The Journal

March/April/May 2009
Volume 10, Issue 5

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Spring Newsletter for The Journal!

I've been remiss about the newsletters so far this year. My apologies for that. I should be back on the monthly schedule soon.

I am still working on the next major update of The Journal. The update is in user testing even as I continue to work on it, adding new features and tweaking based on tester feedback. My plan is to release the update this summer.

I will have more information on the update next month. In the meantime, I have a new set of writing exercises and a new tips about The Journal's auto-save feature and folder categories.

Thank you for using DavidRM Software's The Journal!

Download the latest update of The Journal from here:

http://www.davidrm.com/download/jnl4setup.exe

Check to see if you have the most recent update of The Journal by clicking on the Help menu (in The Journal) and choosing Check for Update of The Journal.

Add-on Packages Available for The Journal

Writing Prompts 1 - Improve your writing skills!
Learn more about Writing Prompts 1.

Writing Prompts 2 - Prose Challenges by Mike Hommel - Stretch your mind and your writing skills!!
Learn more about Writing Prompts 2.

Devotional Prompts 1 - Keep a record of your reflections about God, yourself, and others!
Learn more about Devotional Prompts 1.

MemoryGrabber - Start your autobiography or help your loved ones start theirs.
Learn more about MemoryGrabber for The Journal.

Steve Pavlina's Templates - 20 journaling exercises to help you discover your life purpose, assess your relationships, solve your problems, and more!
Learn more about Steve Pavlina's Templates for The Journal.

Extended Security - Do you need a higher level of security?
Learn more about Extended Security for The Journal.

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: The Journal's Auto-save Feature

By default, The Journal automatically saves your entries every 60 minutes. You can adjust this time period by clicking on the User menu and choosing "User Preferences..." On the "General" tab, you can set the option "Auto-Save Every ... Minutes" to anything from 1 minute to 999 minutes.

The Journal *assumes* you want to save what you enter. So The Journal automatically saves your entries in these instances, as well:

• Every time you open an entry (old or new);
• Every time you bring up a different category tab; and
• Before most menu commands (Print, Category Properties, and so on).

TIP: Folder Categories

A folder category is a category that has sub-categories, but no entries of its own.

Any category with sub-categories (AKA a "master category") can be set as a folder category.

Before you can set the "Folder Only" option in "Category Properties", though, the category must have sub-categories. So create the category, then either create sub-categories or drag-and-drop to make an existing category a sub-category. Then you can check "Folder Only".

WRITING EXERCISES

Free Writing Prompt - Write for 20 minutes using the following as your starter: "Antique Glass"

Journaling Prompt - What toys have you kept (or recovered) from your childhood? What toys did you have that you wish you still had (and not just so you can sell them on eBay)?

Memoir Prompt - Describe the food you ate as you grew up (breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, potluck, snacks, etc). Did your meals fit a particular cuisine (American "Southern", New England, Mexican, Italian, Asian, etc) or a blend? How does what you eat now differ from then?

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.

Editor: David Michael (davidrm@davidrm.com)
Copyright © 2009 by David Michael.