Which "voice" do you use most often in journaling?

[vanguardgator]

Hi. After numerous changes and do-overs, I have given myself until Sunday to finalize my Project 365 layout design so I can begin to plug in photos and make forward progress. I wrote out some journaling bits for my first photos tonight, and got stuck trying to determine the best "voice" to use (like whether to go with first person, use my actual name or go with what my kids call me).

For example, if there is a picture of me cooking at the stove...I was torn on whether to go with something along the lines of:
(1) "I am cooking..."
(2) "Heather is cooking..."
(3) "Mama is cooking..."

Similarly, with photos of my kiddos (which will be most of the pictures)...I was grappling over whether to call my kids by their names like, "Graham had fun at the playground" or "You had so much fun on the playground today."

I imagine there is no real right or wrong answer, and I do see variety in the galleries. Was just wondering if there tended to be a majority preference toward using one voice or another when journaling about yourself and others? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

[huddlestonh]

It depends on what I'm scrapping and how I want to journal it. Sometimes I journal as if the subject (if it's not me) is talking. Sometimes I use "I" & "me" and sometimes "mom." I have noticed that when I'm scrapping pictures of my boys I usually talk to them.

[Lynn Grieveson]

Nearly all my pages are about my daughters. I usually use "I" when I am talking about myself and "you" when talking about the child.

I figure the albums will be my gift to them, and belong to them. So that's why I switched to this very direct journaling style several years ago.

[Elena]

I agree with Lynn... these are your stories, so it makes sense to use "I."

[muddygirl]

In my 365 Journaling I tend to use "clipped" voice. More like captions than journaling, so for you example I would write " Cooking dinner". No person. But if I want to explain a bit more about the photo I use what is appropriate, so if the photo is about something directy related to me, i'll use "I or I'm", but for a photo like Me and my ds snuggling on the couch when he is sick, I use "Mummy". Now that i'm writing it down it seems complicated and disjointed. Sorry not much help

[carollee]

In my P365 I used "I". But in my family history book I spoke in the third person, even though I wrote it. But it was hard to speak like that. Stick with what feels natural to you. Because when you get it printed, however you do, you'll have on it somewhere that it was "by you", so anyone reading will then know who "I" is.

Gosh that's the worst grammar ever isn't it? LOL

[anxela]

I almost always use "I" when I'm writing. And "you" for my kids, most of the time. It's what feels natural to me, but everyone has a different style. I use other voices occasionally, but not very often. When I do, it might be when I'm talking about my kids, writing their names instead of "you". It all depends on the layout/ topic. But it feels more natural with "you" than their names on most layouts. Again - I'm repeating - this is what's natural for me, it might not be right for you. Good luck figuring this out!

[katrinak]

I speak in the first person "I" and most often talk to whoever I intent the journaling, so yes, sometimes I talk to myself

[Serenoa]

That's an interesting question. I think, for me, it depends on who is going to see the LO or book. I recently finished a book of my parent's lives that was going to be viewed by many family members (and some non-family that didn't know me). Those pages were captioned with clipped or third-person phrases. If the LO is going directly from me to a certain person, I will use I and you. But I think I mostly use third-person as I usually feel more like a story-teller with my pages.

[MIDA78466]

I usually speak in the first person.

[vanguardgator]

Thank you so much everyone for your comments, which all made sense given different situtations. I can see how the first person approach and also the storyteller approach can both be effective depending on the layout and the intended audience/recipient of a book. This was so helpful!

[happysuz]

Wow, great question! For my 365 book I am using "I" for me and the name of whatever family member "Kit," or "Bill," or maybe "Daddy." For my general family scrapbook, I take the same approach. I have a separate book for my DD in which I use "you" referring to her.

Suz

[Scrapbird]

Originally Posted by katrinak

I speak in the first person "I" and most often talk to whoever I intent the journaling, so yes, sometimes I talk to myself

Me, too, Katrina!
Like Muddygirl, I use "clipped journaling" most of the time on my 365 layouts.
This was a very interesting question to bring up.

