunky descriptions that give too much detail.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Clumsy images that don’t really work.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Too many adjectives and adverbs.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>You may need to add or expand:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Something you know but have forgotten to tell the reader; perhaps the age of the main character.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">More specific descriptive information that shows instead of tells; instead of describing a man as ‘old’, describe his white hair, slow gait and mottled hands.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dialogue of what the characters actually say, rather than summaries.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Material to add interest or create suspense.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A better opening or closing line.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>You may need to move:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dramatic sections to make a stronger opening.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Early information to where the reader really needs to know it.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Essential information nearer the beginning of the book.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Descriptive passages to add tension and suspense to incidents.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Words, phrases and sentences to make a better rhythm.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>In your final edit:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Check for grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Ensure you have no continuity errors.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pay particular attention to the first and last lines of any section or scene.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Smooth out any awkward words and phrases.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Clarify anything that isn’t clear.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Ways to develop and improve your creative writing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Here are some top tips for developing your creative writing. No writing is ever a finished product – there are always ways to improve and refine your style.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Go on a writing course.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Join a writers’ circle.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Find a good library and use it.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Read and re-read good writing.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Attend book festivals, readings and bookshop events.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-10T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209313},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2021-09-20T19:16:44+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-08T15:22:45+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:21+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"},"slug":"writing","categoryId":33711}],"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"college admission essays for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The college admission essay is a pivotal opportunity to distinguish yourself from others and encourage a school to admit you.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">Whether you</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">’</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">re trying to write a</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> college admission </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">essay for the Common Application, Coalition, or even a supplemental essay for an individual school, the process of </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">writing about </span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">yourself</span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> might feel unfamiliar and intimidating. However, the </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">college </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">admission essay is a</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> pivotal opportunity to distinguish yourself from others with </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">very similar</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> credentials and encourage a school to </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">admit</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">you.</span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">C</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">ommunicate</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">clearly and</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> convey not only who you are, but how you came to be that person.</span></span>","description":"<span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">Whether you</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">’</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">re trying to write a</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> college admission </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">essay for the Common Application, Coalition, or even a supplemental essay for an individual school, the process of </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">writing about </span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">yourself</span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> might feel unfamiliar and intimidating. However, the </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">college </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">admission essay is a</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> pivotal opportunity to distinguish yourself from others with </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">very similar</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> credentials and encourage a school to </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">admit</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">you.</span></span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">C</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">ommunicate</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> </span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\">clearly and</span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW202135157 BCX0\"> convey not only who you are, but how you came to be that person.</span></span>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8977,"name":"Geraldine Woods","slug":"geraldine-woods","description":"","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8977"}},{"authorId":34597,"name":"Jessica Brenner","slug":"jessica-brenner","description":" <p><B>Jessica Brenner </b>has more than twelve years of experience working with teens and families as a college counselor. She has a master&#8217;s degree in Counseling Psychology. Her freelance writing has appeared in a variety of publications online and in print.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34597"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33711,"title":"Writing","slug":"writing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":294700,"title":"College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"college-writing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/294700"}},{"articleId":290254,"title":"Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"writing-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/290254"}},{"articleId":285236,"title":"APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"apa-style-citations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/285236"}},{"articleId":283563,"title":"10 Ways to Grow Your Personal Power with Writing","slug":"10-ways-to-grow-your-personal-power-with-writing","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283563"}},{"articleId":283552,"title":"10 Steps to Writing a Book","slug":"10-steps-to-writing-a-book","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/283552"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":288168,"slug":"college-admission-essays-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9781119828334","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","language-language-arts","writing"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119828333/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119828333/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119828333-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119828333/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119828333/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/college-admission-essays-for-dummies-cover-9781119828334-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"College Admission Essays For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><B><b data-author-id=\"34597\">Jessica Brenner</b> </b>has more than twelve years of experience working with teens and families as a college counselor. She has a master&#8217;s degree in Counseling Psychology. Her freelance writing has appeared in a variety of publications online and in print.