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I jot notes in my calendar on the back of each month and use that as a jumping point for layouts. My downfall is I often focus on the journaling last, when instead I should be focusing more on the story. I'm so self critical, that journaling is really a struggle for me - but I know too my kids won't really care about if my writing style is wordy, etc.

First I go through the photos I think I would like to scrap/share and upload them to an online photo sharing site (to share with family and friends). I usually write a line or 2 in the comments/captions section to refer to later when I actually get around to scrapping the photos.

This is my favorite giveaway to date so good luck for me, I hope. :)
What works for me with journaling, is that I keep a little notebook beside my computer. As soon as something happens (my little girl says something funny for example) I write it down immediately. It's less threatening to write in a little notebook. You can jot down one sentence if you need to. Then I use my little notebook for journaling inspiration.

I try to write my thoughts in a journal right after "it" happens, so I don't forget the important details. Then I refer to the journal entry when I'm scrapbooking.

journal from the heart whatever your feeling at the moment not what you think others will want you to write.
I love using my own writing too makes it more personal
have a great day louise x

i keep my notebook in my purse - i am always writing down little blurbs of conversation with a DATE! then i rifle through the book as i'm scrapping. sometimes i do a whole minibook just on funny things my son says or does...

I agree with the other comments - journal as soon as you can. I have been able to keep up mostly with the Project 365 by adding a tab to the Excel spreadsheet which I have open already every day at the office. I added a column for every day of the year and another one for the journaling. Every day or two, I try to get caught up on my journaling and even highlight a row with a different color if I have decided on the subject of the photo even if I haven't taken the photo yet.

Whenever we are out and about and the kids say something that I think needs to go into a layout, I write it down. A few years ago, after the first of the year, my youngest son looked up into the sky and exclaimed "now God puts his Christmas lights up"! He was commenting about all the stars in the sky! So cute. I wrote that down on a scratch piece of paper in my purse. Now I always keep a small notebook in my purse!

When I am working on my kids' album, I will show my 6 year old the pictures on his scrapbook page and have him retell me the story and then summarize what he said or add quotes to the page. It helps him get involved as well! :)

i use a little notebook to write it down with the description of the pic(s) i want to use that way i have some time to scrap the pages but dont loose what i want to say

I just write from the heart. I want my kids to know how I feel about them, their accomplishments, their personalities, etc. I like it to be in my handwriting as well. More personal that way. :)

I used to struggle with journaling, putting my thoughts out there for people - but Ali has inspired me to write down those thoughts so that my story is left behind. The biggest thing that has helped me be a better journaler is finding inspiration from the pictures that I choose to scrap and what stories to share.

For major events, I try to write down thoughts and feelings right after. Then I store the notes with the pictures or other memorabilia from that event. Everything is all together when I'm ready to create the layout.

Journaling is two fold. For layouts that are recording events, I use scrap paper to write out my journaling to make sure that I record all the little details that I want to remember and for future readers to understand the story I am trying to tell. Second, I also keep a note paper of ideas for journaling about how I feel about cetain things. Those ideas can come from songs, news, slogans, scripture etc. These pages tell about me and are mixed in with the daily stories in my scrapbooks. So I have two types of journaling.

HANDWRITING. Don't just do it on the computer. I think that your actual hand writing is important -- plus, it's easy! :) Use a great pen and go!

My journaling tips: use my own handwriting, a large tip pen and write words just like they come out from your mind/heart.
I noticed that many Italian scrapbookers don't journal a lot... but I love to write on my pages.

My journaling tip isn't anything new -- just write a little every day and you'll be a better writer. Practice makes perfect!

I sometimes take my journaling from my blog. If not, I just write. Get the story down in whatever way I need to tell it. Then I go back and edit.

I add short bullet-pointed notes to my daily calendar. It usually jogs my memory if I've fallen behind on my daily activities, and what I was feeling that day.

I don't journal long stories very often. Just short, sweet, and to the point. Usually about how the picture makes me feel or what I was thinking when I took it. It helps that I try to scrapbook my most recent photos so everything is still fresh in my mind.