At the start of the year, I set a goal to write more in French. The idea was to practice in preparation for the DELF exam. Writing has always been my weakest skill, mostly because I avoid it.
I started strong in December 2024 and began journaling consistently. But by February, I had already stopped. In my defence, life got busy during the first half of the year and Iām only finding time to do things now.
Lately, though, Iāve felt the urge to start journaling again. I know the only way to improve my writing is to write. It sounds simple, but getting back into it has been harder than I expected.
Why Iāve Been Struggling to Journal in French
The biggest reason is fear. The fear of making mistakes. The second is not knowing what to write about. There are certain topics I feel more comfortable writing about, and that limits what I think I should write about.
I make mistakes all the time when speaking, but writing feels different because I can see my mistakes staring at me. I put pressure on myself to get everything perfect before I can move on. If I donāt know how to write a sentence grammatically or conjugate a verb, itās like I freeze.
Despite that, Iāve written a few entries lately, and Iām finally starting to feel more consistent.
Whatās Helped Me Get Back Into Journaling
1. Using a timer
I used a timer to write that first entry. It gave me a clear endpoint and decreased the pressure. The next day, while I was waiting around, journaling came to mind almost immediately, just because I had done it the day before.
2. Making mistakes anyway and delaying correction
Iām notorious for editing as I write in anything I do. Itās a habit I need to constantly remind myself not to do. When journaling in French, I donāt allow myself to edit until after I have finished writing. Usually, I am too tired to edit once Iām done, so it works out!
3. Journaling in English
Iāve been journaling in English for about eight years. I donāt use prompts because I just write whatās on my mind or document whatās going on in my life. Even though I go through phases of journaling less, the more I write, the more I start to notice things worth writing about. The more consistent I am in English, the more it can translate to French.
4. Redefining consistency
Consistency doesnāt have to mean every day. Journaling for me is about documentation, and sometimes, not every day needs to be documented.
Iāll keep these points in mind as reminders to keep showing up and writing in French. Iād love to hear any tips you have when it comes to writing in your target language!
š PS. Iām still taking questions for an upcoming Q&A. Submit your question here or in the comments. Thanks for reading!
