Whew, I'm so happy to have this setup so I can start using it!! Do you use a notebook to track your watching, reading, gaming? Let me know what you use in the comments!
I have been watching a ton of videos this past week looking for ideas for Currently Reading type journals for both fiction and non-fiction reads to capture those key ideas in the crafting of stories I enjoy and personal improvement books. So, this video was perfectly timed for me! Thanks! I was also thinking about doing comparisons between movies I love and their books for timing, characterization, what I am drawn to as the audience (Divergent, City of Bones, Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, etc.), so that would drive my reading list for a while.
I finally set up a reading journal this year. Have had the supplies for 2 years but never made time to actually set it up. I'll be doing a main planner video next week and a separate videos for a couple of them, like the reading journal. Hugs & Creative Blessings!
Ahh I’m so happy you’re bringing back the story journal! Please don’t put yourself down this looks way better than anything I could do. For the window pane page, I think it maybe would look better if it had like plants/flowers at the bottom? Or maybe even add some curtains? I think it maybe is just missing a little something that’ll make it much better!
I use ballpoint pens on the STALOGY paper and I LOVE how it gets kinda crinkly, like the pressure of the pen embosses the paper as you write. Texture heaven
GIRL!!!! I was already *blown* away at how much you accomplish then I find out you stream on twitch weekly too. HOW?!?! Im curious how many hours you work and journal. I can barely keep up with two journals, and I have no kids or husband! You are a rockstar !!!! I’m so glad I’m taking your hb90 class because if you can teach me how to even be a fourth as productive as you are, I’m winning!!!
I cannot get enough of journal setups. I do have a journal that i use to track my writing, and I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I'm an all-in-one type... I'll never use it if i have more than one journal going at a time... But i still love watching setup vids like this, they're so fun and inspiring!!
I 100% agree on the "texture thing" with the Stalogy -- there's something about the combination of this cover and the paper. (My one 'complaint' about the Hobonichi plain notebooks is that they're too stiff/not as floppy as the Original and Cousin.)
Love this story book journal, games, tv and such always spur my creativity. Now that you have a PS5, I really love Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Far West. Such a fantastic story with great graphics. The scenery is stunning. I love playing games where the main character is a girl, I think you'd enjoy the story arch of this game. I just got a great idea about historical fiction from playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey as a woman soldier during the Roman/Greek era.
I just started keeping a reading journal a few years ago. I have always read a lot, but I really had no idea how many books I read or genres or anything. It's been really interesting and enjoyable to see my reading habits and also be able to remember stories I loved. It's also a great creative outlet because I love drawing too.
I have many notebooks but haven't used one for tracking anything apart from my writing, or ideas, etc. Watching your journal set up videos is so calming and inspiring. I might actually try to set up a journal at some point.
Very nice! I love the Washi tape dashboard. I'm going to have to try that. I have some of that sticker paper. You did a great job, and I like how you don't expect everything to be perfect. Personally, I love your drawings. 💜
I love your setup! Makes me want to go back to my stalogy. I’m using a hardcover reading journal I designed this year for my reading and a bujo for everything else. New system so we’ll see 😳
I am the very same way with floppy notebooks. I reach for them more often and I love writing in them. I think it’s the flexibility, how easy it is to carry around, smaller footprint, and wraparound itself. I like my disc bound but I have been looking for a floppy notebook, A5 ish size with good paper, graph or dot grid. I mean I can find 500 that are hardback. I have just used the moleskin soft dot grid notebook. They are decent but I wish it was a little bit thicker paper.