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34597,"name":"Jessica Brenner","slug":"jessica-brenner","description":" <p><B>Jessica Brenner </b>has more than twelve years of experience working with teens and families as a college counselor. She has a master&#8217;s degree in Counseling Psychology. Her freelance writing has appeared in a variety of publications online and in print.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34597"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119828334&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b298af1f\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;language-language-arts&quot;,&quot;writing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119828334&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b298b96e\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Tips for writing a good college admission essay","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You may have heard (correctly!) that college admission essays don’t have the same rules as those five-paragraph analytical essays you were assigned throughout high school. That doesn’t mean you can’t tap into some vital strategies to help you create the most memorable content you can and get admitted to the colleges you want. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here are some of those guidelines:</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Include details.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Also known as “show, not tell,” this tip means that you must write your essay in a way that paints a clear and specific picture of your topic and avoids sweeping generalizations.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Focus the essay on one main idea.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> This doesn’t mean that you can’t have, for example, several experiences included in order to illustrate one main point — such as a character trait you’ve developed — but it does mean that you should avoid writing a complete autobiography. Find a key idea that feels meaningful and important to you and then zoom in. </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Don’t repeat yourself.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Your longest essay — your personal statement — can’t be any longer than 650 words, or about three quarters of a page. Many other responses will be shorter. Every word and sentence should therefore contribute to the progression of your essay or be cut — you have no room for redundancy.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Use vocabulary and sentence structure that come naturally to you.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Because your essay should feel like a conversation with a real person, the last thing you need is something convoluted or overly flowery. With a bit of practice writing naturally, you can discover your writing voice.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"><br />\n</span></p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">If you struggle to read your own words aloud, that&#8217;s a good clue that you’ve probably overdone it with your language.</p>\n</li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Be growth-oriented.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Even if you’re writing about an adversity or hardship, your essay (especially your personal statement) should ultimately showcase learning and growth — not simply that you’re a wallower. As you write and revise, consider what your reader will take away about your resiliency. </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"The process for writing college admission essays (in brief)","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some students mistakenly assume that the best way to map out their own personal statement essay is to read countless college essays by other people. Even though reading sample essays can give you a good sense of what a final structure can look like, this step can only take you so far as a beginner. In fact, comparing your own initial ideas to someone else’s finished product can actually be counterproductive. Instead, you should focus on identifying the personal experiences, memories, and characteristics (specific to you!) that will most reveal who you are to your admissions readers. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here are some ways to get ideas churning:</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brainstorm important memories</span></b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Consider the moments in your life where your character was tested or revealed, or even the stories that stand out in the minds of those who know you best. Mining your life for material is your best starting point.<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Talk to people who know you well.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Ask them how they would describe you, what stories or anecdotes they might recall, or whether a theme you’re considering writing about feels consistent with who they know you to be.<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Choose a central topic or theme.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Remember that you aren’t able or obligated to tell the complete story of your life – instead, focus on a key idea that reveals an important aspect of who you are.<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gather details.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> In order to paint a vivid picture for an audience who </span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">doesn’t</span></i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> already know you, be as specific as you can. Write as if your reader is a blank slate when it comes to you and your topic —because they are!<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Select a structure.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> After you brainstorm, you can begin to anticipate how you want the final version of your essay to look — in chronological order, for example, or interrupted chronological order?<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Write a rough draft.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> And as you do, try to be patient with yourself. Your real essay will likely emerge out of the revision process (that is, the editing and rearranging that comes after you’ve made your first attempt to lay out your ideas).<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Revise.</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Once . . . twice . . . then put your essay away for a week for good measure, and then revise again. Revising your essay is the key to not only catching grammatical errors and objective writing flaws, but also in improving your clarity and the overall framework of your essay.<br />\n</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Seek feedback from a trusted mentor, friend or family member. </span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A second pair of eyes on your writing will help ensure you’re being clear with your essay’s aim and purpose — just make sure that you’re in full control of any edits or changes to your work. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Most commonly selected topics for college admission essays","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even though the best topic for your college essay is typically the one that feels the most meaningful or interesting to you, the writer (</span>Hint:<span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Can you brainstorm details and insights without a ton of strenuous effort?), you can choose from several categories of topics that can guide your personal reflection. These overlap with the Common Application personal statement prompts and are worth considering:  </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A significant experience:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Notice that significant may mean either a positive or negative experience; with an essay as in life, it’s your reaction and perspective that matters.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A person who influenced you:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> When you write about an important relationship, you’re revealing your perspective, what you admire, and your takeaway from the individual (and where you differ). Such an essay can (and should) say a great deal about you.  </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your perspective on a current issue:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> If you’ve been moved — in particular, into action — by a cause you’ve observed or even changed your mind about something you once assumed to be true, you have an important perspective to be shared.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A challenge you’ve faced:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> In relation to showing growth (one of the “musts” for college essays), you should consider where it is you’ve been challenged or stretched beyond your perceived limits. Often you’ll find that your challenges have impacted you far more than your successes.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An important passion:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> When do you lose track of time or feel most like yourself? Your interests and how you spend the time that is entirely yours reveal a great deal about your values and character traits. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">No matter what topic you choose, remember one important point: The essay should be about </span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">you. </span></i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"Deciding whether the optional college admission essay is really optional","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some universities include a supplemental prompt in the Common Application that’s labeled as optional. Even though it’s labeled optional, should you skip it? Heck, no, not unless you </span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">want</span></i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to come across as someone who either a) didn’t plan ahead or b) doesn’t care that much about the school. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p>Spoiler:<span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The optional supplemental essay </span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">isn’t</span></i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> really optional, with very few exceptions (such as the deadline is tomorrow). Otherwise, you should take the time to write a good, additional essay whenever an application allows you to do so, because leaving an optional supplement blank generally suggests a lack of interest or initiative on your part. The more your reader gets to know you, the more they’ll love you, right? And the essay is the prime spot to introduce yourself in all your complex glory. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the Writing section of the Common Application (just below your personal statement), you’ll notice that there is yet another place for an optional essay — it’s labelled as “Additional Information.” The purpose of this section is to give you an opportunity to answer the following question: “Is there anything else about your academic record or circumstances that we should know when we read your application?” Unlike supplemental responses for specific colleges, this essay actually </span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is</span></i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> optional. If you’ve exhausted yourself for any possible special circumstances worth explaining and are coming up empty, you don’t have to worry about posting an essay here. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">One rather large pitfall sits in front of the optional essay: repetition. If you’ve already written your personal statement about the time you were appointed team captain of your lacrosse team, don’t write a supplemental essay telling the same story in slightly different words. Your audience is too busy to deal with duplicates. You can, however, write about two different aspects of the same experience. Essay number one may deal with the growing pains of your early leadership, for example, and essay number two with a particular game where you had to make an executive decision.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"},{"title":"The basic requirements of a college admission essay","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At least half the time, when something feels off about your writing, all you need is to take a good look at your structure. The following are the only real requirements for a finished college admission essay: </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Self-knowledge:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Your writing should demonstrate that you’re self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses and should indicate your growth (or a desire for growth).</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Substance: </span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Include only the important details. That means no fluff.  Cut all excess information so that every sentence of your finished admission essay counts, in the sense that it moves the essay forward. (If your piece reads just fine without a given sentence or two, that’s a good indication that you’re looking at content that isn’t important and needs to be cut.) </span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A strong lead that grips the reader from the first few lines:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Your readers’ (the admission committee members’) attention spans are somewhat limited. (After all, your essay is one of thousands they’ll read.) Without going the route of an over-the-top gimmick, use details and possibly an important moment in your life to start your essay. Doing so cultivates some curiosity about what you’ll say next.</span></li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Consistent tone of voice:</span></b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> You want your readers to feel as if they just had a conversation with you and have gotten to know a real candidate by reading your essay. </span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559739&quot;:110,&quot;335559740&quot;:220,&quot;335559991&quot;:1440,&quot;469777462&quot;:[1340,1440],&quot;469777927&quot;:[0,0],&quot;469777928&quot;:[4,1]}\"> </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beyond these items, your essay might have nothing in common with your best friend’s, though both could be submission-ready.</span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> </span></p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-09-20T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":288489}],"_links":{"self":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=0"},"next":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=10"},"last":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33711/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=152"}}},"objectTitle":"","status":"success","pageType":"article-category","objectId":"33711","page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{"categoriesFilter":[{"itemId":0,"itemName":"All Categories","count":162}],"articleTypeFilter":[{"articleType":"All Types","count":162},{"articleType":"Articles","count":140},{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","count":15},{"articleType":"Step by Step","count":7}]},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"success","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-12-16T05:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!--Optimizely Script-->\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!-- comScore Tag -->\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n<!-- / comScore Tag -->","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"<!--BEGIN QUALTRICS WEBSITE FEEDBACK SNIPPET-->\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'><!--DO NOT REMOVE-CONTENTS PLACED HERE--></div>\r\n<!--END WEBSITE FEEDBACK SNIPPET-->","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!-- Hotjar Tracking Code for http://www.dummies.com -->\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":"<!-- //Connect Container: dummies --> <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"<!-- Facebook Pixel Code -->\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n<!-- End Facebook Pixel Code -->","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":287569,"title":"For the Hopeless Romantic","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-hopeless-romantic-287569"},{"collectionId":287567,"title":"For the Unabashed Hippie","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-unabashed-hippie-287567"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"ArticleCategory","path":"/category/articles/writing-33711/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category":"writing-33711"},"fullPath":"/category/articles/writing-33711/","meta":{"routeType":"category","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"sfmcState":{"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}
Logo
  • Articles Open Article Categories
  • Books Open Book Categories
  • Collections Open Collections list
  • Custom Solutions

