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The Un-Journal Journaling Swap: February 2014

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The Un-Journal Journaling Swap: February 2014
Swap Coordinator:LauraAust (contact)
Swap categories: Letters & Writing  Journals 
Number of people in swap:42
Location:International
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Rating requirement:4.99 (unrated swappers allowed)
Last day to signup/drop:January 31, 2014
Date items must be sent by:March 5, 2014
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

The Un-Journal Journaling Swap 2014; February 2014

I really want to do more writing – the problem is, I won’t do it unless I have a reason. I’ve been giving this situation a lot of thought and I have finally come up with an idea for a swap that isn’t a huge commitment (although, genuine effort will be expected), will allow me to write on a variety of topics, won’t hold me to a really short list of specific topics, and will allow me to “meet” multiple swappers (and be exposed to different writing styles) over the course of 2014.

This will be an ongoing, monthly swap throughout 2014. This allows people to sign up for all 12, just one, or pick and choose any number of months. The sign up deadline will be the last day of the previous month and the send by date will be the 5th of the following month. The entire year of swaps will be posted at once (more or less) – this way you can work on future months when you want to (there is no reason to have to wait until partners are assigned each month to begin your writing).

Each month’s swap description will list a variety of journal prompts. You will choose 10 of those prompts to use.

You may do your journaling on lined notebook paper, stationery, plain paper, the back of placements, graph paper, etc. The only requirement is that the paper you are using is clean! You do not have to decorate with stickers or doodles, but you most certainly can do so if you want!

Your journaling can be handwritten (printed, cursive or a combination), or it can be typed. The only requirement is that it be legible! You may use colored pens/ink – when you rate, you may not rate down if your partner wrote/printed in a color you do not like.

If you want to keep your journaling it is permissible to make photocopies of what you have written and send your partner the photocopies. Photocopies must be legible and not that kind of old toner that brushes off when touched.

Each prompt should be at least a full 8” x 10” (approx.) page (or two 5” x 8” pages) – or something comparable. Please put time and effort into your writing – send something you would be happy receiving. Be sure to indicate on the first page the swap name and the month. Also, indicate the prompt as you begin each one (so the reader knows what you are addressing with your writing).

This is an international swap since we aren’t sending a whole journal/book each time. I realize one month you might be mailing just 10 sheets of paper (or just 5 sheets if you write on both sides) while other months you might be mailing more – keep this in mind before you sign up.

You must have a minimum rating of 4.99 to join. If you are new enough to not have any ratings you are welcome to join if you have a well filled out profile (I will be the judge) AND you are a member of the Newbie Helpers group. I reserve the right to ban anyone for any reason – I am so tired of flakers!

I will angel if there are any flakers. But, please - do not flake (I guess that goes without saying)! I will be outing any and all flakers in every way I can think of.

Please list any questions you have below so that everyone can see the answers - thanks!!

Journal prompts for February, 2014 (choose and write on 10 of these):

  1. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
  2. What do you want to be remembered for?
  3. What were your teen years like?
  4. Where will you be in 10 years?
  5. What is your favorite holiday?
  6. Do you attend church?
  7. Describe learning to drive?
  8. Have you ever witnessed a birth?
  9. Write about quitting or getting fired.
  10. Write about being a misfit
  11. What 5 websites do you visit often, and why?
  12. Name a totally useless possession and how you acquired it
  13. Describe a time you felt alone
  14. Does Never-Never Land really exist?
  15. A song that means a lot to you, and why
  16. An education is / is not important
  17. Describe a typical evening at home
  18. Describe your favorite meal
  19. Do you want a funeral?
  20. If I were invisible, I would….
  21. My worst quality is….
  22. Write a history of your hairstyles
  23. Are you saving or spending?
  24. Are you happy?
  25. My last vacation…
  26. Who is your hero?
  27. If you could read one person’s mind, whose?
  28. What are you seeking?
  29. What relaxes you?
  30. Are you settling for something?

Questions and answers from prior months:

Q. Do we have to fill a full page if we type our responses?
A. If typing, the length of each prompt should be a MINIMUM of half an 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of paper (or comparable amount if you are using bigger/smaller paper). Please feel free to write/type more than the minimum requirement!

Q. Why isn’t this a Type 3 Swap?
A. It is a Type 2 swap because it is a writing swap - that's a flat mail swap. It is not required to decorate your pages in any way - so, it's not a Type 3 swap. It’s not a package swap, nor is it a craft swap.

It is certainly up to each swapper as to whether he/she wants to join this swap as a "Type 2" swap. For me this swap is about the thinking, reflecting and the writing (and the reading).
Simply making it a Type 3 swap will not guarantee that anyone puts any more effort into it than if it is a Type 2 swap.

Q. Do I have to decorate my pages in some way?
A. Decorating the pages is NOT a requirement of this swap - your partner CANNOT rate you lower than a 5 if you send the required amount of writing. No one should feel disappointed in receiving non-decorated pages for this swap. Please don't feel like you have to decorate your pages - it is NOT required.

Q. If you must be a member of the Newbie Helpers group why isn't this a group swap?
A. You must only be a member of the "Newbie Helpers" group if you are UNRATED; otherwise it is open to the EVERYONE with a rating of 4.99 or higher.

Q. Are you going to host a USA only version?
A. I don't intend on making a USA only version. If you want to, feel free, but I do ask that you use your own list of prompts each month.

Discussion

Jan218 12/16/2013 #

If you must be a member of the Newbie Helpers group why isn't this a group swap? Just wondering....

