How To Start A Reading Journal and 64 Creative Page Ideas

Are you wondering how to start a reading journal that actually inspires you to read more? Well, you’re not alone and i’m going to tell you EXACTLY how to begin.

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Reading journals are brilliant ways to track your goals and your reading, this way you can make better sense of what genres really stick out to you, what authors you can’t get enough of, and to generally be consistent with your reading goals.

Anyone can learn how to create a reading journal, and the basic requirements are very minimal. You will need a notebook (try a bullet journal style notebook), and a couple of pens.

This post is about how to start a reading journal you will actually want to stick with.

The ultimate guide for creating a reading journal anyone can stick with.

1. Make it work for you.

Whether its an A5 notebook you keep in the bottom of your purse or a leather bound A4 notebook you keep on your bedside table, complicate it or uncomplicate it as much as you desire. I like complicated, I like having an array of pens and admiring my work as if its a piece of art. But that’s not always best.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a reading journal is overcomplicating it.

If you want this to make you read more, it needs to feel easy.

On your very first page, just write:

Books I’ve Read This Year

Then list:

Title
Author
Date finished
★ Rating

That’s it. Watching that list grow is strangely motivating. It turns your reading into something visible.

2. Log your thoughts.

It needs to be personal and reflective of your reading experience. You don’t need to analyse every metaphor.

Your answer doesn’t need to be paragraphs long. The goal isn’t to sound academic.

After you finish a book, answer 3 quick questions:

What was this book really about?
How did it make me feel?
Would I recommend it? Why or why not?

3. Keep a running TBR list

Controversially, I’m not the biggest fan of monthly TBR’s. I literally never stick to them. But keeping a log of all the books I want to read in my life is much more motivating. Hence, this might be the most important section if you want to read more.

Every time:

A friend recommends you their new favourite read
You spot a pretty cover in the bookshop
You hear about one in a podcast

Add it to your list immediately.

It’s motivating to have a list of things to read, and an accomplishment when you can tick them off.

4. Track the genres

After a few entries, start noticing patterns.

Ask yourself:

Do I prefer fast-paced or slow-burn stories?
Am I always drawn to the same genre?
Which authors have I rated highly more than once?
Do I love character-driven books more than plot-heavy ones?

Your journal becomes a personalised reading guide. Instead of randomly picking books, you’ll start choosing ones that genuinely suit you.

Other Posts you may enjoy- Can You Tell When You’re Being Lied To? 5 Unhinged Unreliable Narrator Books That Will Make You Question Everything.

5. Make it a ritual

Light that candle, put on some lofi and create a cosy space you want to return to again and again. Pair it with something cosy:

A cup of tea after finishing a book
Pair it with a facemask
A Sunday morning reset

Even five minutes is enough.

6. Give yourself permission to be imperfect

Learning how to create your own reading journal can be challenging at first, so don’t fret when a page isn’t what you see on Pinterest. Some entries will be thoughtful and detailed. Sometimes you won’t read for weeks at a time (we’re busy over here).

Some will say:

“Couldn’t put this down.”
“Slow start but worth it.”
“bad.”

All of that counts.

You don’t have to finish every book, and there is no shame in that.

This is for you- not for social media, not for anyone else.

7. Let it grow naturally

Once you’ve built the habit, you can expand if you want to:

Add favourite quotes
Set monthly reading goals
Try genre challenges
Track pages read
Compare books by the same author

But only if it feels fun.

The second it starts feeling like pressure, scale it back.

64 reading journal page ideas to get you started

I have compiled an expansive list of reading journal prompts to help you on your way. You will want to pick and choose the items that resonate the most deeply with you.

These can either be downloaded digitally, or printed out with an included low colour option.

Using these prompts is a great way to get started and create your own reading journal that works for you.

create your own reading journal printable

The Real Reason This Works

When you create your own reading journal you are putting time aside for yourself and your development. And, when you pause to reflect on what you read, you engage with books differently.

You:

Notice more
Remember more
Feel more connected

And when books stay with you longer, you naturally to read more.

That’s how you start a reading journal that actually makes you want to read more- not because you “should,” but because you’re genuinely excited to.

This post was all about how to start a reading journal that actually makes you want to read more.

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How To Start A Reading Journal and 64 Creative Page Ideas