Want to learn how to start a reading journal? A reading journal is a place to track the books you want to read (your TBR, or To-Be-Read, list), the books you’ve finished, and whatever else you feel like recording about them. In fact, learning how to start a reading journal only takes a few minutes, and all you need is something to write in and something to write with.
Getting your reading journal working only takes a few simple moves:
- Choose a journaling format: physical or digital, whichever feels easiest for you.
- Set up a simple TBR list layout: title, author, and why the book interests you.
- Add three to five books: then start reading the first one.
- Create a simple Reading Log: a place to record the books you finish.
- Log finished books: update your Reading Log, then add a new book to your TBR list.
That’s the simplest way to start a reading journal. Read on for more details, ideas for adding to your journal, tips for keeping your journal stress-free, and a list of common mistakes to avoid.
In this article:
- What Is a Reading Journal (and Why Bother?)
- Choose Your Format
- Decide What Information to Capture
- Set Up a Simple Template to Start a Reading Journal
- How to Add Books to Your TBR List (and How to Prune Them)
- Extra Organizational Ideas for Your Journal
- Extra Creative Ideas for Your Journal
- How to Keep Your Journal Stress-Free
- Common Reading Journal Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Reading Journal
- Conclusion
What Is a Reading Journal (and Why Bother?)
A reading journal is simply a space – whether a physical notebook, a digital document, or an app – to track your reading journey. You can jot down the books you want to dive into next (your TBR list) and add a record of the books you’ve finished, along with ratings, favorite quotes, and your thoughts.
So, why bother?
- It builds a regular reading habit. If you want to read more consistently, a plan can help. (Struggling to read regularly? See our post on finding it hard to read books.)
- It uncovers your true reading tastes. Many people don’t actually know what types of books they’ll enjoy. Tracking what catches your eye helps you figure out exactly what you like to read and why.
- It helps cure “reader’s block,” the reader’s version of writer’s block. Instead of staring blankly at a shelf trying to choose the next book, your journal can act as an instant menu with your next read already chosen.
- It helps you read what you own and buy only what you’ll read. Unread books stay in view, impulse buys drop, and books you’ll never read can be donated or passed on.
- It saves your recommendations and clears your mental clutter. You don’t have to memorize book titles when they’re captured in your journal.
Choose Your Format
Once you’ve decided that you want to start your reading journal, your next decision is to choose a format that you’d like to use.
You can use a physical journal, a digital (software) journal, or a hybrid of both.
Let’s look at each format, so you can choose the perfect match for your own journaling style.
Physical journals:
If you like holding a journal and being able to turn the pages with your hands and you enjoy the feeling of writing with a pen or pencil, then one of these could be for you.
Blank notebooks: A blank notebook where you can set your own layout and write your own headings and descriptors from scratch
Binders: Loose leaf pages that you can customize and collect into a binder, arranged how you prefer
Ready-made Journals: A pre-printed reading journal with ready-made layout, design and graphics.
Printable Digital Templates: A ready-made digital (software) journal with prepared layout, design and graphics that you can purchase, download, print out and bind yourself.
| Physical Format | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Blank notebook | Arguably the cheapest option. Easy to start today. Total freedom over layout. | Layout setup difficult to change later. Hard to reorder or edit entries. Need to transcribe if changing layout later. |
| Binder | Pages can be added, removed, and re-ordered. Sections stay organized. Easy to prune old sections. | Bulkier to move around with. Needs a hole punch and loose pages. |
| Ready-made journal | Layout and design are done for you. Looks refined. | May have pre-dated or other sections that don’t match your pacing or style. Unused sections can add anxiety. |
| Printable template | Reusable. Print only the pages you need. Replace a page if you make a mistake. | Requires a printer and paper. Extra setup (printing, binding). |
Digital (Software) journals:
If you prefer to use your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop and you like to write with a stylus or keyboard, then one of these could be for you.
DIY documents: A completely customized journal created by you, using tools like Google Sheets, Excel, or Microsoft Word.
Pre-made Digital Templates: Pre-made planners with layout, design and graphics, for use in note-taking apps like Goodnotes.
