A reading journal can be much more than a list of books you've read. Many people use their reading journal, reading log or book diary to collect quotes, reflections, trackers and little notes about their reading experiences.
If you're lacking inspiration for what to do in your journal, here are 15 page ideas you can try. The ideas work whether you're creating a creative reading journal with drawings and layouts, or if you prefer a more simple reading journal.
If you're new to the concept, you can start with our guide to en læsedagbog or the article about Reading journal for beginners.
1. List of books you want to read
A classic page in many reading journals is a list of books you'd like to read.
This list is often called a TBR list, which stands for “to be read”. If you want more ideas on how to organise your reading list, you can read our article about how you handle a growing TBR.
2. Reading tracker
A reading tracker gives you a quick overview of which books you have read.
For example, you can create a tracker where you:
- writes all the books you read
- Colour a field for each book
- drawing a bookshelf, where you fill in the books
You can also read our guide on here's how to make a reading tracker in your journal.
3. Quotation pages
Many readers love to save quotes from books.
You can create a page where you write:
- quotes that made an impression
- Sentences to remember
- passage, you find particularly beautifully written
Quote pages are also a good way to remember the books that have made the biggest impression.
4. Books read during the year
A page where you record all the books you read throughout the year gives a good overview.
Some make a simple list, while others make a graphical tracker where they fill in little book icons or boxes.
5. Genre tracker
A genre tracker helps you see which types of books you read the most.
You can, for example, register:
- Fantasy
- romance
- Crime
- non-fiction
- classics
After some time, you can see which genres you return to again and again.
6. Favourite books
Create a page where you write about the best books you have read.
You can update the list continuously as you find new favourites.
7. Books you want to re-read
Some books are worth reading more than once.
A page of books you'd like to re-read can be a good way to remember them.
8. Books from a specific genre
You can also create pages dedicated to specific genres.
For example, a page just for fantasy or a page for classic novels.
9. Reading goals
Some readers set goals for how many books they want to read in a year.
You can create a page where you write:
- your goal for the year
- How many books have you read
- how far you are from your goal.
10. Book Recommendations
Create a page where you write down books recommended by others.
These can be friends, Bookstagram, BookTok, or books you've seen mentioned online.
11. Authors you want to read more of
If you find an author you really like, you can make a list of other books by the same author.
12. Books that surprised you
An entertaining side could be books that surprised you positively.
These could be books you didn't have high expectations for, but which turned out to be fantastic.
13. Books that made the biggest impression
Some books stay with you long after you've finished reading them.
Create a page where you write the books that have made the biggest impression on you.
14. Monthly reading overview
You can also create a page for each month.
Here you can write which books you read that month and what you thought of them.
This type of page gives a good overview of your reading throughout the year.
15. Questions about your books
If you want to reflect more on your books, you can use questions or so-called reading journal prompts as a starting point.
You can find inspiration in our article with 25 questions for your reading journal.
Which notebook is best for a reading journal
Mange vælger en Dot grid notebook to their reading journal, because the dots make it easy to create layouts, trackers and creative pages.
You can also make your pages more creative with small details such as stickers or washi tape.
A reading journal doesn't need to be perfect or advanced. The most important thing is that you find a way to document your reading experiences that makes reading more enjoyable and makes it easier to remember the books that have made an impression on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can write an overview of the book, your thoughts on the plot and characters, memorable quotes, your personal reflections and opinions, and any questions you have about the book.
You can write quotes, reflections, notes, and thoughts about the books you read. Many also use their reading journal for lists and trackers.
What pages can you make in a reading journal?
Typical pages include TBR lists, reading trackers, quote pages, genre trackers, and overviews of books you have read.
Hvad er en TBR-liste?
A TBR list stands for “to be read” and is a list of books you would like to read.
How do you get started with a reading journal?
Start with a few simple pages such as a reading list, a tracker and a notes page. You can always expand with more pages later.
Which notebook is best for a reading journal?
Many prefer a dot grid notebook because the dots make it easy to create layouts, trackers and creative pages.
Skal en læsejurnal være kreativ?
No, a reading journal can be both simple and creative. The most important thing is that it helps you gather and remember your reading experiences.
