Introduction
For the average book lover, a reading journal is a space to jot down all your thoughts and observations about a book. Typically, reading journals includes favorite quotes, book ratings, and plot summaries. They are valuable tools for deepening your understanding of a book, tracking your reading habits, and reflecting on personal experiences and evolving opinions.
If you're not sure what reading journal to get, how to set it up, what to put in it, or any other questions, this post is for you! If you want to find out the importance and benefits of a reading journal, click here!
First Steps in Starting a Reading Journal
Choosing the Right Journal
There are many different styles and sizes of journals available to choose from. There are some journals that are premade for you, others that are digital (perfect if you have a tablet or do not want to carry a physical journal around with you), and then there is the option to get a blank notebook/journal that you can personalize however you wish!
Here are some suggestions for each type:
Pre-made physical journals
Kunista Reading Journal ($22.95)
This journal includes an area for basic information about the book, your rating, 3 prompts, and a page to express your thoughts and feelings. It also includes books to read, books finished, a reading tracker, and an index.
I think this is a great option if you're looking for a way to keep track of your reading progress and reviews in one place.
Duncan & Stone Reading Journal ($26.00)
This reading journal is similar to the Kunista Reading journal; however, it has many small differences that, in my opinion, make it better than the Kunista journal.
It has the basic review sections (information about the book, rating, summary, thoughts, etc.). However, one thing I really appreciate is the fact it has a "favorite quote" and a "I like the ending" section. Additionally, it has a "reading challenge" and "winner's circle" section. These small changes give the impression that this journal was created by book lovers for book lovers!
This is my favorite reading journal, and I think it includes all the essential features that every book lover would want.
Papier Joy Reading Journal ($38.00)
In my personal opinion, this reading journal is roughly the same as the Kunista reading journal, except it has the Papier logo on it. I know that's a bit harsh, but in my opinion there is no reason for a journal to be $38 and have basically the same aspects that a $22.95 journal has.
Digital Reading Journals
There are several digital reading journals out there. They can be a great option for those who prefer organizing their notes and thoughts digitally. One thing you must decide first is what platform you will be using to create your reading journal. The most popular method is to use an iPad with digital notetaking apps such as Goodnotes. Another (less popular) option is to use Notion. There are many reading journal templates on Notion.
Another thing you must decide on is how much money you wish to spend on getting a digital reading journal. There are many reading journal templates for free, but if you want more advanced features, you may need to invest in a paid version. You can also make your own using websites like Canva.
Finding paid reading journals
The most popular place to find paid digital reading journals is Etsy. On Etsy you can filter the price range that you want to pay for, and you can also search for a specific theme or feature that you are looking for. There is also the option to read reviews from other customers to help guide your decision.
If you have decided that you want to use Notion, then you can head over to their Book Templates and filter to the "paid" templates.
Finding free reading journals
There are many free digital journals out there! However, there isn't a website (at least that I have found) that includes a big list of a bunch of free reading journals in one place. That said, my suggestion to find free journals would be Pinterest. Just a simple search will give you thousands of pins that link you to free reading journals. You just have to browse through them and find the ones that suit your needs.
You can also use Pinterest to find free reading journals; however, what I have found is that there are fewer Notion reading journal templates and more ideas of Notion reading journals on Pinterest. What I recommend to find free Notion reading templates is to head over to Notion's "Books Template" gallery and search for templates there. If you want to only see free templates, you can change that in the filters.
Making your own reading journal
This is what I personally do, and I think that's the best way. When you create your own reading journal, you have complete freedom and creativity to personalize it to meet your specific needs and preferences.
If this is what you have chosen, then this is the perfect guide to figuring out how to make a reading journal!
All you need to get started is a blank notebook!
Setting Up Your Reading Journal
Planning your reading journal
I recommend planning the pages or spreads that you want to include in your journal. If you are unsure what you might want to include, here are some ideas:
Index: You can include an index where you have a record of all the book reviews you have written, along with the page numbers they can be found on.
Rating system: Different people rate books in different ways, so it's important to establish a rating system that works best for you. This could be as simple as a star rating or a more detailed breakdown of different aspects of the book.
Series Tracker: In this page you can include all the series that you read, are currently reading, or want to read.
Reading Tracker: You can keep a record of all the books you have read in a specific time. You may want to sort it by month or year; it all depends on what you want to do!TBR List: Keep track of all the books you want to read by creating a TBR page in your reading journal.
Book Reviews: This is the main part of a reading journal! Below you will find more ideas on making a book review!
Starting Your First Entry
Tips & Ideas for Writing Your First Journal Entry
Writing one review is all you need to start your reading reviews. When creating book reviews, you want to include important information about the book. This can include things like
Title
Author
Genre
# of pages
Rating & thoughts
Date started & ended
Favorite quotes
Incorporating Prompts and Questions
As we saw with the Kunista Reading Journal, it's normal to have prompts to guide your review. There are many different categories of prompts, such as initial impression, character analysis, plot development, and more. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
What drew you to this book?
Who is your favorite character, and why?
What message or lesson did you take away from the book?
Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?
If you want to see more reviews, check out my list of 30 reading journal prompts for your book review here!
Conclusion
Starting a reading journal involves choosing the right journal, setting it up with planned pages and spreads, making consistent entries, and personalizing it to reflect your unique reading journey. I encourage you to begin your journaling journey today. Embrace the process, enjoy the creative freedom, and watch your love for reading grow even deeper. Keeping a reading journal is a joyful, enriching practice that every book lover should try.
Share your journaling experiences and tips in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your unique approaches and favorite journal entries! Follow this blog for more tips on reading and journaling. Together, let’s create a community of passionate readers and journalers!
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