Submissive Journals: A How To Guide « Guides

Step One: Choosing A Website For Your Journal

In this day and age, online blogging and journaling has become a very popular thing. And because of its growing popularity, there are many different sites to choose from! Here are some popular blogging sites that are commonly used as journals:

-Tumblr
-LiveJournal
-Blogger
-Wordpress

There are many more blogging websites to choose from. These are just a few to consider.

But with so many options to choose from, how exactly does one select the right one to use for something as personal and important as a sub journal?! There are a few things that you should consider when choosing a website for your journal to ensure that it is suitable for your specific needs.

How is the website set up? Is it easy enough for you to navigate and use?

Not all sites are user friendly or easy to use for beginners. Spend some time exploring and learning to navigate the site before you make the commitment. Look at the features, registration process, the way entries are posted, and check the FAQ if you get stuck. If have issues understanding or find it too difficult to figure out how to use the site, it may not be the right one for you, but fear not! You have plenty of options, so if a particular site doesn't strike your fancy, try a different one, and repeat the process until you find one you are comfortable with.

Is it able to do what I need it to? Does it have all the features I may want or need?

As I've said before, each journal is as unique as the sub who writes it. And some may journal differently than others. Can this site allow you to have the type of journal you want? Are you able to easily navigate the posting process? Can you post pictures if necessary? What about links, videos, music, or whatever else you may want in your journal? If customization is important to you, is that an option? Are you able to customize things such as your background, layout, etc?

Are you able to customize your privacy settings? Do you want a private or a public blog?

A sub journal is a very personal thing, considering the content you will be posting. Some people may want to keep it private or put a password on it so that the only ones to read it will be you and your dom. On the other hand, some people may want their blog to be public to share their experiences, or build a following if they wish. Decide which type of journal is right for you, and make sure that it is possible on the site you choose.

Step Two: Starting Your Journal

Basics: Sign In And Set It Up

Now that you have selected a website for your journal, it's time to set it up!

-Register Or Sign Up At The Site (Pretty Self Explanatory)
-Set Up The Basics: upload a userpic, fill out your profile, and write your "about me" if desired.
-Set up the technical stuff: privacy settings, display name, the name and url of your blog, etc.
-Customize your journal if you wish: your background, formatting, text fonts and colors,etc.
-Personalize any other options you want to, and make sure everything is how you want it.

Here Comes The Fun Stuff: Make Your First Journal Post!

Congrats! You now have your very own sub journal! Let's start posting! But wait- What should your first post be? Anything you want! It's your personal journal.

But if you're having trouble deciding what to write, don't worry! The first is normally the hardest. If you have a case of writers block, here are some suggestions:

-Introduce yourself: share some facts about who you are, what you like/dislike, your personality, etc.
-Post about starting a journal: Why did you start this journal? Have you had one before? How often do you want to write? What do you hope to gain from it? What type of journal will this be? Do you have any specific goals to write down? etc.
-You can look at other people's journals to get ideas. Just Google "Sub Journal" and you'll get plenty of choices.
-You could use a Writing Prompt, or have your Dom suggest what you should write.
-You could also just make your first post a simple journal entry. Write about your day, your thoughts, feelings, etc.

Really, your first post can be whatever you want it to be. That's the point of the journal, to write about whatever you want or need to write about. Go for it!

Important Post Ideas

There are several important types of posts that I personally believe should be included in every subjournal:

-A Complete List Of The Rules And Expectations Your Dom Has Set For You.
-A Copy Of Your Contract If You Have One.
-A List Of Rituals And Assignments Your Dom Has Assigned To You.
-A List Of Goals For Personal Growth
-A List Of Goals For Improving In Your BDSM Relationship
-A Detailed Explanation Of Your Personal Wants, Needs, Fears, And Fetishes.
-A Completed BDSM Checklist Clearly Outlining Your Limits And What You Will And Will Not Do. (I Will Be Making Another Article On Checklists To Explain Them More In Depth And How To Use Them)

Other Helpful Tips

-Be as honest and detailed as you can when making a post
-Don't hold back. If there is something on your mind, write about it!
-Don't worry about your blog being boring. You are writing for you and your Dom, not an action movie script.
-Your Dom may not require you to post every day, but take care to post when something of interest happens. For example, when a positive or negative change has been made, a goal is reached, a mistake or improvement was made, a punishment or reward was given, or when you've made a personal breakthrough.

Thanks For Reading!

Submissive Journals: A How To Guide

Step One: Choosing A Website For Your Journal

Step Two: Starting Your Journal

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