As a bookworm who found herself not only in a reading slump but a creative rut, I thought cultivating a new hobby would do wonders for my current unimaginative, bookless mind. So, I decided to make a reading journal. A place where I could write down my thoughts about the books I read in a creative and nonjudgemental way. The experience has been oh-so soothing and inspiring as I’ve rediscovered my love for reading and creating. 

If you’re in a reading slump or just looking for a new hobby to explore, I hope this post will be your sign to make your own reading journal. 

What You’ll Need:

• A Notebook – I personally like the Pocket Notebooks from Rifle Paper Co. because they’re unlined, compact and easy to carry with you in case you want to update your reading journal while you’re on the go. However, any size/style of notebook will do!
• Printer or a Mini Photo Printer – Another reason I decided to start visually documenting the books I was reading was because I had bought this Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer a few years ago, and it was sitting unused in a box of stuff under my bed. I thought I either needed to find a reason to use it or donate it to someone who will. So here we are. Now, can you use a regular printer instead of buying a mini one? Absolutely. The cool thing about the Canon Zink Photo Paper is it has a sticky back, so your photos can be easily turned into a sticker. But! You can buy printable sticker paper for a regular printer too.
• Colorful Pens, Stickers, Washi Tape, etc – this is your chance to get creative and use whatever tools you’d like to bring your reading journal to life!

Setting Up Your Journal:

There is no correct way to set up your reading journal. This is your moment to get creative and organize a system that will work for you!

I decided to take a simple approach to my reading journal by including pictures of the books I’ve read so far in 2024 and writing didn’t like, it was okay, liked, really liked or loved underneath each one. 

I’ve seen some more detailed reading journal templates online that look super cute, and I’m considering incorporating them in my notebook.

Some examples I’ve seen on Pinterest:

I love the idea of writing a more in-depth review of the books, especially the ones I loved, on a separate page. 

I noticed a bunch of TBR spreads, which seems like a fun way to track all the books you want to read that year. I especially like the last photo where the girl would color in the book after she read it. Such a genius idea!

However you decide you set up your reading journal, I hope this crafty endeavor inspires you to keep reading and creating.

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Thanks for reading!

Do you have a reading journal? How is yours set up? Let’s talk in comments!