Words to Live By

This is the week when diarists begin to skip entries, while the truly committed write ever onward.

There’s something both comforting and compulsive about keeping a journal. One of my family members faithfully filled notebooks for 70 years, driven by a need to record details of his life, even though he never shared them.

Joel Hirschhorn understands that drive. The Academy Award-winning composer and best-selling author has kept a diary for more than 25 years.

After his recent move from Westlake Village to Agoura Hills, he joked that his diaries take up half the house he shares with wife, Jennifer Carter, his co-author on “Titanic Adventure: One Woman’s True Life Voyage Down to the Legendary Ocean Liner.”

Hirschhorn’s diary serves as confidant, psychiatrist and, most of all, means of keeping millions of memories from vanishing, he said.

“When I look at them now, during moments of depression, the diaries offer reassurance by bringing back wonderful highlights of my past,” he said.

“Sometimes, we all get a feeling our lives have blown by, that we haven’t lived fully. Keeping a diary lets us know how vibrant and rich our lives have actually been.”

He also finds the writing cathartic, allowing him to express his feelings honestly. As a teenager, he found it a way of analyzing his life and his problems. Later, diaries became a running soap opera, detailing every fight and reconciliation through his first marriage.

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When his memory blanks out on some less-than-flattering events, the diary nails them, he said.

From both a personal and professional perspective, creative writing teacher Claire Robey considers keeping a journal a valuable tool. The Oxnard resident encourages her students to use them to bring out their creativity, she said.

But she didn’t keep a journal until after her husband’s death, when support groups didn’t help her get through her grief.

“Someone gave me Julia Cameron’s book, ‘The Artist’s Way,’ and it was the most helpful thing to get me through this awful time,” Robey said.

“I wrote down all the bad things, the rotten things I was thinking--how angry I was at the world and at my husband for leaving me this way.”

She went through the book twice, following all the writing exercises, and said it made all the difference.

Obviously, keeping a journal isn’t for everyone, but for those inclined to try it, it isn’t too late. Browse through the intriguing collection of blank-page books at the bookstore. You’ll find spiral-bound, hard-bound or simple loose-leaf notebooks. They’re covered in leather, velvet, suede or just plain brown wrappers.

Consider these choices:

“Prayer Journal: Blank Book for Collecting Thoughts, Memories, Addresses and Recipes” ($12.95) by Artworks covers all the bases. Artworks also puts out a “Dream Journal” and a “Gratitude Journal,” $9.95 each.

Another Artworks product, “Floral Treasures Personal Journal” ($11.65), comes complete with pressed flowers. Then there’s “Literary Arts Journal” by Artemis ($10.95) and “Friendship” ($8.05) by Amore. If you worry about snoops in the family, there’s always the lock-and-key variety. For the younger set, there’s “Xenia Warrior Princess” by Antioch ($9.95). Or for the sensual, “Our Private Passions” by Chronicle Books ($19.95).

Some journals guide your memories, such as “Welcome to the World Baby Journal” by Flavia ($9.95). At the other end, there’s “A Grandparent’s Book: Thoughts, Memories and Hopes for a Grandchild,” produced by James Wagenvoord and Milton Kamen ($11.95).

Happy journal-keeping.

HAPPENINGS

* Monday: 12:30 p.m. The Monday Afternoon Book Club will discuss “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom. Barnes & Noble, 260 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 4:30 p.m. Story time for ages 9 to 12 will feature “The Dear American Diaries.” Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

* Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. The Ventura County Writers Club will hear Susan Marx discuss how to develop material for the screen. She is the author of “Exploring the Hollywood Jungle.” For more information, contact club president Joanne Sehnem at 579-9414. Borders, 497-8159.

* Wednesday: 7 p.m. The Wednesday night reading group will focus on “Falling Leaves” by Yen Mah. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., 339-9170.

* Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. J.A. Jance will discuss and sign her latest novel, “Kiss of the Bee.” Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 374-0084.

* Friday: noon, Michelle McGriff will sign her novel, “Majestic Secret of Romance.” Book Mall, 105 S. Oak St., Ventura, 641-2665.

* Friday: 1 p.m. The Creative Gathering Group will focus on “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, with facilitator Rosanne Savo. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 497-8159.

* Friday: 8 p.m. Author Tatiana Elmanovich will discuss and sign “Death: The Beginning.” Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Saturday: 1 p.m. Fun Club for Kids meets for the first time. Ventura Barnes & Noble, 339-9170.

* Saturday: 2 p.m. Local author Robin Westmiller will discuss and sign “Red Wine for Breakfast.” Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble, 446-2820.

Information about book signings, writers groups and publishing events can be e-mailed to anns40@aol.com or faxed to 647-5649).