Write the date at the beginning of every entry.
Write on both sides of every page; do not skip pages (save the trees).
Write freely about your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Remember, this is a private journal, and no one but you will read it.
Don't stop and think too much about what to write; instead write about what you think. This particular activity is a stream-of-consciousness activity meant to encourage the tapping into of honest feelings and the use of writing as a thinking (and feeling) tool.
Don't stop writing until the writing session has ended. As long as you have thoughts and feelings, you have something to express.
Don't share your writing with anyone during class, and don't interrupt others while they are writing. The purpose of this activity is self-expression, not communication with others. Please respect the sanctity of this private time.
If you are an English-learner and you are nervous about writing in English, begin by writing freely in your native language, and then use these helping phrases to also write in English.
Finally, and importantly, write the truth about your life because good writers write the truth.