i can only go by my 'side' as a sub
Quote Originally Posted by Pastor View Post

So how do you use your subs journal? Do you direct it? Do you assign subjects or topics? And when you read the journal, how do you respond to what you read? (I know this last one is very general. But I hope that you will provide an example and how you handled it.)

-Pastor
Icehawk gave me a minimum amout of words i should use at the end of each day so that i had to be more desciptive other than 'i was punished today and i didnt deserve it..all i said was im too tired to do such and such' or ' it was great today we tried so and so and i loved it' instead i had to fill my minimum quota of words and i found i was expressing feelings and thoughts rather than just bare facts.

he also told me from the very beginning to be totally honest and not be worried about repercussions as whatever i wrote were my feelings and they're natural and promised he would never ever criticise me which he has always stuck to
he only randomly reads it so that i wasnt prepared and only write 'good' things that wouldnt offend him.

to us a journal is about how things progress and a way of getting things out i might be uncomfortable with face to face and when he reads it we then discuss anything we feel would be of help.
its also a way of letting things 'cool down' for eg if ive been really p***d off something or felt really s***y about something minor then when he reads it i am more rational and can apply logic rather than emotion when talking about it.
we dont use it for assignments or tasks, although obviously i have to write about them when ive done them.

they're great to look back on to see any changes if you've learnt anything and i also use it for non D/ related things as with any journal its handy to have if references for dates,events etc are needed