Dedicated Reading Apps: Platforms or Apps designed specifically for book tracking, like Goodreads
| Digital Format | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| DIY document | Fully customizable. Searchable, sortable, and easy to reorder. | Can be plain-looking without design effort. Design can be high effort. |
| Pre-made digital template | Attractive layout with no design effort. Type or handwrite with a stylus. Easy to duplicate content. | Requires a compatible app. Can require a tablet device. |
| Dedicated reading app | Quick to set up. Can include book search, covers, and recommendations. Can include adding book info by title or barcode scan. | Less control over layout. Features and pricing vary. Your data lives on someone else’s platform. |
Decide What Information to Capture
Whatever layout or format you choose, your reading journal is only as good as what you track and what value you actually get out of it. If you’ve never journaled before, your best bet may be to start with the bare minimum, then add only what feels useful as you go along. For the minimalist approach, these are the essential fields we recommend to get you started:
Title: The title of the book
Author: The person who wrote the book
Reason: Why this book made your list (for example: who recommended it? or what piques your interest in this book?)
Beyond the title, author and reason, here is some extra info you might want to log:
Priority level (do you want to read this book “next” or “soon” or “someday”, for example)
The vibe or mood of the book (Tear-Jerker, high-energy, fast-paced, cozy, light-hearted, etc)
The book genre (Classical, Romantic, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, etc)
Whether or not you already own the book
Book format preference (physical, ebook or audio)
Approximate book length in pages
Re-read (whether you have read this book before)
Attempted before (whether you’ve started reading this book before)
Obviously, your mileage may vary, so just track whatever actually helps you stay engaged and hungry to read your next book.
Set Up a Simple Template to Start a Reading Journal
Let’s look at the most basic template you can use when you start a reading journal.
A basic reading journal needs only two pages: a TBR list for the books you plan to read, and a Reading Log for the books you’ve finished. Pick the format that matches your choice above.
Physical format option – A Notebook Reading Journal:
First, the TBR list. With just a notebook and pen and writing the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Reason”, you could create the layout shown here:
Fill in the TBR list as shown above with one entry for each book you want to read.
Now, the Reading Log. For your Reading Log, with just the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Date Finished”, a simple handwritten notebook entry could look like this:
So, after reading through the first books in your TBR list, tracking this in your Reading Log, then adding more books to your TBR list, your Reading Journal could look like this:
Remember, the books listed here are just to show you an example of what the simplest Reading Journal might look like. If you don’t want to read these books, that’s ok, you’ll be making your own choices.
Digital format option – A Spreadsheet Reading Journal:
If you prefer a digital format, a spreadsheet (Google Sheets, Excel, or similar) is an easy way to start. Your TBR list, with the headers “Title,” “Author,” and “Reason,” could look like this:
Your Reading Log with the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Date Finished” could look like this:
So you could have your TBR list on one tab and your Reading Log on another tab, like this:
You can always add more columns or tabs later, but this is all you’d need to get started.
How to Add Books to Your TBR List (and How to Prune Them)
Your active TBR list is most useful when you add books quickly and trim it regularly.
Adding a book to your TBR list
- Write down recommendations right away. Add one line per book, ideally at least the title, author, and reason for adding each book.
- Also, add books you come across yourself, say, at a bookstore or after reading a review. If you think you might want to read it someday, add it to your list.
- Noting the reason for adding each book will jog your memory later.
- Keep your active TBR list to three to five books.
- When you finish reading one book, add one more to the end of your active TBR list.
- Anything beyond five can go on a “Maybe Later” list.
Pruning books from your TBR list
Your active TBR list should always feel manageable, so make sure to regularly review and prune your list.
A good rule of thumb is to review your list whenever you finish a book, and do a bigger trim once a season. While reviewing your active TBR list:
- If a book no longer feels right, cross it off or move it to a “Maybe Later” list.
- If you keep skipping a book, ask yourself, “Why am I saving this?”
Reading shouldn’t feel like a job. So if your TBR list stops motivating you, change it up and never feel guilty about doing that.
