Pen & Hand - A Journaling Community

Pen & Hand - A Journaling Community

Welcome to Pen & Hand! We are an encouraging community of people who journal for health, clarity, calm, creativity and perspective.

Whether you're an avid journalista or a newbie, we're here for you. Drop in to find or contribute tips, ideas, reflections. Pen & Hand is a place to enjoy remarkable life stories and to find resources that can help you capture your own. Writer, blogger and workshop giver Betsey O'Brien will help you explore practical, effective ways to record your life experiences. Whether your words are purely fo

Our Story

Hi! I’m Betsey O’Brien, a resource for avid journal writers and newbies who aren’t sure how to do it yet, but want to give journaling a try. Welcome to the Pen & Hand writing community!

In a world that feeds us far too much stress, journaling gives us a way out. In our own private pages we can dump out all the questions, worries and anxieties that claim so much space in our minds and hearts. We can rant, rave, swear, and say all the stuff we DON’T want others to hear ... and in doing so, feel calm and clear again.

Pen & Hand is a place to meet others who journal for perspective, for creativity, for life direction, or just for the hell of it. It’s a spot to meet new writer friends. It’s a place to find and exchange tips for getting the most out of your writing time, whether you spend 5 minutes a day or treat yourself to lovely, long sessions once or twice a week. If you have a way of journaling that works for you, share it up! Post questions ANYTIME so the group can hear from you and help you.

I am a 24/7 advocate for journaling -- so if you’ve got a group in the Chicago area who would love to host a talk or workshop, send me a quick email. We can put a custom session together for your personal or corporate crew. [email protected]