How Do You Write an Entry in a Journal?

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A guide to personal, school, & accounting journal entries
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Keeping a journal allows you to record what’s happening in your life and to work through your thoughts and feelings. You might also enjoy writing a journal for school to help you deepen your understanding of what you’re studying or to follow an assignment from your teacher. If you've never written a personal or school journal entry before and are excited to get started, this article will guide you on your journey!

Writing a Journal Entry at a Glance

  1. Write today's date at the top of your entry.
  2. Write down the location and time you're writing underneath or next to the date.
  3. Start with an opening like, "Dear Diary" or "Dear Self."
  4. Fill the body of your entry with whatever you want to write about.
  5. End with your last thought or a closing statement.
Section 1 of 5:

How to Write a Journal Entry

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  1. Including the date helps you keep track of when you wrote an entry. This helps you understand what was happening at your life at the time. Use the date format you’re most comfortable using. [1]
    • For instance, you might write, “July 24, 2019,” “07-24-19,” or “24 July 2019.”
  2. While this is optional, it can help you remember what was happening at the time you wrote each entry. This is a big help if you plan to read over your journal in the future. Record the location and time under your date or at the start of the journal entry itself. [2] /
    • For instance, you might write “Good Beans Coffee House,” “School,” “Paris,” or “My bedroom” for your location. For the time, you could write the actual time, such as “12:25 p.m.,” or the time of day, like “Early morning.”
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  3. Using a salutation is totally optional, so feel free to skip it. However, you might try it a few times to see if it helps you get in the mindset to write. Choose a salutation that appeals to you if you want to use one. [3]

    Tip: You usually don’t include a salutation when you’re writing a journal for school.

  4. 4
    Write the body of your entry. If you're writing in a personal journal , you can write the body of your entry about whatever you want and for as long (or short) as you want. For example, you can write about what you did that day, how you're feeling in the moment, or what the environment around you looks like (or all three!). If you're writing in a school journal for an assignment, follow the assignment requirements and stick to the topic and word count your teacher or professor gave you.
  5. 5
    End with your last thought or a sentence summing up your thoughts. Personal journal entries don't need formal endings, so feel free to end yours with the last thought you wanted to jot down. When you're writing an school or college journal, though, include a closing statement that sums up your thoughts or conclusions. [4]
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Section 2 of 5:

Journal Entry Topic Ideas

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  1. This includes things like the activities you’re doing, events that happen, and accomplishments you make. Use your journal to record what your life is like right now so you can look back on it later. [5]
    • This is a great way to help you document things you want to remember.
    • For instance, you might write about something funny that happened at lunch, scoring the winning goal in a soccer game, or a fight you had with your friend. The events can be positive or negative.
  2. Write about what you’re going through, how you feel, and what you hope will happen in the future. Let your journal be an emotional release for you so that you can deal with your emotions better. [6]
    • Let’s say you’re feeling sad because you’re going through a breakup. You could write about how you feel and what you’ll miss about the relationship. This will help you release your feelings so you can start to feel better .
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    Nicolette Tura is an Empowerment Coach based in Asheville, NC, and San Francisco, California. She is dedicated to helping individuals navigate major life transitions—divorce, grief, career shifts, and health challenges—with clarity, confidence, and resilience. She blends psychology, mindfulness, and somatic healing to guide clients in breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and stepping into their power. As the founder of the nonprofit Celestial Wellness Network and co-creator of the music meditation project The Feather and Stone, Nicolette integrates mind, body, and spirit in her work. She is a certified Reiki practitioner, astrologer, and tarot reader, studying under three master teachers, including Kaypacha. Her background includes working as a Therapy Associate in neurology, supporting patients in their healing journeys. Nicolette holds a 500-hour RYT certification and is a NASM Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist, bringing a holistic approach to transformation. She received a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s degree is Sociology from San Jose State University. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and personal coaching, she empowers clients to embrace their authentic selves, heal deeply, and create a life of purpose and abundance.
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    Journaling helps because it helps you stop ruminating on faulty thoughts. When we ruminate, we often fall into faulty thinking patterns and assume the worst about everything. This can cause us to go to war with our own minds. Write in your journal to make more space in your mind, so that you feel more at peace.