Extra Organizational Ideas for Your Journal
Once your journaling is running smoothly, these layout ideas can help you organize your reading journal in ways that fit how you read.
Ways to Sort Your Reading List
Maybe Later: A parking spot for books you’re unsure about, separate from your active TBR list (see How to Add Books to Your TBR List above).
By Mood: Section your journal into mood themes like “Spooky” or “Romance”, so you can match your journaling to how you feel that day.
By Season: Add seasonal sections to your journal and create as the year unfolds.
Saga chronicle: For multi-book series, a section to journal your way through series of books from start to finish.
Formats: Sections for Physical Books, Audio Books, Digital Read Books (Kindle, PDFs, etc), to help you journal based on how you consume your books.
Sections to Add to Your Reading Journal
Quotes: You could have a favorite quotes section, for quotes that moved you or inspired you, from the books you’ve read.
Coming releases: A section for books you want to read, that haven’t been released yet, you could add release date information, etc
Owned books: You could create a section dedicated to the books you already own by cataloging them and journaling some basic information about them. You might be inspired to add some books you own to your active reading list.
Extra Creative Ideas for Your Journal
When you’re in the habit of working through your active TBR list, updating your Reading Log and maybe more sections, you might want to start working on your journal’s look and feel. Here are some ideas to help you with that.
Decorating Ideas for Your Reading Journal
Visual Bookshelf: You could draw empty book outlines on shelves, which you can write on and color as you finish each book.
Ready-made stickers: these are great for filling blank spaces in your margins or placing stars next to your top-rated reads.
Custom stickers: You can buy blank sheets of sticker paper, then create and print your own custom sticker designs on your home printer.
Miniature Book Covers: You can print out small images of book covers and create a dedicated section just for book covers, or stick a cover beside each book in your TBR list, or add them to your Reading Log.
Textures and Finishing Touches
Kraft Paper: Adding pieces of Kraft paper is an easy way to give your journal pages instant texture and dimension. Quick tip: make sure you search for it with a “K”. If you search for “Craft paper” with a “C,” you’ll see generic art supplies.
Ribbon or string: You can fix pieces of ribbon or string into your journal for decoration or to bookmark important pages.
Washi tape: You can make DIY index tabs for your journal using washi tape or buy different colored tape for custom decoration.
Preserved Botanicals: You can add pressed leaves or flower petals to your journal for a soft, organic feel.
Wax Seals: Be careful not to burn yourself, but if you know what you are doing, you can add wax seals in your journal to create an old world or mysterious feel.
These are just some ideas for inspiration. If you let your creativity flow, you can make your journal into something really special to you.
How to Keep Your Journal Stress-Free
Knowing how to start a reading journal is only half the battle — keeping it going without stress is just as important. Your reading journal is only useful if you’re actually journaling and it’s so easy to stop if it feels boring or like work.
Here are some tips to help you keep it light, fun, and easy to maintain.
Just start. Use any available notebook or app. Instead of waiting around for the perfect store-bought reading journal, start with what you have. Then, if you happen to find your dream pre-made journal later on, you can copy your early entries right into that.
Begin your TBR list with three to five books. Resist the urge to add dozens of titles on day one. A long list can look like a mountain to climb. Extra ideas can sit in your “Maybe Later” list (see How to Add Books to Your TBR List above).
Keep entries short. Using your TBR list as an example, it’s good enough to note a title, an author, and a few words on why this book caught your attention. For example, if a friend recommended it, write “Ashley recommended it” and move on. Also, do this with other sections you update in your journal. Do this with other sections you update in your journal too. The easiest journal to keep is one you can update in seconds on a busy weeknight. Save the decorating for days when you have time and feel inspired.
Make Journaling Easy to Keep Up
Make it effortless. Leave your journal on your nightstand or in your favorite reading spot, and jot down any thoughts you have the moment you finish reading that day. Otherwise, having to hunt for your journal every time you want to update it creates an extra mental hurdle.