Article Categories

Book Categories

Collections

Explore all collections
BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)
Be a Rad Dad
Career Shifting
Contemplating the Cosmos
For Those Seeking Peace of Mind
For the Aspiring Aficionado
For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast
For the Exam-Season Crammer
For the Hopeless Romantic
For the Unabashed Hippie
Log In
  • Home
  • Academics & The Arts Articles
  • Language & Language Arts Articles
  • Writing Articles

Writing Articles

What are you writing? Whether it's your doctoral dissertation or the great American novel, we can help you get organized, polish up your prose, and get the right kind of attention for your words.

Articles From Writing

page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6
page 7
page 8
page 9
page 10
page 11
page 12
page 13
page 14
page 15
page 16
page 17

Filter Results

162 results
162 results
Writing The Many Benefits of Keeping a Journal

Article / Updated 12-15-2022

The reason that so many people are drawn to journaling — and likely one of the reasons you’re reading this article — is because journaling is so very beneficial and in so many ways. These benefits have been proven and documented many times through decades of research. From school children just learning to write to elderly adults, journaling has been shown to improve emotional, mental, and physical health. It can unleash creativity and enhance productivity. It helps you clarify your thoughts and feelings and can help you make tough decisions. It’s all in the how and the why you use it. Emotional and mental health People who journal regularly report experiencing an enhanced sense of overall well-being. Moreover, many have gained tangible improvements to their emotional, mental, and physical health. The area that has been studied the most when it comes to journaling is emotional and mental health. You’ve probably heard that journaling is an inexpensive form of psychotherapy. Most sayings contain a seed of truth; in this case, the seed has grown into a tree. Studies conducted in clinical and educational settings since the 1960s have shown the following mental and emotional effects of journaling: Reduces stress and anxiety Boosts feelings of well-being Supports self-love and acceptance Improves the ability to cope with grief, loss, and illness Increases mental clarity I’m not saying that journaling should replace counseling or psychotherapy. Professional therapeutic services have benefits that journaling can’t provide. And it would be irresponsible of me to suggest otherwise. In fact, when combined with conventional therapy, journaling has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the therapy. Counseling and psychotherapy both focus on communicating thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. The counselor or therapist acts as a mirror and resource for the person being counseled. Like a mirror, they reflect your own words and emotions back to you so that you can see them more objectively. As a resource, they can provide guidance, wisdom, and access to additional resources. Journaling gives you a safe space to communicate your deepest thoughts and emotions. Similar to a counselor or therapist, it acts like a mirror, reflecting back to you, in your own words, your feelings, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral patterns. When approached with curiosity and an open mind, journaling can help you become more self-aware and increase your ability to process and make meaning of life. Journaling also helps you tap into your inner wisdom, your innate guidance — that inner-self who knows what you really need and want and, when listened to, can help you shift your well-being in a positive direction. Physical health benefits Improved mental health may be reason enough to journal, but did you know that journaling has also been shown to benefit physical health? Dr. Ira Progoff, one of the first psychologists to study and document the effects of journaling, found that in addition to decreasing stress, anxiety, and fear, journal writing for just 15 to 20 minutes, three to five times a week, was correlated with increasing immune system function and decreasing blood pressure. The journal writers in the study went to the doctor less often and just felt better overall. A 2017 study published in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine (Elsevier) found that those who kept journals during divorce had lower heart rates and higher heart rate variability — both indicators of good health. We can extrapolate from this that journaling could have the same benefits during any stressful loss or life transition. Other studies have shown that journaling improves overall memory function by enhancing the brain’s ability to intake, process, and retrieve information. And because of its positive effects on thinking, journaling has been used in educational settings to help students understand how to think more logically and analytically. Supercharging inspiration and achievement Because journaling is a safe and private activity, and lends itself well to delving into literally any topic or personal characteristic, it’s an excellent tool for exploring creative inspiration, practicing creative skills, and finding creative solutions to any kind of problem. Inspirational ideas have