This & That: A Simpler Way to Journal
Hello, readers!
In today’s edition of the newsletter I have some thoughts on journaling, a mini list about bookish thrillers, and some great links to peruse. Let’s get to it.
Something I’m Thinking About: Minimalist Journaling
I’ve always been far more intrigued by the idea of journaling than the reality. I’ve journaled in fits and starts for most of my life and haven’t ever landed on a routine that keeps me going.
That may have changed in the last couple of months, though. It started with our family’s Spring Break trip to Utah. Each day, I jotted down a few bullet points about what we did — the highlights and things I didn’t want to forget. There wasn’t a larger goal in mind, I just wanted to be able to remember this trip a few years down the road.
Once we were back home, I wondered if this simple methodology of writing a few bullet points each day would be a sustainable and fulfilling way to journal.
After a couple of months, I can say that I’ve quite enjoyed it! I have a Google Doc for each month and a heading for each day followed by 2-5 bullet points of memories, never more than 100 words and usually less.
There’s occasionally something truly eventful, but much of the time it’s the more mundane things like a remark about the weather, what I’m reading that day, our tasty dinner, or maybe something funny that came out of one of the kids’ mouths.
It’s a very non-intimidating, non-formal way to establish a journaling habit, if you’re interested in that sort of thing. I love not thinking about prose or grammar at all (which I inevitably do when writing in a standard journal). Give it a shot and let me know what you think.
The Mini List: Thrillers With Bookish Plots
Few things are catnip for me quite like a thriller or mystery with a bookish story at the center. These three have especially stood out.
A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne. Rich prose, a playful format, and a story that gets darker with each chapter — I loved my first experience with Boyne’s work.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. This tightly-woven, heart-racing story ended with a bang and asked some interesting questions about creative provenance.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. One of the great literary mysteries ever dreamed up. The mysterious disappearance of an author and all of his works stirs the imagination of a plucky bookish boy.
Miscellany
🎙️ I quite enjoyed listening to the California City podcast last week. After a friend told me she had some property there, I became briefly enthralled by the scammy history of the small Mojave Desert town.
🚸 Need some entertainment for your little ones? This mini trampoline has been super fun for all our kiddos. It was way faster to put together than I expected and nobody has gotten close to getting hurt. Great purchase.
🧢 I promise that this article about the history of the baseball cap isn’t as boring as it sounds. It’s a fascinating story about how a utilitarian piece of a sports uniform crossed over into pop culture and fashion.
🤖 Another week, another AI article for you to peruse. I’ve shared Lincoln Michel’s newsletter a few times, but this piece about AI being a rip-off might just be the most memorable.
Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it.
-Jeremy
I primarily read thrillers even though by the end of most I find myself disappointed with the overall writing, and the more outlandish twists and plot points. That said, I loved The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I thought it was well written, and, as you noted, "tightly-woven." I remember being totally enthralled; a truly pleasurable reading experience. Will now have to add A Ladder to the Sky and The Shadow of the Wind to the queue. I always appreciate your recommendations!