It has been said that everyone has at least one book in them, which suggests that, at the very least, everyone is a potential writer. It is difficult to argue against such an idea, with so many turning to the pen to express themselves either privately in a diary or publicly in an open letter or article published in a local newspaper, or even book. That explains, to an extent, why so many people view a writing journal as something more than just a book to jot things into, but see it as a store for personal thoughts, feelings and opinions.

A journal is set apart from any other form of writing book, not just because of its quality but because of its sense of permanency. Notebooks tend to be disposable, with the information contained within its pages usually only jottings and notes that have short shelf lives. A journal contains much deeper, personal information, and unsurprisingly, they are treated differently. By way of comparison, such appreciation is akin to that which calligraphy sets enjoy as opposed to common pens, and a wax seal stamp enjoys as opposed to a modern ink stamp.

Generally, there are two main reasons why one might keep a journal. The first is the desire to keep an account of a major journey, perhaps a tour around the world during a gap year away from studies, or an expedition to the rain forests of the Amazon that had taken years to plan and get everything together.

Even in this era of satellite mapping, there are corners of the world that the truly adventurous amongst us may wish to go to and experience. Keeping a journal not only provides an account for others to learn from, but a way in which to capture the emotions and thoughts of the time, thereby allowing memories to be recalled more clearly and precisely.

The second reason is to keep a simple daily account of everyday events and obligations. In essence, it is a diary, but without the restrictive aspects of dated pages and spaces. A daily journal provides the space to allow the thoughts and opinions of the writer to flow, without restriction. There may not be a journey to recount but daily observations can provide equally stimulating memories and, for many, the challenges one meets and overcomes are on the doorstep, not a thousand miles away.

Like any personal item, it is not strange that people have their preferred types. The soft leather cover of a journal can be favored by one person, while another might opt more readily for a hardback journal. Unsurprisingly then, there are any number of features that a journal can have to help establish a personal connection with the prospective owner immediately.

For the traveler, for example, the Roma Lussa soft leather journal is an ideal gift. Its soft cover adds a convenience in storage that hard covers cannot provide, with journals often needing to be effectively stuffed into a bag. The trademark leather straps used to tie the journal closed is in keeping with its overall casual style, while the marbled page edges add an extra stylish feature. However, despite such a leisurely feel, the quality is amongst the highest available with the best in Italian leather used in its manufacture.

When it comes to jotting down everyday thoughts and observations, a homely hard covered journal is normally preferred. This is because it is usually stored on a shelf or more personal area with no need to stuff it into a cramped area like a bag. The covers are often themed, with Chinese blossom journals that are highly popular amongst women. These journals can often include an elastic strap to secure the covers when closed. Though they are generally smaller in dimension, with a 16cm x 10cm size common, they are normally quite thick with some boasting as many as 350 pages.

For those who appreciate the written word and, more specifically, in writing itself, a writing journal is a valuable possession. In the same way that calligraphy sets appeal to the artist who wishes to create beautiful letters and figures, and a wax seal stamp appeals to a scrapbooker or crafter of replica historical documents, the leather journal appeals to the natural writer in us all.

About the Author:Kathryn Dawson’s Profile | Kathryn Dawson’s Articles

Kathryn Dawson writes about one of the leading online UK gift stores. Searching for unusual gifts or something special for him or her? Mappamundi has an extensive range of quirky, alternative gifts from stationery to science including wax seal stamp, writing journal, calligraphy sets plus much more available for customers to choose from. If you’re searching for fun and unusual presents for one of those special days, you have come to the right place.