a tendency to blossom into projects. It follows that journaling is a natural (and effective) way to develop and manage your project-related goals and tasks. Have you ever awakened from a dream inspired by a groundbreaking idea? Or had a brilliant solution to a problem while performing a routine task such as doing the dishes or taking a shower? Creative ideas come to us at all times of the day and night — often when we’re thinking about something else entirely. In addition to using words to capture feelings and ideas, you can use your journal as a sketchbook to create mind maps, detail visual ideas, and express emotions through forms and colors. You can also use it to record those inspired dreams. Your journal is a place to capture ideas when they happen and then explore them in more depth later, when you have time. Because it encourages capturing ideas and self-reflection, journaling can help you with your creative process, whether your art is painting, music, or writing itself. One of your journal’s greatest gifts is that it can be messy and unformed, and that’s okay. In your journal, you can develop ideas privately, without the burden of having to “make something good.” Your journal gives you a place to practice without pressure. Because of its judgement-free nature, your journal can help you build confidence in your craft, as well as create a rich resource of ideas that you can come back to over and over again. Writing craft If you like to write, and you dream of becoming a better writer, your journal is a wonderful playground in which to practice. I think the biggest breakthrough for me as a writer — that moment I went from writer-wannabe to knowing I was a writer — came when I recognized that journaling was writing practice. And it was in my journal that I found my authentic writing voice. Consider the following truths about your journal. It’s safe and private, and nothing you write is open to criticism. You can write from your heart, and your inner critic and editor — that voice in your head that’s constantly belittling your writing and telling you that you’re not a real writer — isn’t welcome. Your journal is a playground, and you can put together words however you want in this playground. You don’t have to worry about spelling or punctuation, or whether your sentences flow coherently from one to the next. You can be as messy or neat as you want, and there’s no one to say otherwise. For example, you can use your journal to Brainstorm plots Develop characters Sketch a scene Practice dialogue Create poetry Explore points of view Piece together story ideas Writing is writing, whether it’s in your journal or in text or e-mail. The more you write from your heart — which journaling encourages and helps you practice — the more authentic all your writing becomes. Discovering your Self Every person has both an outer- and inner-self. The outer self is who you present to the world — you, on your best behavior. This is the self who holds back expressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that others might judge negatively. The outer-self is mostly concerned with how you’re viewed by others, dressing and communicating appropriately so that you have a better chance of fitting in with your social and work groups. When I talk about Self with a capital S, I’m referring to your inner-self, that deep inner emotional/spiritual part of you — the person you really are on the inside. The part of you that contains inner wisdom. The you who’s creative and uninhibited, honest and vulnerable. The you who also has a dark side — who can be angry, depressed, or in pain — that you don’t always want to see. There’s nothing wrong with having these outer and inner expressions of who you are. It’s part of being human. But if your outer- and inner-selves aren’t both aligned with your core values, you can feel conflicted and stressed. For example, have you ever acted in a way or done something because of social (peer) pressure that you felt uncomfortable with or felt guilty about later? That discomfort is the tension between your outer- and inner-selves — between your words or actions, and what you truly value. Here are some ways that journaling can help you discover your Self and then assist you with aligning your inner and outer ways of being: Identifying inner conflicts and influences: Using writing to explore the tension and discomfort you feel in those conflicted situations can help you identify the influences in your life that don’t support your values. Increasing confidence: Putting your values and dreams in writing increases your confidence to live the life you want. Acknowledging your darkness: Expressing your darker emotions and thoughts on the page allows you to bring light, compassion, and healing to the part of you that you hide from the world (and sometimes yourself). Being your Self: The self-awareness you gain from journaling can help you align and integrate your inner and outer personas so that you can be your authentic Self in the world. When you have a strong sense of Self, you’re not easily swayed by others’ opinions or by groupthink — a forced or manipulated conformity to group ethics, values, and viewpoints. You’re self-aware; you have a sense of purpose and know what’s important to you. And you behave in ways that are consistent with your core values.

