The Journal Newsletter

June 2003
Volume 4, Issue 6

Introduction
The Journal News
Tips & Tricks
Writing Exercises
Submissions

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to The Journal Newsletter!

The newsletter is a bit late this month because my upcoming book, "The Indie Game Development Survival Guide", went through the copyedit process on short notice. The publisher (Charles River Media) decided to up the release date by a month, so they were in a bit of a hurry to hit the new August deadline.

Work on the book has also delayed the release of the next update of The Journal. Instead of late June, it will be early July now. I will, of course, be announcing the release to the newsletter emailing list as soon as it's available.

Susan has given us a new set of writing exercises, and this month's tip is about synchronizing two copies of The Journal.

Thank you for supporting DavidRM Software's The Journal!

THE JOURNAL NEWS

Current Version
The Journal 3.0 Build #45 is the most recent release. You can download it from here:
http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/

Add-on Packages Available
MemoryGrabber - Start your autobiography or help your loved ones start theirs.
http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjfeatures-memoryg.php

Writing Prompts 1 - Improve your writing skills!
http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjfeatures-wprompts1.php

TIPS & TRICKS

TIP: Synchronizing Two Journal Volumes

It is possible to keep entries across multiple Journal Volumes "in sync" using the export and import features of The Journal.

Let's say you have The Journal installed on both your laptop and your desktop, and you want to keep your categories and entries in the two copies in sync.

Here are detailed instructions for how you would do just that.

1. Using The Journal's export feature, create a JNX file containing all your categories, and all your entries, from your desktop copy of The Journal.

1.a. On the Entry menu, choose "Export Entries..."

1.b. Click on "These Categories/Entries" in the entry tree displayed.

1.c. Check all of the categories. This automatically selects all entries in the categories.

1.d. In the Select Export Format, choose "Journal Export Format (.JNX)".

1.e. Click on "Export" to create the export file.

2. To synchronize your laptop, make sure your import options are set to only import if newer.

2.a. In The Journal on your laptop, click on the Options menu and choose "User Preferences..."

2.b. Bring up the "Import" tab.

2.c. Check "Only Import if Newer".

2.d. Click on "Done".

3. Import all newer entries to the laptop.

3.a. Click on the Entry menu, choosing "Import Entries..."

3.b. Select the .JNX file to import.

3.c. Click on "Import All"

3.d. You may be prompted to choose the category to import into. If the category already exists, choose that one. Otherwise, click on "Auto-Create".

4. To update the JNX file from your laptop, export the categories, overwriting the JNX file.

Repeat the steps in #1 above, for your laptop.

When you do this, you have to keep in mind that if you update the same entry on both installations of The Journal between syncs, that the entry with the most recent (newer) change date will override the other. This could cause some loss of information. Most of the time, this probably won't be a problem, but you should be aware of it so you can take precautions.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email and ask: davidrm@davidrm.com

WRITING EXERCISES

by Susan Michael

Free Writing Exercise - Write for 20 minutes (without editing) in any style using the title, "The Bumblebee Chronicles".

Poetry Exercise - Write a poem in the disguise of a postcard message. Continue by writing a reply postcard message.

Prose Exercise - Write a story about a family vacation at a beach house. Consider writing it in the form of an one-act play.

Journaling Exercise - List three things that are important to you. Continue the exercise by writing about what motivates, or prompts, you to push forward in different areas of your life.

Memoir Prompt - Write about your religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) growing up. Continue by writing what you believe in your life today and the personal philosophy you live by.

About the author: Susan Michael currently facilitates the Tulsa Writers Cafe for the Arts & Humanities Council in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ms. Michael has also led writing & creativity workshops for children, teenagers, and adults.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

If you would like to contribute to the "How I Use The Journal", "Writing Exercises", or "Tips & Tricks" sections, or would like to submit an article about journaling or another The Journal-related topic, we would love to hear from you.

Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to: davidrm@davidrm.com

If you are submitting for a particulare section, please indicate which one. Try to limit your submissions to 500-1000 words. Submissions may be edited for length and content.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state this in the email. Otherwise your name (but not your email) will be used in the article heading.

As always, if you have any suggestions for, or bug reports about, The Journal, please feel free to email them. Both are always welcome.