  3. If you’re trying to get in the habit of journaling or have to keep a personal journal for school, writing prompts can help you find something to write about. Look for prompts online, then pick 1 that triggers your imagination. Here are some prompts to get you started: [7]
    • Write about what you’d like to do this weekend.
    • Discuss a place you’d like to visit.
    • Pretend that you found a fantasy creature.
    • Write about something you want to change.
    • Write from the perspective of your favorite book or movie character.
  4. If you’re keeping a journal for high school or college, write about your readings, lectures, and class discussions. Additionally, discuss your thoughts about what you’re learning. Here are some things to include in a journal entry for school: [8]
    • A summary of a reading or lecture.
    • Your analysis of the course material.
    • Connections between topics you’ve studied.
    • Personal connections you made with the coursework.
    • Questions you have about the text or lecture.

    Tip: Keep a journal for school focused on studying and analyzing your course material. For instance, you might summarize your coursework, record your reflections on it, and write down questions you have. Leave out how you feel about what you’re reading or studying.

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Section 3 of 5:

Advice for Writing a Personal Journal Entry

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  1. Give yourself permission to make mistakes as you write your journal entry. You're writing this journal for you, so it doesn’t matter if something is written incorrectly. Just let your thoughts flow freely onto the paper. [9]
    • If mistakes really bother you, it’s okay to go back and correct them after you finish writing your journal entry.
  2. You can use any format for writing your posts, so play around with different structures. This can help you keep up with your writing habit because it provides you the freedom to do what comes naturally that day. For instance, you could try the following: [10]
    • Turn a memory into a story.
    • Record what you dreamed last night.
    • Write a list, such as what you did that day or what you’re grateful for.
    • Doodle or paste pictures into your journal.
    • Record song lyrics or quotes that mean something to you.
    • Write your own lyrics or a poem.
    • Write in a stream of consciousness.
  3. You’re writing about your thoughts, experiences, and reflections, so don’t worry about putting them in third person like a book. It’s okay to write your journal entries using the pronoun “I” unless you just prefer not to do so. [11]
    • For instance, you could write, “I went to lunch with Sari today,” not “Amy had lunch with Sari today.”
  4. Including lots of sensory details can make your journal entries more interesting and help you remember what happened later. Think about what you saw, heard, smelled, felt, and tasted during the events or experiences that you’re writing about. Then, include some of these descriptions in your entry. [12]
    • For instance, let’s say you’re on vacation at the beach. You might include details like, “sea spray hitting my face,” “the smell of burning wood from bonfires on the beach,” “the taste of salt on my lips,” “the sun glinting off the surface of the water,” and “the shouts from other beach goers having fun.”
  5. You don’t need to fill out an entire page every time you write – but you can if you want! It’s okay to have some short entries and some longer entries. Write down what you have to say. If you’re having trouble thinking of something else to write, go ahead and end your entry. [13]
    • With journaling, it’s more important to write often than to write a lot.
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Section 4 of 5:

Advice for Writing a School Journal Entry

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  1. A journal entry doesn’t need to be as organized as an essay, even if it’s for school. However, your teacher should be able to read it and follow your train of thought. Use complete sentences to express your thoughts, and start a new paragraph when you switch to a new idea. [14]
    • If you’re telling a story, try to follow a narrative structure to give it a beginning, middle, and end.
    • Proofread your journal entry (or ask a friend to do it) before you submit it to check that it makes sense.
  2. Check your assignment sheet to find out if your instructor requires journal entries to be a certain length. If they do, make sure you reach the correct word count so you get full credit. Use the word count tool on your word processor or count your words if you hand-wrote your entry.
    • For handwritten journals, your instructor may require that you simply fill up a page. Make sure you know the exact requirements so you can do your assignment correctly.
    • If you’re struggling to think of something to write, make a mind map about the topic to help you brainstorm some new ideas.
  3. Always follow grammar rules when you’re writing a journal for school. Use proper capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure throughout your journal entry. Otherwise, you may lose credit. [15]
    • If you’re struggling with your grammar, visit your school’s writing center or ask your instructor about tutoring options. You can also use free online grammar checkers like Grammarly .
  4. Since your journal is part of a school assignment, it must be free of errors. Read over your journal entry at least twice to check it for mistakes in grammar, spelling, or the narrative and make any necessary corrections. [16]
    • This is especially important if you’re keeping your journal as a graded assignment.
    • If you’re typing your journal entries in an online portal, there may be a spellcheck tool you can use. However, you should still proofread the entry to look for other errors.
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Section 5 of 5:

Advice for Writing an Accounting Journal Entry

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  1. 1
    Write the date of the transaction in the first column. Go to the first column on the left in your ledger and write the day, month, and year when the purchase or payment was made. For example, if you bought disposable cups for your coffee shop, write the date you initiated the purchase (i.e., swiped your debit or credit card or placed an order online). [17]
  2. 2
    Write the account where the transaction is taking place. Enter this information in the column to the right of the date. If you're making an entry for your personal account, you might write, "Savings" or "Checkings." If your entry is for a business or corporation, you may need to reference one of many specific accounts or ledgers, such as "Office Supplies" or "Inventory." [18]
  3. 3
    Write down the transaction amount as a debit or credit. A debit is when money gets subtracted from your account (such as when you buy something at the store). A credit is when money gets added to it (such as when someone pays you for a service you gave them). [19]
    • If the transaction was a debit , write the amount in the first column to the right of the account description.
    • If it was a credit , write the amount in the second column to the right of the account description.
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Journal Entry Template


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  • Question
    Can I write bad stuff about other people?
    Community Answer
    It's your journal, so you can write whatever you like. Spill out those ugly thoughts and get them out of your system! Say whatever you think needs to be said. However, also be prepared to analyze your "bad stuff" because otherwise you learn nothing and simply reinforce that it's okay to feel anger or frustration toward other people all the time, and that can end up being unhealthy. Use the journal to work through such feelings. And don't forget to hide it really well!
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  • Question
    How can I start a journal entry?
    Community Answer
    Start a journal entry with how your day went. From there, elaborate on what is going through your mind.
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  • Question
    How do I write a journal entry about a book?
    Community Answer
    Explain what the book was about, who the characters were and what they were like, and how the book made you feel. You can also say something about the book's themes and/or what you think the author was trying to say.
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      Tips

      • Write at the same time every day to make journaling a habit. [20]
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      • Write about anything you want in a personal journal entry, like your feelings, daily accomplishments, or things you enjoyed throughout your day.
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      • If you don't want to write on paper, try journaling apps like My Diary or use a word processor like Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
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      Warnings

      • Since your journal is private, prevent people from reading it by keeping it in a safe place. If it’s a digital journal, save it to a password-protected cloud storage platform (such as Google Drive) or store it on a USB flash drive that you take with you.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/article/journal-writing
      2. ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/journal-writing
      3. ↑ https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/reflective-journals-and-learning-logs.shtml
      4. ↑ https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/reflective-journals-and-learning-logs.shtml
      5. ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/title
      6. ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/
      7. ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/article/journal-writing
      8. ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/journal-writing
      9. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/ready-set-journal-64-journaling-prompts-for-self-discovery
      1. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling
      2. ↑ https://www.bates.edu/biology/files/2010/06/How-to-Write-Guide-v10-2014.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.bates.edu/biology/files/2010/06/How-to-Write-Guide-v10-2014.pdf
      4. ↑ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081806.pdf
      5. ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/style/connectingideas/
      6. ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/capitalization
      7. ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/proofreading
      8. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/example-of-journal-entry
      9. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/example-of-journal-entry
      10. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/example-of-journal-entry
      11. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-minds/202301/10-good-reasons-to-keep-a-journal

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To write a journal entry, first find a quiet, comfortable spot where you won’t be disturbed. Take a moment to brainstorm what you want to write about. You can journal about anything, like your day, your dreams, work, school, friends, or an upcoming project. If you’re not sure, choose a writing prompt for your entry, like “What was your earliest childhood memory?” or “What is your biggest secret?” Open to a new page in your journal and write the date at the top. Then, start writing. Let your thoughts flow and don’t edit yourself. Write whatever comes to mind. It’s okay to be honest since nobody else will be reading what you write. Draw pictures if specific images come to mind while you’re writing. Try to journal for somewhere between 5 and 20 minutes every day. The more you journal, the easier it will become! Keep reading to learn how to write a journal entry for school!

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