View Article
Writing What Is Reflective Journaling?

Article / Updated 12-09-2022

Reflective journaling is a structured approach to journaling that focuses on finding meaning in life events by asking questions such as “What happened?” “How did I respond?” and “How did this event change me?” Through the reflective journaling process, you can examine your thoughts, interpretations, and belief systems to become more self-aware and to grow from your life experiences. In addition, the reflective writing practice can improve your ability to challenge assumptions and think creatively. Exploring life with reflective journaling When you picture yourself journaling, you likely see yourself writing in a free-form fashion about thoughts, feelings, and whatever comes to mind. This unstructured technique, referred to as free-writing, is probably the most well-known of all journaling methods. People usually free-write without a specific purpose. Similar to going on a Sunday afternoon drive without having a destination, you’re just out to see the sights, and maybe you meander down some side roads on a whim. Your drive may be a fun and relaxing activity that provides perspective on your neighborhood and its surroundings, and might possibly lead to somewhere new and exciting, but that’s not the intention. Like that Sunday drive, free-writing may lead to meaningful self-discoveries, but is most often just an exploration of familiar inner roads. On the other hand, reflective journaling combines intention with exploration. This type of journaling goes on that metaphorical Sunday drive with a final destination in mind. You can still explore interesting sights and meander down those side roads along the way, but you arrive at a meaningful destination. Your trip fulfills a purpose beyond just getting in the car and driving. Reflective journaling is a therapeutic practice that can help you identify, grow from, and find meaning in your past experiences. And the new perspective you gain along the way can change the way you respond to people and events in the future. We create our life stories by making meaning of events that happen in our lives. Reflective journaling allows you to reconsider those stories, to deeply explore all sides of an event, and to confirm or even rewrite those stories. Check out the nearby sidebar for an example. You can use reflective journaling to examine events in the distant past, like in my example, or events that happened just yesterday. You can also use it to reflect on important topics in your life: relationships, life passages, parenting, and more. Fortunately, like most journaling methods, you can quickly get the hang of reflective journaling. And, with practice, you can turn it into a powerful tool to enhance your understanding of your past, increase self-knowledge and self-awareness, help you change how you respond in stressful situations, and even improve relationships. Defining reflection Before you dive into practicing reflective journaling, I want to make sure you understand what I mean when I say “reflection.” You can interpret the term reflection in a number of ways that apply to your reflective journaling practice. To reflect may include any or all of the following: To cause to change direction: “The glass reflects the light.” Reflective journaling can reflect light on, or bring insight to, related concepts, issues, and behaviors. For example, while reflecting on your relationship with your son, you suddenly see a similarity in your relationship with your father. Your reflective thinking bounces the light off the surface of your intended subject (your son) to a nearby subject (your father), which ultimately provides some insight into yourself in the process. To mirror back: “The still water of the lake reflects the trees along its banks.” Nothing provides self-awareness as effectively as a mirror. Reflective journaling gives you the opportunity to see your behaviors and attitudes mirrored back to you, simply through the act of writing about them as well as reading and analyzing your entries afterwards. And when you maintain an intention of remaining curious about yourself, you can use reflective journaling to understand yourself better and make purposeful change in your life. To make apparent: “Their work reflects their attitude.” You may have difficulty seeing patterns in your own life. However, writing consistently about the same issues from different angles can provide a work of reflection. Much like weaving a blanket thread by thread, then stepping back to see the patterns you created, reviewing journaling entries made over time can help you perceive behavioral patterns in your life. To consider or think carefully about: “They reflected on the many mistakes they had made.” This definition provides the most direct explanation of what you’re doing when you write reflectively in your journal. You simply write down the thoughts, emotions, and responses that you have while you consider your topic. Seeing the benefits of reflection Simply thinking or writing about your past doesn’t necessarily involve true reflection. Don’t play past events in your head over and over again, a practice called ruminating. This process doesn’t provide any constructive insights and can actually be unhealthy. Ruminating about your past can lead you to beat yourself up mentally about past mistakes and to dwell on regrets. Looking back in this manner can lead to sadness, anger, and depression. In contrast, reflective journaling, done with intention and purpose, provides a constructive outlet. You can get many benefits from considering past events introspectively and, in particular, thinking about your responses to those events. Here are a few potential benefits of reflective journaling. Reflection can Help you make connections between experiences. These connections, in turn, help you to see the past from a new perspective. Looking back, you can express compassion and empathy to that past version of yourself and other people who played a role in hurtful events in your life.For example, a good friend did something that seemed like an intentional slight at the time. Upon reflection, you can now perceive their behavior for what it was: They had a lot going on in their life, felt overwhelmed, and couldn’t give you what you needed. They didn’t slight you intentionally, you now realize. This realization, then, opens the door to forgiveness and healing. Improve your critical thinking skills. One of the purposes of reflective journaling is to question assumptions you make about people and events in your life. An assumption is an unexamined belief or way of thinking that you’ve taken for granted. Assumptions guide conclusions and decisions you make, so becoming aware of and questioning your assumptions is key to critical thinking, resulting in improved self-awareness and better decision making. Show you how far you’ve come. Each day, you do the best you can, but you can’t easily tell if you improve much over time. When you reflect on past behaviors and relationships, and compare those behaviors and relationships with where you are today, you can see how much you’ve changed and grown. And if you realize that you haven’t changed much, that realization can spur you to make life course corrections. Give you the opportunity to reassess what you want in your life. Reflecting on where you’ve been and what you’ve experienced allows you to decide what you like or want in your life and what you don’t. It can inspire you to recommit to goals or change direction altogether.

