Welcome to International Fake Journal Month 2013!

What is IFJM?
Please read the page "What Is IFJM" for details.
Learn the difference between Faux, Fake, and Fake Historical Journals.

2019 IFJM Celebration
IFJM has been suspended indefinitely. Please read the pinned post about this below.

Participants who Post Their Journals
A list of 2018 participants who are posting their fake journals this year will appear near the top of the right side bar of this blog around April 6. Lists of participants who posted their pages in 2010 through 2017 appear lower in the same column. Please pay them a visit and check out their fake journals.

View a Couple of Roz's Past Fake Journals
Roz's 2009 fake journal takes place in an alternate Twin Cites, where disease has killed the human and bird populations. (It ends up being an upbeat tale of friendship.) Watch a video flip through of Roz's 2009 fake journal here.

Read an explanation of Roz's insanely complex 2011 fake journal.

Tips on Keeping a Fake Journal
Click on "tips" in the category cloud.

Remember, "Life's so short, why live only one?"


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time to Start Thinking about Which Journal You'll Use for 2012's International Fake Journal Month!

Above: Clairefontaine notesbooks.
Click to view an enlargement.

April first is still a couple months away, but it isn't too early to start thinking about selecting a book to use for your 2012 fake journal. I've been keeping my eyes open for likely commercially bound journals. Since I typically use my own handmade journals for my visual journaling habit I find that using a commercially bound journal helps to distance myself from my character for the month.

I received a note from Goulet Pens the other day that they had new Clairefontaine notebooks in stock. I use the larger lined notebooks (about 8.25 x 11.75 inches) for my written journals. I use the smaller journals with grids on the page or blank pages for notebooks and logs in the studio (computer log, blog log, etc.) It was time to reorder. Then I noticed that they had the French rule journals in a smaller size. (Typically I've only seen them in the 8.25 x 11.75 inch size.) I use the larger French rule journals for collage and sketching journals when I want to work on smooth lined paper and wet media is not going to be used a lot (the pages will buckle probably more than most people would endure).

Above: View of a page of French ruled paper.
Click on the image to view an enlargement.
I ordered three of the French rule notebooks in the 6.75 x 8.75 inch size. These are perfect for carrying everywhere and could be just the thing for a prolific character to journal in (lots of pages). (I have no idea yet what direction I'm going this year.)

I also ordered 3 of the small journals with gridded pages. Goulet took great care in wrapping them securely in plastic wrap and bubble wrap. They arrived quickly in perfect condition. You don't get to select the cover color that you like, but I'm happy with all the colors in which they are made so it's all good.

Now that I have them in my hands I'm thinking more and more what character would use one of these French ruled journals for a visual journal.

I'll keep my eyes open for the next several weeks and my mind open to possibilities—I suggest you do the same. Read past posts on how to select a journal for the event (the types of considerations to keep in mind) if you haven't participated before. Most important—keep in mind what medium you'll be working in. I haven't decided yet, but I know, looking at these journals that if I decide to go completely with pen and ink they will be a great choice. It's time to start thinking about all the possibilities for 2012's International Fake Journal Month.

Note: I'm not affiliated with Goulet Pens at all, except as a happy customer.