[twirlerzmom]

Thank you for posting this question! This is something I've been wondering about also. I'm working on my grandbabies albums and was having the same problem, wondering how to "tell" the story. I found myself opting to tell it as I was speaking to my grandbabies, so "I", "Nana" and "Mommy" seem to prevail throughout the journaling. Now I'm reassured a bit knowing others wrangled over this same issue! lol

[MeEmMom]

Almost every LO that I make has three versions. That is because I print three different books each year... one for me and one each for my dd's. I wanted to make sure they each had a copy of their childhood photos, but I also wanted to make sure that I have them when the grow up and move out. (On a side note....boy, is this so much easier with digital than it was with paper!)

Anyway, most LO's are exactly the same except for the journaling. I always first write the journaling from my perspective for my book. Usually with a third party in mind (more of a historical record from me) so I use "I" for me and then use everyone else's names. Then I make a duplicate of the journaling and change it as if I am writing to each of my daughters. Sometimes that means different journaling for each and sometimes I can get away with one that will be used for both if I am just using "I" for me and "you" for them. I like their books to sound more like I am writing to them.

So, I guess I would say that you have to decide who your audience is going to be. For my Project 365 last year, I decided that I probably would not make copies for my dd's of that particular book (they already have their yearly book, so this project was more for me.) Therefore, I used more of the journaling style I use in my books along with more of the "clipped journaling" that others have already mentioned.

Thanks for starting this topic, it is very interesting to read how others handle this.

[Steph]

I use the first person almost exclusively.

[dorah]

Depends on what works with the page. Also if I am doing a page about a particular person I will address that journaling to that person.

[justmp]

I almost always write my journaling from my perspective. I do find it challenging on my Project 365 pages since it's "our" book and not my book.

[earlofoxford]

I nearly always journal in first person.

[ValerieP]

I switch-but try to stay in the same voice with each. Although, the Murray piece I just lifted-switches from 1st to 3rd-interesting effect it done well

[Julie DeGuia]

I guess I am a bit all over. I believe I always use first person when referring to myself, but with this kids I mostly use their names. If it is a page about one child and the journaling is a bit more personal I will switch and "talk to them" using "you."

[Heidi2008]

My journaling is usually addressed as if I were talking to Lana, just because eventually she will have all my albums and books

[annaaspnes]

Usually No. 2, but I like to switch it up to keep it interesting!

[kaleidoscope]

Probabably very wrong. LOL I use a mixed bag. I like to use names for the sake that others might see/read the pages (especially if I am so lucky as to have them handed down like heirlooms) but I will also use 'we'. Like "One day we all went to the park and (ds name) and (dd name) had fun playing at the playground. We brought a picnic and Mommy made the sandwiches while Daddy played catch with the kids." Or "Mommy made the costume (ds name) wore for Halloween. I used a red sweatsuit and...." I try to tell something about when the pictures were taken (where, when, etc.) and who's in them. Sometimes mentioning people who aren't in the pictures but went with us.

[lisa.hinrichs]

I also use a mixed bag of journaling. Sometimes it just depends on the intended audience. Since I want someone to be able to pick up one of my layouts/books in the infinate future, I usually try to give as much information as possible. It's so frustrating to find a photo, and not having a clue who it was, or where it came from.

[kaleidoscope]

Originally Posted by lisa.hinrichs

I also use a mixed bag of journaling. Sometimes it just depends on the intended audience. Since I want someone to be able to pick up one of my layouts/books in the infinate future, I usually try to give as much information as possible. It's so frustrating to find a photo, and not having a clue who it was, or where it came from.

Exactly. If I just say 'me', 'I', and 'you' who's going to know who's in the pictures besides 'me' and 'you'? (And that's if we keep our memories!)

[esther_a]

Love reading what everyone feels about this. I don't use "mommy" in the journaling because my kids are older. I often feel guilty that it is my voice and my story on the pages and try to journal in third person but it just doesn't work. So I've given up, and it is all my voice!

[kaleidoscope]

Originally Posted by esther_a

Love reading what everyone feels about this. I don't use "mommy" in the journaling because my kids are older.

I do it based on the time period of the photos. If my kids are babies, I'll use mommy but it's mom when they get older. LOL