LauraAust 12/16/2013 #

You must only be a member of the "Newbie Helpers" group if you are UNRATED; otherwise it is open to the EVERYONE with a rating of 4.99 or higher. Thanks for the question!

emontegna 01/ 1/2014 #

I almost joined the January swap, but I held back because of the discussion comments. I am interested in doing the writing for the swap (and, indeed, that seems to be the stated focus of the swap) but I don't have the time to do the sort of decorating of journal pages that other commenters were discussing and I don't want someone to be disappointed (or give me a low rating) if I send them ten unembellished typewritten pages. So, I'm wondering, is everyone planning on decorating their pages, or are there others who only intend to do the writing prompts?

LauraAust 01/ 1/2014 #

Decorating the pages is NOT a requirement of this swap - your partner cannot rate you lower than a 5 if you send the required writing. So far I haven't decorated my pages for January - I'm half way done with the writing part. I don't know if I'll be in the mood to decorate them or not - depending on my mood and what's going on in my life when I get the writing done I may or may not decorate my pages. No one should feel disappointed in receiving non-decorated pages for this swap. Please don't feel like you have to decorate your pages - it is NOT required. Thanks!

midwestkiwi 01/ 8/2014 #

I have started writing for this swap to see if this is the swap for me as I too intend to write more in 2014. I had concerns about the comments in round one, so I'm glad you brought it up, @emontegna If a sketch or embellishment lends itself to the writing, I will use, but I don' t expect to go out of my way to but lipstick on my writing.

LauraAust 01/ 8/2014 #

Hope to have you join @midwestkiwi :)

Apelser 01/12/2014 #

I am doing my journaling in a book and each page I decorate. At the end of each month, I will copy the questions for my partner.

LauraAust 01/13/2014 #

That works! Thanks!

LauraAust 01/14/2014 #

For the people who were not involved in the January edition of this swap be sure to check out all the questions, answers and comments that are attached to it! Thanks!

oliviarrow 01/20/2014 #

So bummed I can't do this right now, but I love the idea so much. I'm looking forward to joining in the future!

LauraAust 01/20/2014 #

Would love to have you when you are able!

calliedeaner 01/25/2014 #

I did the January swap, and really enjoyed doing it. But it was a lot of writing for me, because I am not used to writing at all.

ladydy5 01/25/2014 #

Okay, Just to get my mind in gear ,you write them on an 8 x 10 paper without embellishments if you prefer and send that paper to your swapper, 5 or 10 pages? Are you to write one full page for lets say no,.1 question so eventually you are writing more than just a paragraph or sentence for each of the 10. No word count? Love the idea but what if you cant fill one side of 8 x 10 for question No.1. I love the prompt idea.

LauraAust 01/25/2014 #

Each prompt should fill a page. For January I decided that it should be one full page if you are handwriting your pages, 1/2 page if you are typing your pages. I typed mine and almost all 10 prompts ended up being a full page typewritten (a couple were longer so I shrunk the font a little).

5 or 10 pages? 5 if you are using both sides of the paper, 10 if you are only using one side of the paper. Make sense?

I would say if you think about a prompt before you start writing and don't think you can write enough you should probably pick a different prompt. Or, think on it longer and see if you can come up with more to say. :)

And correct - no embellishment is required. Just plain paper is perfectly fine!

Tommy123 01/26/2014 #

why is it type 2 and not type 3 ?

LauraAust 01/26/2014 #

It is a Type 2 swap because it is a writing swap - that's a flat mail swap. It is not required to decorate your pages in any way - so, it's not a Type 3 swap. If you are interested, there is quite a bit of discussion surrounding this in the comment section of the January edition: CLICK HERE

Tinaphage 01/27/2014 #

January took me so long that I think I will join in every other month. I do LOVE this swap; it's been one of my favorites so far :)

Arrythmias 01/28/2014 #

I have so much to say on these prompts. ^.^ Will start writing tomorrow probably!

LauraAust 01/28/2014 #

@Tinaphage and @Arryhmias - I think I like February's selection of prompts better than I liked January's. :)

We are doing some sorting, cleaning, organizing at our house and last night I ran across more prompts that I printed off quite some time ago (a few years). So, if this goes well for 2014 I will probably do it again for 2015.

heritagedecouleurs 01/29/2014 #

I like the idea , but it´s a great difference between writing with hand or to print some thing ... and if I made 5x8 , I had to choose 20 items ?

LauraAust 01/29/2014 #

@heritagecouleurs - not sure I understand what you are asking. However, I can tell you that in January it was decided that if you are handwriting you need to do a full page that is approximately 8.5" by 11" (or the equivalent if you are using smaller paper) - if you are typing and printing it should be half that (or the equivalent if you are using smaller paper). No matter what size paper you only need to pick 10 prompts (as you should be "writing/typing" the same amount no matter what size paper you are using (but you might be sending more sheets of paper if you are using smaller paper). Did that help?

LauraAust 01/29/2014 #

Up above in the comments I have provided a link to all the questions and answers for the January edition.

Starting with the March swap I will go in and try to do a "Q&A" section in the actual swap description that addresses the comments on both the January and February editions.

LauraAust 01/31/2014 #

Banned another two people today from this swap - one is UNRATED and not a member of Newbie Helpers... The other is UNRATED and is a member of Newbie Helpers but has a completely blank profile. I hate when people sign up and don't meet the requirements that are clearly stated in the swap description!! Sorry - just venting...

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