Your gift journal's content can vary depending on its purpose and intended recipient. Decide on the purpose of the gift. Is it to record a history of your personal relationship with that individual or to present an account of that person's life? Each one allows for different angles of content to include. When telling only a personal account, the journal is written completely from your perspective. Include special stories or important memories that have been shared. If you are creating an account of the individual's life, it is much easier to break down a journal into specific memories than try to share every detail. While the journal may be written solely by you, you can also ask close friends and family to offer their own personal stories to be included in the journal.
Journals are traditionally handwritten. If you decide to handwrite a journal, choose a blank journal. Blank journals can usually be purchased with eloquent and unique coverings, which will help personalize your gift's appearance. However, you also have the option of creating a printed journal with different binding options. Typed journals may be printed at home and then personally bound. Many publishing companies will also print and bind your work into a book according to your specifications.
Once all of the stories have been written or collected, depending on the journal style chosen, decide on how you want the journal to flow. Should the stories begin with the earliest memories and span to current day or would you prefer to randomly mix the stories? Once you have decided upon the journal's format, you can begin organizing the stories into the journal.
While a written journal makes a beautiful gift, a few extra touches can truly enhance it. Many items can be added to a journal. For example, individual photographs may be added in conjunction with each story/memory. They may also be added in a cluster to a portion of the journal, such as the middle or end, and showcase memories not included within the writings. Any newspaper article clippings or publicized written achievements can be added. Another personal element to add is any work by the recipient, such as written essays, poems, etc. In a handwritten journal, these items can be pasted in. For a typed journal, these may be scanned and added.
Misspelled words and other grammatical errors may not take away from this special gift, but they should still be avoided. Spelling errors could serve as a distraction to the reader while a misused word could change the entire meaning of the story being told. Not to mention, it could potentially be a bit embarrassing for the gift giver or writers as well.