Many people use a reading journal to remember the books they read. However, sometimes it can be hard to know what you should actually write. Here, prompts can be a huge help.
Questions in a reading journal, reading log or reading diary act as small prompts that help you reflect on the story, the characters and your own thoughts about the book. Many people also call these questions reading journal prompts, because they give you a starting point for what you can write about.
If you are new to the concept, you can start by reading our guide to en læsedagbog or our article about Reading journal for beginners.
You can also find inspiration in the article what do you write in a reading journal, where we go through different ways to use your journal.
Questions about your first impression
When you start a new book, you can write down your initial thoughts.
why did I choose this book
what do I expect from the story
what do I hope to get out of the book
what mood do the first pages give
Does the book seem different than I had imagined?.
These questions can help you remember how you experienced the book at the beginning. When you later flip back through your journal, it is often interesting to see if your expectations were met.
Questions about the characters
The characters are often what makes a story memorable.
For example, you can write:
which character is the most interesting
who do I trust the least
which character reminds me of someone I know
Which character develops the most
who would I like to get to know better.
This type of reflection makes it easier to remember the books later.
Questions during the book
While you are reading, you can write short notes in your reading journal.
what do I think is going to happen
which scene made the biggest impression
there was something that surprised me
did my opinion on a character change
There is a quote I would like to save.
If you often save quotes, it might be a good idea to create a dedicated quote page in your journal.
Questions when the book is finished
Once you have finished reading the book, you can gather your thoughts.
what was the best thing about the book
what worked less well
which scene do I remember most clearly
would I recommend the book to others
what feeling am I left with.
Some also choose to give the book a rating or write a few lines about who they would recommend it to.
Personal reflections
A reading journal doesn't just have to be about the story itself. It can also be about your own experience as a reader.
did I learn anything new from the book
did the book change the way I look at something
why the book made an impression on me
what was the mood of the book
I would read other books by the same author.
This type of question makes your reading journal more personal.
Use questions as inspiration
You don't need to answer every question for each book. Sometimes a single question is enough to start a reflection.
If you want more ideas for pages, you can also read our guide with 9 spreads for your reading journal.
If you are working with a reading list, you can also find inspiration in our article about how you handle a growing TBR.
Which notebook should you use for a reading journal
Mange vælger en Dot grid notebook for your reading journal, because the dots make it easy to create your own layouts and trackers.
You can also make your pages more personal with small details like stickers or washi tape.
The most important thing is not how perfect your reading journal looks. The most important thing is that it helps you remember the books that have made an impression on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should one answer all questions
No. Many people only choose a few questions per book. The purpose is to help you get started with reflecting on your reading experience.
Can you use an ordinary notebook
Yes. Many people use a regular notebook or a dot grid notebook for their reading journal.
Can you combine a reading journal with a reading app
Yes. Some people log their books in an app, but use their reading journal for reflections, quotes and thoughts about the books.
