about the site, my mission + me

I’m Kristin Renée and journaling saved my life.

Hello, beautiful new friend. I’m so happy you’re here! I’d love to tell you a little bit about the site, my mission and me so you know why we’re all here.

I teach journaling workshops and provide tools, information, guidance and inspiration for curating the life you’ve always wanted through journaling. I’ve been journaling daily for about 35 years and I launched Journaling Saves in 2010 for folks like you, who are interested in connecting with a deeper journaling practice.

I provide a weekly email called Deep Journaling filled with stories, prompts and tips. (You should totally sign up for it and I’ll send you free stuff.)

I’ve written hundreds of articles for your exploration on the site, including a huge Journal Prompts area. I teach in-person journaling workshops in New York, and I’m currently crafting them to be available for you online, as well.

I focus on personal development and creative growth.

What’s that mean for you? Deeper relationships, a more resonant life, and clarity and enthusiasm you never thought possible. There’s equal parts healing and fun. Deep journaling, where we explore our true selves, is a muti-faceted undertaking.

I can’t promise you it will always be easy or comfortable, but I can promise you I’ll be here every step of the way.

All of my approaches, prompts, ideas and exercises come from my own daily use of these tools. I am the focus group and the test market. I try it out first, and when it works, I offer it to you to take for a test drive.

Not everyone will resonate with every approach, prompt or topic. Thank goodness! What an boring world it would be if we were all into the exact same stuff. So I urge you to dig into what feels like a good fit, and leave the rest. Or send it to somebody who you think will enjoy it. I’m a big believer in spreading the love.

So are you ready for a journaling adventure with someone like me – who goes deep quickly, asks the hard questions, challenges limiting beliefs and wears cat ears?

Then you, my friend, are in the right place. Welcome.

So, what are my credentials?

Well, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Boston University. Post-graduate, I studied Multimedia Production for the Web at the University of Washington. And I was a Content Developer at circle.com where I researched and wrote articles and website copy for a variety of clients.

My real experience, however, comes from the daily practice of sitting at this desk and putting words on the page every morning. For 30 years and counting, I consistently journal for about an hour most days, whether or not I want to. And especially when I don’t want to. I have kept a daily journal since I was 12 years old and have never flagged in my dedication to the craft.

I write by hand and have filled over 250 notebooks with the innards of my tumultuous brain. Some rough math bears out that I’ve spent at least 12,000 hours journaling and filled about 34,560 pages. If that doesn’t qualify me to give you some free advice on the topic, well, you should read my post on overcoming perfectionism.

While the quality of my journaling is debatable, the quantity is undeniable. And as you’ll hear me tell you repeatedly if you spend any time on this website, quantity is always our goal when it comes to journaling. You take care of the quantity, and the quality will take care of itself.

A brief site tour

Our Origin Story provides a deep dive on why I launched this website in 2010 and how I started journaling after finding a novel in the library when I was 13. The post How Journaling Saved My Life highlights how powerful this tool is in guiding us through life’s challenges, including physical and mental health.

There’s a big Journaling Prompts section if you’re looking for quick inspiration. There’s also a ton of food for thought in the How to Journal category.

If you’re a person who enjoys a structured approach and bulleted lists, the Favorite posts below are a great place to dip your toes into the site. If you like to go wild, just click around and read whatever strikes your fancy. Either way, I’m so happy you’re here.

But wait! Before you click anywhere else, be sure you’re on my list so you can get the weekly Deep Journaling email filled with prompts and inspiration. Rock that blank page!

Favorite posts

Here are a few of my favorite posts I’ve written on the site. Some of them were fun to write, some were ones I received a lot of love from. Others are examples of how powerful and deep a journaling practice can go. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

• Sink or Swim
• 7 Things You Taught Me in 1 Year
• What an Ornery Cat Can Teach Us About Love
• What Kind of Genius Are You?
• 10 Things I Learned Reading My Teenage Diary on Stage
• 7 Easy Steps to Be a Better Quitter
• Are You Afraid of Flat Foxes?
• Blueline Notebooks: a Love Story

A few fun facts

I live in New York and I create from Nestopia, my magic dream studio. I’m obsessed with guinea pigs, skeeball, music, fountain pens, sushi and Vespa scooters. I have a garage full of scooters, but my favorite is Dante, an Atomic Fireball Stella, #1 of #150 ever made. It’s a superhero bike and makes me feel like I’m wearing a cape. (The flames make it faster.)

From the Editor’s Desk

I have an Editorial Assistant called Starlee. She’s a tortie-point Siamese rescue cat named after my favorite National Public Radio producer. You’ll see her around a bunch. She’s not very good at her job but she’s easy on the eyes. She’s obsessed with cheese, chipmunks and hunting bugs. She especially enjoys walking across the keyboard and knocking expensive fountain pens onto the hardwood floor when I’m journaling.

Let’s connect!

You can always reach out directly to me via the contact page and I’ll get your email.

I have a complicated relationship with social media and we’re still working it out.

I can sometimes be found on the Journaling Saves Facebook page

I’m not on Instagram at the moment by conscious choice but that might change, so feel free to follow me. @journalingsaves

I’m active on Reddit if you want to connect there: @journalingsaves

See, complicated, right? Just use the contact form and I’ll send you some pictures or something.

I love audience participation.

I’m always open to new ideas. Many of my articles and podcasts are in response to reader requests for assistance on a specific topic. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on the site, please drop me a line. I do my best to read every email I receive, even if it takes me a bit!

I am also interested in guest posts and interviews, whether you’d like to share your own wisdom with Journaling Saves or you’d like me to contribute to your publication. Check out the contribute page for more details.

Thanks so much for coming. I’m so glad you’re here and I’m excited for you to check out my labor of love that I’ve spent the past decade building for you. I look forward to sharing my time with you and hearing about your own adventures on the page.

Light and love on your newest journey.

Yours in journaling,