Not all characters are literate. And there's nothing to say that a journal couldn't also be just a collection of sketches, for those more artistically inclined. I think Gerik and Selene have done something like this (though I think both are also able to write so it's not necessarily done to replace literacy).
To address the question of what sort of reasons one could have for starting a journal in-character, there could be many! Perhaps some event took place in his or her recent past that was significant enough that it evoked a need to chronicle it and the feelings and thoughts formed as a result of that. Perhaps the character was just bored and didn't have anything else to do. Perhaps it started as a shopping list and they got creative. Think of reasons why you might start keeping a journal. Maybe someone in-character suggested it would be a good idea to get your thoughts down in writing. I've seen a lot of journals where the first entry was, "I hate writing journals but XYZ said they thought it would help with <whatever>," and that's as great a way to start one as any!
But I'll reiterate that the experience itself I think is one of the most rewarding aspects of RP for me. And I know a handful of folks have surprised me with compliments about it and such. I tend to assume that nobody ever reads it because I don't write it with any sort of audience in mind. So that always baffled me a little, but I'm glad that others are able to derive enjoyment from the process as well, and not just me. ^_^
To address the question of what sort of reasons one could have for starting a journal in-character, there could be many! Perhaps some event took place in his or her recent past that was significant enough that it evoked a need to chronicle it and the feelings and thoughts formed as a result of that. Perhaps the character was just bored and didn't have anything else to do. Perhaps it started as a shopping list and they got creative. Think of reasons why you might start keeping a journal. Maybe someone in-character suggested it would be a good idea to get your thoughts down in writing. I've seen a lot of journals where the first entry was, "I hate writing journals but XYZ said they thought it would help with <whatever>," and that's as great a way to start one as any!
But I'll reiterate that the experience itself I think is one of the most rewarding aspects of RP for me. And I know a handful of folks have surprised me with compliments about it and such. I tend to assume that nobody ever reads it because I don't write it with any sort of audience in mind. So that always baffled me a little, but I'm glad that others are able to derive enjoyment from the process as well, and not just me. ^_^
"One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others." Â ~ Lewis Carol
Eva's Journals  |  Eva's Wiki Page (coming soon)  |  RP Handbook
Eva's Journals  |  Eva's Wiki Page (coming soon)  |  RP Handbook