Gorgeous setup! I loved that washi dashboard, it's beautiful. I'm currently on a no-buy for washi and planner supplies, but that really made me want to go shopping for some similar things. :) I have been toying with the idea of a story journal similar to what you have for a while, but I haven't decided to take the plunge yet. This year, I'm already working on a few other new journalling habits/practices, so it may be something I tackle in the future. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kind of relevant… I actually started a little challenge for myself in 2024, I have to enjoy one of each kind of story each month… so one season of a TV show, one movie, one book, and one video game. In January I watched Stranger Things 4 and Sailor Moon Crystal 1 (doubled up there by accident lol), watched Elemental, read the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, and played Until Dawn. Not sure how successful I’ll be every month but it’s been a fun way to make myself actually do the things instead of mindlessly playing CZcams as background noise during all my free time. (Which don’t get me wrong, I still do when I really need to let my mind rest!) I don’t have a cute journal for this because (1) adding another task I feel like would deter me from actually doing the things and (2) I already track everything in apps
Love this Sarra!! Learning how to fill my creative well as well! In recent years I’ve realized how important it is. I have a reading planner, but I think I’m wanting to track the shows and movies that I watch as well! That’s an awesome idea. Do you happen to have a video showing how you create the book cover stickers? Maybe not, but I thought I’d ask. It would be cool to stick those in my reading planner!! Love watching your “Cherry on Top” year unfold! -Tawana
I don't think I do! I am printing them from my Mac desktop so I just put them all in a folder in photos and select all, print, and then choose contact sheet so it has small versions of all of them. I print on full page mailing labels and then cut them out.
I loved this and you just made me wanna start a reading journal too. I've tried it earlier in my bullet journal but got so disappointed when I didn't reach my goal for the year. I see that my trackers were attached to time and reading became a task and it took the fun out of it as I was fighting against time. I see that you're journal is detached from time in a sense that you are tracking your normal flow of life not performing a time bound task. You have a goal but it's stress free because it's a map not a race. I love it. ❤❤❤❤
I've noticed I also reach for my floppier notebooks. I wonder if I should move my reading journal into a stalogy. I'm using a b6 to take notes for a class, and love it. My A&O just feel big. If that makes sense.
i am a floppy notebook person too!! just bought a new notebook for the book i'm currently working on (it's set in palm springs, so i needed a palm spring notebook obvs!) and husband was laughing at me in the stationery store because i was just holding every notebook and touching pages to 'weigh' them before settling on the perfect one haha
I have a Sterling Ink N2 horizontal (i.e. Hobo Weeks) that I'm using for tracking my reading, mostly tbr lists that I want to tackle. I'm using the weekly spreads to mark when I finish something. I haven't decided if I'll use the monthly. I may add my own version of your series trackers. I'm never remembering which I've read.
Sarra this turned out so amazing. Funny thing I was working on your gift -- I know I've been working on it for too long ;) -- while I watched it. It made me feel like we were crafting together. hahaha
Thanks for sharing the reading journal. I’ve been doing one but I’m always looking for inspiration on what to put in it. You’ll love ted lasso. I watched it as I’m in England and follow a football team not doing great and I loved it!
Ahh I love this!! I have something similar and I started with reading but then expanded to shows and video games too! I used a big Happy Planner cuz I wanted to be able to take it out to archive once I was done so it's not the cutest thing but it gets to job done. But now I might explore creating something like this in a journal, yours turned out so great!
I use a grid paper notebook to track my playstation trophy progress, nothing too fancy with decoration, just a colored stripe at the top by the title of the game.
This looks awesome. I hope it helps. I might have to set something up similar. I currently just keep a log of everything I read/watch in notion and it's kind of meh...
Have you ever read the Arcana Chronicles? Tarot cards, MC cheerleader, amazing story. Every time I read them, I wonder if you have because they seem like your kind of story.
I haven't! Is that Kresley Cole? Those were on my list years ago but I wonder if I have in ebook. I'll go look! Didn't know there was a cheerleader too!
@HeartBreathings yes, Kresley Cole- they're amazing! So clever with the Tarot cards and Evie is so likeable! You have a lot on your TBR, but if you have room, you should definitely add this series!❤️
ANIME: the old Ranma 1/2; Jin-Roh; Ouran High Host Club GAMES: Are you a Fallout person? If so, have you played Las Vegas? I am enjoying also Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure (funny) and Sunless Sea (both are on Steam and are PC games)
Thank you for the suggestions. I haven't seen those!! And I haven't played fallout yet but I own them lol. Story of my life. Sunless Sea sounds interesting.
