I was an English teacher for over ten years, so I spent many, many days reading and writing about books and teaching others to do the same. Though I left teaching (a story for another day), I still love to read and engage with the text in deeper, more meaningful ways.
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What is a Reading Journal?
A Reading Journal is a dedicated space where you engage with the things you’re reading and record your thoughts and reactions. It can be both a personal log where you keep track of what you’re reading and a creative space to reflect on specific ideas, characters, themes, etc., in the text.
What Goes in a Reading Journal?
Some Reading Journals, like those you can buy from Amazon or other retailers, have built-in components that are really helpful for tracking your reading, such as a TBR list, book reviews, or favorite quotes. However, in my personal Reading Journal, I like to take it a step further.
For me, keeping a Reading Journal (which some people call a Book Journal) is a helpful way not only to keep track of what I’m reading but also to make sure I am really thinking about the novel on a deeper level. There are different things I do in my personal Book Journal, but one of the simplest components (and one of my favorites!) is responding to reflective journal prompts based on the novel.
Why Should I Add Journaling to My Reading Journal?
Writing down your thoughts and reflecting on the text more deeply will help improve your reading and writing skills. It’s a simple way to deepen your comprehension and also to help you remember the things that you’re reading on a deeper level.
Getting Started
To help you get started with your own reflective journaling, I’ve outlined some helpful journal prompts that can be applied to any work of fiction that you may be reading. Writing in response to any one of these prompts will help you engage more deeply and more intentionally with the text, so I hope you’ll give it a try!
The Prompts (By Category)
General/Reflective Prompts
- Why did you choose to read this particular book right now? Are you happy with your choice? Why or why not?
- Was this book what you expected it to be? Why or why not?
- Has this story impacted your way of thinking or worldview in any way? Explain.
- What is a potential theme (or universal life lesson) that you could learn from reading this book? Do you feel like it applies to you or your life? Why or why not?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Character-Related Prompts
- How do you feel about the protagonist (the main character)? Do you find them relatable? Why or why not?
- Which character would you want to be your friend? Why?
- Which character would you clash with the most? Why?
- Do any of the characters remind you of yourself or anyone you know? Why?
- Are there any decisions that the protagonist makes that you disagree with? How would you have handled the situation differently?
Textual Prompts
- How would you describe the writing style? (Flowery, minimalist, etc.) Do you enjoy this style? Why or why not?
- How does the specific setting of the novel impact the characters and their choices?
- Analyze one quote, explaining how it relates to the overall theme of the novel.
- Find an example of the author’s use of an unexpected or powerful word or phrase. What makes this diction stand out to you?
- Choose two quotes from different chapters that show how a specific character’s internal thoughts have changed. Explain.
Creative Prompts
- Choose a song as the soundtrack for the novel, and explain your selection.
- Rewrite the final scene or chapter. How would you change the ending? Why?
- If you could spend one day living in the setting of the novel, would you? Why or why not?
- Draw a symbol or visual to represent the novel. Explain your artistic choices.
- Write a poem from the perspective of one of the characters.
Final Thoughts
Adding a journaling component to your Reading Journal is a simple way to engage and reflect more deeply on what you’re reading. The prompts above are just a starting point for your own journaling journey, and I hope you’ll give them a try!
