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How to start a creative journal: one simple page
Start a creative journal with one page: three simple layouts to try, what you need, and how to keep going without a daily-writing rule or a perfect notebook.
By Mori · 3 min readPublished · Updated
A creative journal is a notebook where you mix a few words, small drawings and color to record ordinary days. To start, take any notebook or spare sheet, choose one of the three page layouts below, and fill it in ten minutes. There are no rules about neatness or spelling.
University of Rochester Medical Center describes a journal as your own private place that does not need to follow any structure, and suggests keeping a pen and paper handy so writing is easy.
What you need
Use whatever you have. A plain or dotted notebook gives you more room for drawing than a lined one, but any paper works.
- A notebook or a few sheets of spare paper.
- A pen or pencil you like writing with.
- One or two colored pencils or felt-tip pens.
- Optional: a glue stick for tickets, labels or paper scraps.
Three page layouts to try
Pick one and fill it in. Each takes about ten minutes.
| Layout | How to do it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Notice / enjoy / try | Divide the page into three boxes. Write or draw one thing you noticed today, one you enjoyed and one you want to try. | A quick daily or weekly page |
| Color diary | Draw three small squares in colors you saw today and label where each came from. | Days when you do not feel like writing |
| Keepsake page | Sketch or glue in one object from the day, such as a ticket or a leaf, add the date and one sentence. | Outings and special days |
Make your first page
- Write the date at the top.
- Choose a layout and lightly draw its boxes or squares.
- Fill one part. Stop there if you like.
- Add a touch of color to one corner, even if it is just a border.
Keep it going without pressure
URMC suggests setting aside a few minutes every day to make journaling regular. If daily feels like too much, choose two set days a week instead; a steady rhythm matters more than frequency.
Skip any page that feels like a chore. Look back after a month: the layouts you enjoyed are the ones to repeat.
If you are not sure what to write
Try one of these prompts:
- What made me smile today?
- One thing I would like to remember about this week.
- A color spotted outside today, and where.
- Something I would like to learn or make next.
Common questions
Do I have to write every day?
No. A regular rhythm helps, but two short pages a week is a perfectly good habit.
I cannot draw. Can I still keep a creative journal?
Yes. Color squares, glued-in scraps and short lists all work. The color diary layout needs no drawing at all.
Sources
From the Mori notebook. How we research and write our guides, including our use of AI tools.
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