Instead of tearing out the window pane page, why not create a printable using Canva or something and print it on sticker paper to cover it? I love the quote, but I also have spreads I hate and won't use because I get frustrated. I highly recommend Solo Leveling, Log Horizon, The Apothecary Diaries (SO GOOD!), Yona of the Dawn (amazing fights, weak princess becomes strong warrior with a great protector love interest), The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic (hilarious), A Returner's Magic should be Special (fantastic story!), Spy x Family (really funny. a spy and an assassin fake a marriage as covers and adopt a kid and the only one who knows that her parents are abnormal is the kid because she's a psychic), Cells at Work (great science anime), Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Zombies and Steampunk. Amazing), Snow White with the Red Hair (fantasy romance with a strong heroine), Ghosthunt (great paranormal suspense, some dry areas). I hope you like the recommendations!
I despise ghosting and bleed through, and will stop using a journal if I can see even a hint of my writing on the other side of the paper. Nor will I waste my time gluing pages together. Thus, 140 gsm minimum only for me. Even when I'm being messy/free form. I invest in the A&O for my everyday journals as that's what I look at the most, and just could not take seeing my decorative additions showing through. 😜
5:47 Girllllll. You do not see yourself clearly at all. Everything you do is artistic! You make everything so beautiful! YOU are that artistic person to someone like me 🤩
Whew, I'm so happy to have this setup so I can start using it!! Do you use a notebook to track your watching, reading, gaming? Let me know what you use in the comments!
I have been watching a ton of videos this past week looking for ideas for Currently Reading type journals for both fiction and non-fiction reads to capture those key ideas in the crafting of stories I enjoy and personal improvement books. So, this video was perfectly timed for me! Thanks! I was also thinking about doing comparisons between movies I love and their books for timing, characterization, what I am drawn to as the audience (Divergent, City of Bones, Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, etc.), so that would drive my reading list for a while.
I finally set up a reading journal this year. Have had the supplies for 2 years but never made time to actually set it up. I'll be doing a main planner video next week and a separate videos for a couple of them, like the reading journal.
Hugs & Creative Blessings!
I've used a bullet journal and a Google sheet in the past, but right now I'm trying out Notion and loving it so far
Ahh I’m so happy you’re bringing back the story journal! Please don’t put yourself down this looks way better than anything I could do.
For the window pane page, I think it maybe would look better if it had like plants/flowers at the bottom? Or maybe even add some curtains? I think it maybe is just missing a little something that’ll make it much better!
I use ballpoint pens on the STALOGY paper and I LOVE how it gets kinda crinkly, like the pressure of the pen embosses the paper as you write. Texture heaven
Yes! I don't like ballpoint but gel pens have the same effect and I love it!
GIRL!!!! I was already *blown* away at how much you accomplish then I find out you stream on twitch weekly too. HOW?!?! Im curious how many hours you work and journal. I can barely keep up with two journals, and I have no kids or husband! You are a rockstar !!!! I’m so glad I’m taking your hb90 class because if you can teach me how to even be a fourth as productive as you are, I’m winning!!!
I cannot get enough of journal setups. I do have a journal that i use to track my writing, and I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I'm an all-in-one type... I'll never use it if i have more than one journal going at a time... But i still love watching setup vids like this, they're so fun and inspiring!!
That's a good thing to realize about yourself though, And I love watching setups too! So happy you enjoyed this one.
I 100% agree on the "texture thing" with the Stalogy -- there's something about the combination of this cover and the paper. (My one 'complaint' about the Hobonichi plain notebooks is that they're too stiff/not as floppy as the Original and Cousin.)
Love this story book journal, games, tv and such always spur my creativity. Now that you have a PS5, I really love Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Far West. Such a fantastic story with great graphics. The scenery is stunning. I love playing games where the main character is a girl, I think you'd enjoy the story arch of this game.
I just got a great idea about historical fiction from playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey as a woman soldier during the Roman/Greek era.