View Article
Writing Journaling By Hand vs. Computer

Article / Updated 12-07-2022

Many people assume that journaling is always done by hand. For me, the primary advantage of journaling by hand is that your journal and writing instruments are inexpensive and portable. However, there are disadvantages, including that your journal might not be safe from prying eyes, loss, or natural disasters. Consider the following advantages and disadvantages for both analog and digital journaling before you decide for yourself. The pros of analog journaling There are many reasons that journaling by hand is preferred by the majority of journal keepers. Some of the most compelling reasons include Memory and comprehension: The sensory-motor coordination involved in handwriting activates more parts of the brain than typing does, while also slowing cognitive processing. The benefits of this increased brain activity include improved memory and deeper comprehension of concepts.When journaling by hand, these benefits may enhance your ability to gain insights while journaling reflectively. Stress reduction: The very act of writing by hand can reduce stress. This stress reduction occurs, in part, because you have to slow down your thought processes while you write, giving it a meditative quality. Simplicity: A paper journal is simple. It’s cheap, portable, and doesn’t depend on batteries. Enjoyment: For those who prefer the tactile feeling, writing on paper can be a more enjoyable experience than journaling on an electronic device. The cons of analog journaling In spite of its popularity and benefits, there are also reasons that journaling by hand might not be your ultimate choice. Analog journaling is Messy: For those who write slowly or whose hands tend to cramp or smear ink (I’m thinking of us lefties), writing by hand can be messy and sometimes painful. Not versatile: You can’t include multimedia, such as audio or video recordings, and attaching pictures is complicated. Also, it’s time-consuming and challenging to search for specific content, create a backup, or convert the contents to another format. Hard to edit: It’s difficult to make clean corrections, and copying and pasting requires additional tools. Less private: From a privacy perspective, analog is less safe than digital. Even if you lock your notebook in a safe, your journal is subject to being found and read by someone else. So you need to rely on the integrity of those around you. Not physically safe: An analog journal is also less safe from loss or disaster, such as fires and floods, while a digital journal can be easily backed up to the cloud or another device. The advantages of digital journaling Check out the following list of advantages to digital journaling: Ease of use: A digital journal can be easier to organize and manage than a paper one. Physical safety: Because it can be stored in multiple places (in the cloud, as well as on a hard drive), your digital journal can be safe from loss and natural disasters. Privacy: Definitely a pro of the digital journal. You can password protect and double authenticate access to it. Access: If you carry a smartphone, your digital journal is available to you everywhere you go, making it easy to add notes throughout the day, whereas, you might not always want to tote your paper journal around. Versatility: You can include digital multimedia in your journal entries: audio, video, images, and so on. Speed: If you type quickly, or use speech to text technology, it can be easier to pour out your thoughts and emotions onto the page because you don’t have to slow down as much. Editing capabilities: You can freely correct errors, copy, paste, and rearrange your writing. Therapeutic value: Exploring your thoughts and emotions through digital entry — including typing, speech to text, and using a digital pen — can provide the same therapeutic value as handwriting. The disadvantages of digital journaling The following list outlines reasons you might not prefer digital journaling: Linear thought dominates: The primary disadvantage to digital journaling is that keyboarding tends to encourage linear, rather than associative/creative thinking. However, that disadvantage may be overcome by using a digital pen, combined with a handwriting or drawing application. Expense: Digital journals require a device, such as computer, smartphone, or tablet, all of which cost more than a paper notebook. Energy: A digital journal requires power from some source, such as batteries (and you need the ability to recharge those batteries). Emotional distance: Because of the technical nature of typing and working within software limitations, digital journaling can distance you from your emotions when compared with writing by hand. Risk of loss: If you don’t back up your journal to the cloud or a hard drive, you run the risk of losing all of your journal entries forever if something should happen to the device on which it’s stored. Not tactile: Journaling on a computer or other digital device might not feel as pleasurable, from a tactile perspective. Figuring out what works best for you Read through the lists in the preceding sections. Do any pros or cons stand out for you? Maybe there’s just one item that’s a deal clincher — the enhanced privacy of digital journaling, for example. Or the ability to copy and paste. Or perhaps you don’t like computers and love the tactile feeling of pen on paper. Whichever method you use, the choice is deeply personal. If you’re still not sure which mode to use, I recommend starting out with the one that seems easiest. You can always switch — or even blend modes — later on.