Keep everything in one place. Resist starting separate journals for quotes, reviews, and wish lists. After all, juggling multiple reading journals can lead to burnout. If you capture a thought on a sticky note or your phone, transfer it to your journal at the first chance, then trash the original.
Use it as a menu, not a mandate. If your TBR list only has long sagas and you’re more in the mood for something short or light-hearted, go for it. Add the new book to your list (it takes only seconds) and read it. You can return to the sagas later or cross them off. It’s your journal, not your boss.
Log your wins. Finished a book? Make sure to update your Reading Log to mark the occasion. Over time, looking back over your accomplishments can inspire you to do more.
Practice zero guilt. Missed a few weeks of journaling? No problem—taking a break doesn’t mean you failed. Instead of trying to do catch-up work, just jot down a quick note about what you’re reading or excited to read today. Even if your journal has been abandoned in a drawer for months, you can always dust it off, log your current book, and pick your next adventure.
Common Reading Journal Mistakes to Avoid
Even with a great routine, a few simple mistakes can suck the fun right out of your journal.
Forgetting the “why.” A cold list of book titles is easy to abandon, because it’s disconnected from the spark that made you interested in those books. Even a few words (“Sarah’s favorite” or “a cozy mystery”) help bring that spark back when you’re choosing your next read.
Letting the active trackers balloon. A long reading list of books you don’t feel inspired to read is no fun at all. The same goes for visual trackers: a bookshelf layout with 50 or 100 blank spines to fill in can be motivating, while one with hundreds is overwhelming. Keep your trackers manageable.
Treating it like homework. If writing in your journal gives you a dreading-the-assignment feeling, something has gone wrong. Instead, skip the book report. Write one sentence about how a book made you feel, or just give it a rating. Blank pages, crossed-out words, and messy handwriting are all just fine.
Comparing your journal to online ones. Elaborate, artful journals on social media or TV are usually polished products built over many hours, often by professionals. Enjoy them for inspiration, but don’t measure yourself against them. The same goes for extras like book cover stickers: they look great, but resizing and printing tiny covers can become a lot of work. Unless you enjoy that, buy pre-made stickers or order custom ones.
Tracking too much. Resist adding a dozen tracking metrics and sections at once. If every update takes an hour, you’ll quit. So start with the basics and add something new only when you find yourself wanting that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Reading Journal
How do I start a reading journal?
To start a reading journal, pick a format (physical or digital) and set up a simple TBR list with a title, author, and reason for each book. Add three to five books, start reading the first one, then create a Reading Log to record each book you finish. The whole setup takes only a few minutes.
What should I include in a reading journal?
Start with the basics: title, author, and the reason you want to read each book. In your Reading Log, add the date you finished each book.Then, once that feels easy, you can add extras like ratings, a one-sentence reaction, or favorite quotes.”
How many books should be on my TBR list?
Three to five books is a manageable active list. Otherwise, a longer list can start to feel like a chore. Anything beyond five can go on a separate “Maybe Later” list.
What is the difference between a TBR list and a Reading Log?
A TBR list holds the books you plan to read, along with why each one caught your attention. A Reading Log records the books you have finished, with at least the date you finished. Together, they make a basic reading journal, so you need both to see the full picture.
Should I use a physical or digital reading journal?
Either works, so choose whichever you will actually use. A notebook is cheap and quick to start, while a spreadsheet or app is easier to search, sort, and reorder. You can also use a hybrid approach, but keep it simple so your journaling stays enjoyable rather than feeling like extra work.
What should I do with books I am not sure about?
Move them to a “Maybe Later” list so they stay out of your active TBR list. Review your list whenever you finish a book, and cross off anything that no longer feels right. See How to Add Books to Your TBR List for more on this.
Conclusion
Your reading journal is your personal time capsule for your reading experience. It is a space where you can preserve inspiring quotes, surprising plot twists and the exact emotions a story stirred within you. Even if you’re completely new to journaling, the tips in this guide on how to start a reading journal will help keep the experience effortless and fulfilling.
Are you ready to start your first journal, or are you looking to upgrade your current one? Drop a comment below to share the next book on your reading list and why you chose it. We always love to hear what you’re reading!
