February 17, 2026
Dear diary: keep it brief, keep it spicy
Approaches to writing two-sentence journal entries
Two-sentence journaling sparks a mini-war: paper purists vs phone-note fans
TLDR: The author shares simple ways to keep a journal in just two sentences, from scrap-paper drafts to Google Keep notes. Commenters split between loving the minimalism and mocking it as productivity hype, with one notable shoutout to the Thousand Year Old Vampire journaling game.
The two-sentence journal craze is back, and the comments are louder than a coffee shop at 8 a.m. Fans split fast: paper purists worship the Moleskine and the author’s Flaubert-ish rewrite ritual; phone people cheer the Google Keep method as “a pocket brain.” Minimalists call it liberating, skeptics snark it’s “productivity cosplay.” Memes flew: “Two sentences? My therapist just got unemployed,” plus a “Flaubert Challenge” where folks rewrite the same line all day. Many loved the analog/digital mix; others argued this is overthinking diary time—and yes, someone swore two sentences should be haiku.
Then, the curveball: gamers invaded. RhysU shouted out Thousand Year Old Vampire, a journaling-story game referenced in the companion piece, and half the thread suddenly wanted prompts, not rules. Some begged for daily “two-line quests,” others warned prompts kill spontaneity. Meanwhile, productivity diehards debated whether entries should be raw confession or polished micro-essay. Through the chaos, one truth emerged: brief beats blank. But the real drama? Whether we’re capturing life—or auditioning for our future biographers.
Key Points
- •The author shares follow-up guidance on composing two-sentence journal entries due to strong reader interest.
- •Entries are usually finalized in a handwritten notebook but often begin as drafts elsewhere.
- •Method 1: Draft on scrap paper during work breaks and iteratively refine sentences throughout the day.
- •An anecdote about Gustave Flaubert is cited to illustrate iterative sentence refinement (not verified by the author).
- •Method 2: Use Google Keep on a smartphone as an always-available space to capture and develop ideas.