DavidRM Software's The Journal Newsletter

September 2005
Volume 6, Issue 6

Introduction
The Journal News
Tips & Tricks
Writing Exercises
How I Use The Journal
Submissions

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the September newsletter for The Journal!

Susan gives us a new set of writing exercises, and I have a couple of new tips about using the new "Default Entry Template" feature and how to get The Journal to start with Windows.

In somewhat related news, my second nonfiction book, Serious Games: Games that Educate, Train, and Inform (ISBN: 1592006221) will be released this month. And, of course, the book was written using The Journal. :)

Thank you for choosing DavidRM Software's The Journal!

THE JOURNAL NEWS

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

Devotional Prompts 1 - Keep a record of your reflections about God, yourself, and others!
http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjfeatures-wprompts1.php

Extended Security - Do you need a higher level of security? http://www.davidrm.com/thejournal/tjfeatures-xsecure.php

To order the add-on packages for The Journal, or to order The Journal on CDROM:
1. Click on the Help menu in The Journal.
2. Choose "Upgrade The Journal".

TIPS & TRICKS

TIP: How to have a "Default Entry Template"

If you would like to have a writing prompt (from the Templates category, or the optional Writing Prompts 1 add-on package) brought up each day, or even if you would just like to have a special template automatically loaded for each new day (or each new entry in a loose-leaf category), here's how you do it:

1. Right-click on the category tab and choose "Category Properties..."

2. Bring up the "Entry" tab.

3. Select the template to automatically insert from the "Default Entry Template" list. The drop down list will show all of the templates you have available in The Journal.

4. Click on "Done".

The selected template will be inserted into new entries. For standard categories (like "Daily Journal"), the default entry template will be inserted into new entries for the current day. For loose-leaf categories (like "Notebook"), the template will be inserted into all newly created entries.

This feature is available in The Journal 4 Build #153 and later. If you're using an earlier version, you'll want to upgrade.

TIP: Starting The Journal with Windows

You can have The Journal automatically load with Windows.

1. Click on the Options menu and choose "User Preferences..."

2. Bring up the "General" tab.

3. Check this option: "Start The Journal with Windows"

4. Click on "Done".

WRITING EXERCISES

by Susan Michael

Free Writing Exercise - Write for 20 minutes using the title, "The Shadow Children".

Poetry Exercise - Write a villanelle, or a terzanelle.

vil�la�nelle
A 19-line poem of fixed form consisting of five tercets and a final quatrain on two rhymes, with the first and third lines of the first tercet repeated alternately as a refrain closing the succeeding stanzas and joined as the final couplet of the quatrain. (from http://www.dictionary.com)

terzanelle
A terzanelle is a poetry form which is a combination of the villanelle and the terza rima. It is nineteen lines total, with five triplets and a concluding quatrain. The rhyme scheme is as follows: Ending Type 1:fAFA' (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terzanelle)

Prose Exercise - 1. Write a short story using the title, "When the Ice Melts".

2. Write a short story using the title, "Comfort".

Journaling Exercise - Make a list of things that would make up your artistic "survival kit", things you would not want to be without as an artist.

Memoir Prompt - Write about a school trip or a camp that you attended.

Opinion Prompt - Write about three films that you think are exceptional.

About the author: Susan Michael currently facilitates the Tulsa Writers Caf� 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.