I just sat mesmerised while you were setting up your reading journal
This doesn't even look like earth ..... I don't know! lol I'm cracking up !! Loved how it came out!
😂😂
I just started keeping a reading journal a few years ago. I have always read a lot, but I really had no idea how many books I read or genres or anything. It's been really interesting and enjoyable to see my reading habits and also be able to remember stories I loved. It's also a great creative outlet because I love drawing too.
I have many notebooks but haven't used one for tracking anything apart from my writing, or ideas, etc. Watching your journal set up videos is so calming and inspiring. I might actually try to set up a journal at some point.
Very nice! I love the Washi tape dashboard. I'm going to have to try that. I have some of that sticker paper. You did a great job, and I like how you don't expect everything to be perfect. Personally, I love your drawings. 💜
I love your setup! Makes me want to go back to my stalogy. I’m using a hardcover reading journal I designed this year for my reading and a bujo for everything else. New system so we’ll see 😳
I love this idea! It's super generating to watch the set up. I love all the stickers!!
I am the very same way with floppy notebooks. I reach for them more often and I love writing in them. I think it’s the flexibility, how easy it is to carry around, smaller footprint, and wraparound itself.
I like my disc bound but I have been looking for a floppy notebook, A5 ish size with good paper, graph or dot grid. I mean I can find 500 that are hardback. I have just used the moleskin soft dot grid notebook. They are decent but I wish it was a little bit thicker paper.
Gorgeous setup! I loved that washi dashboard, it's beautiful. I'm currently on a no-buy for washi and planner supplies, but that really made me want to go shopping for some similar things. :) I have been toying with the idea of a story journal similar to what you have for a while, but I haven't decided to take the plunge yet. This year, I'm already working on a few other new journalling habits/practices, so it may be something I tackle in the future. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kind of relevant… I actually started a little challenge for myself in 2024, I have to enjoy one of each kind of story each month… so one season of a TV show, one movie, one book, and one video game. In January I watched Stranger Things 4 and Sailor Moon Crystal 1 (doubled up there by accident lol), watched Elemental, read the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, and played Until Dawn. Not sure how successful I’ll be every month but it’s been a fun way to make myself actually do the things instead of mindlessly playing CZcams as background noise during all my free time. (Which don’t get me wrong, I still do when I really need to let my mind rest!)
I don’t have a cute journal for this because (1) adding another task I feel like would deter me from actually doing the things and (2) I already track everything in apps
This is so great!
Love this Sarra!! Learning how to fill my creative well as well! In recent years I’ve realized how important it is.
I have a reading planner, but I think I’m wanting to track the shows and movies that I watch as well! That’s an awesome idea.
Do you happen to have a video showing how you create the book cover stickers? Maybe not, but I thought I’d ask. It would be cool to stick those in my reading planner!!
Love watching your “Cherry on Top” year unfold!
-Tawana
I don't think I do! I am printing them from my Mac desktop so I just put them all in a folder in photos and select all, print, and then choose contact sheet so it has small versions of all of them. I print on full page mailing labels and then cut them out.
I thought your drawings were great! I have never created a reading journal but I may this year.
I loved this and you just made me wanna start a reading journal too. I've tried it earlier in my bullet journal but got so disappointed when I didn't reach my goal for the year. I see that my trackers were attached to time and reading became a task and it took the fun out of it as I was fighting against time. I see that you're journal is detached from time in a sense that you are tracking your normal flow of life not performing a time bound task. You have a goal but it's stress free because it's a map not a race. I love it. ❤❤❤❤
I've noticed I also reach for my floppier notebooks. I wonder if I should move my reading journal into a stalogy. I'm using a b6 to take notes for a class, and love it. My A&O just feel big. If that makes sense.
i am a floppy notebook person too!! just bought a new notebook for the book i'm currently working on (it's set in palm springs, so i needed a palm spring notebook obvs!) and husband was laughing at me in the stationery store because i was just holding every notebook and touching pages to 'weigh' them before settling on the perfect one haha
Haha this is so relatable
I have a Sterling Ink N2 horizontal (i.e. Hobo Weeks) that I'm using for tracking my reading, mostly tbr lists that I want to tackle. I'm using the weekly spreads to mark when I finish something. I haven't decided if I'll use the monthly. I may add my own version of your series trackers. I'm never remembering which I've read.
