I haven't been RPing that long, but I've written a few journals. I feel like they are good for establishing backround events that would be hard to RP. For example my main character plays a Sultansworn, and part of the job is doing research, filling out paperwork, dealing with the Flames, and other such things. I feel like journals are a good place to describe such things, since I don't know any players who would want to be all those minor characters who only show up once.
