[header] How to start a journal [title] Find a notebook to write in. [step] The book can be simple or ornate. If you're happy with a simple journal, then just buy a basic college-ruled notebook. 
If you want something more serious, look for a nice leather-bound journal-perhaps even one with a lock and key! [substeps] Choose between a lined or an unlined notebook. A lined notebook can be better for writing, while an unlined notebook might facilitate art and drawing.