Sarra this turned out so amazing. Funny thing I was working on your gift -- I know I've been working on it for too long ;) -- while I watched it. It made me feel like we were crafting together. hahaha
Aww I love that!!
Thanks for sharing the reading journal. I’ve been doing one but I’m always looking for inspiration on what to put in it. You’ll love ted lasso. I watched it as I’m in England and follow a football team not doing great and I loved it!
Love this! Thanks, Sarra! 🧁
I was so excited for this video since you mentioned this journal in your planner lineup ❤
I can't believe it's taken me this long to set it up but I'm so happy it's ready to go!
Oh my gosh! I just listened to The Inheritance Games on audio! It was AMAZING!!! You are going to love it! ❤🥰
Can't wait!
Ahh I love this!! I have something similar and I started with reading but then expanded to shows and video games too! I used a big Happy Planner cuz I wanted to be able to take it out to archive once I was done so it's not the cutest thing but it gets to job done. But now I might explore creating something like this in a journal, yours turned out so great!
I love this! & gasped when I saw Firefly!
One of our favorites forever!
Amazing organization, as always!
I use a grid paper notebook to track my playstation trophy progress, nothing too fancy with decoration, just a colored stripe at the top by the title of the game.
This looks awesome. I hope it helps. I might have to set something up similar. I currently just keep a log of everything I read/watch in notion and it's kind of meh...
I did think about using notion too but in the end I decided on paper for this.
Have you ever read the Arcana Chronicles? Tarot cards, MC cheerleader, amazing story. Every time I read them, I wonder if you have because they seem like your kind of story.
I haven't! Is that Kresley Cole? Those were on my list years ago but I wonder if I have in ebook. I'll go look! Didn't know there was a cheerleader too!
@HeartBreathings yes, Kresley Cole- they're amazing! So clever with the Tarot cards and Evie is so likeable! You have a lot on your TBR, but if you have room, you should definitely add this series!❤️
ANIME: the old Ranma 1/2; Jin-Roh; Ouran High Host Club GAMES: Are you a Fallout person? If so, have you played Las Vegas? I am enjoying also Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure (funny) and Sunless Sea (both are on Steam and are PC games)
Thank you for the suggestions. I haven't seen those!! And I haven't played fallout yet but I own them lol. Story of my life. Sunless Sea sounds interesting.
Instead of tearing out the window pane page, why not create a printable using Canva or something and print it on sticker paper to cover it? I love the quote, but I also have spreads I hate and won't use because I get frustrated. I highly recommend Solo Leveling, Log Horizon, The Apothecary Diaries (SO GOOD!), Yona of the Dawn (amazing fights, weak princess becomes strong warrior with a great protector love interest), The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic (hilarious), A Returner's Magic should be Special (fantastic story!), Spy x Family (really funny. a spy and an assassin fake a marriage as covers and adopt a kid and the only one who knows that her parents are abnormal is the kid because she's a psychic), Cells at Work (great science anime), Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Zombies and Steampunk. Amazing), Snow White with the Red Hair (fantasy romance with a strong heroine), Ghosthunt (great paranormal suspense, some dry areas). I hope you like the recommendations!
I despise ghosting and bleed through, and will stop using a journal if I can see even a hint of my writing on the other side of the paper. Nor will I waste my time gluing pages together. Thus, 140 gsm minimum only for me. Even when I'm being messy/free form. I invest in the A&O for my everyday journals as that's what I look at the most, and just could not take seeing my decorative additions showing through. 😜
5:47 Girllllll. You do not see yourself clearly at all. Everything you do is artistic! You make everything so beautiful! YOU are that artistic person to someone like me 🤩
Oh! Throne of Glass! Epic!
Instead of ripping out the page you should put stickers or scrapbook paper over the side you don’t like ❤
That's a good idea!!
I just love this!!!