We wake up expecting just another ordinary day. Most of the time, that is what we get. How many days do we live and how many days do we singularly remember? Why does our brain choose to remember some days and not others? I've chronicled my life in journals since I was a child. And every so many years, I read my life from start to finish. No matter how many times I go back, it is a mind-bending experience. In reading old journals, you meet your old selves and re-experience unique little moments and lessons that you've forgotten. You get a different perspective on past events that were too close for you to see before. You laugh, you cry, and you realize just how full your life has been. All this life is fuel for writing. That's why fiction writers should journal Writing good books means having a deep understanding about the transformations you and others experience when meeting challenges, coping with sorrow, or finding joy. And building a journaling habit not only helps you to travel back into the past and relive pivotal moments, the act of writing down your deepest personal thoughts helps you to become more self-aware and pay attention to what's happening beneath the busyness of your life. We can see how events shape us as individuals. We can mine our own inner worlds for treasure. Journaling (or morning pages) might be difficult to stick with, especially when you're trying to get your word count in on your fiction projects, but it's worth it. We can't possibly remember every day we lived—the variety of impressions, the symphony of emotions, and the subtle shifts in our perception. Our ordinary days are full of tiny gems of insight, but they often lump into one default memory. That is why journaling is a valuable practice to keep. Do you keep a diary or journal? How has it affected your fiction writing? Please reply with your thoughts. | 