View Article
Writing College Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 11-09-2022

College students have style, and it shows with their aggressiveness for good grades, attire in the classroom, and energy on campus. This Cheat Sheet offers you help with your style when writing your college essay during your first year in college.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing Journaling For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-25-2022

Journaling, in the most basic terms, is the practice of recording life events. However, journaling also entails delving into thoughts and emotions by using writing and visual forms of expression for personal growth and development. This Cheat Sheet outlines how to get started in journaling, including the benefits of the practice, different methods of journaling, and how to get into the habit of keeping a journal.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing Writing Children's Books For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-16-2022

When you explore writing children's books, you enter a different world, one filled with book formats — from board books to young adult novels — and a whole different set of rules to follow and restrictions to heed for each. If you want to become a successful children's book author, you need to know how to edit your work and how to promote your book.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-15-2022

The elements of storytelling are the same for young adult fiction and adult fiction, but writers of young adult fiction must come at those elements with a wholly different mindset. After all, this category has its own rules, its own quirks, and its own very opinionated audience: teens and tweens.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing APA Style and Citations For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-15-2022

Life requires regular adjustments to new environments — college is one of the most demanding. Maybe you're an undergraduate and want help deciphering the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition. In order to write A-worthy papers, you need to be able to understand and implement the APA style. This handy Cheat Sheet offers advice for using the APA style and adjusting to college experiences.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing Creative Writing For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-10-2022

Do you want to be the next J.K. Rowling and dream up a character like Harry Potter? Do you want to write poems or plays? Follow this handy Cheat Sheet, which breaks down the process into manageable tasks, and helps you to develop your style.

View Cheat Sheet
Writing College Admission Essays For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-08-2022

Whether you’re trying to write a college admission essay for the Common Application, Coalition, or even a supplemental essay for an individual school, the process of writing about yourself might feel unfamiliar and intimidating. However, the college admission essay is a pivotal opportunity to distinguish yourself from others with very similar credentials and encourage a school to admit you. Communicate clearly and convey not only who you are, but how you came to be that person.

View Cheat Sheet
page 1
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6
page 7
page 8
page 9
page 10
page 11
page 12
page 13
page 14
page 15
page 16
page 17

Quick Links

  • About For Dummies
  • Contact Us
  • Activate A Book Pin

Connect

Opt in to our newsletter!

By entering your email address and clicking the “Submit” button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates.

About Dummies

Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Whether it's to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the critical skills and relevant information necessary for success.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Cookies Settings
Do Not Sell My Personal Info - CA Only