Here are a few ideas to keeping a great journal:
Journals should be snapshots filled with sights, sounds, smells, concerns, insights, doubts, fears, and critical questions about issues, people and, most importantly, yourself.
Write freely. A journal is not a work log of tasks, events, times and dates.
Grammar or spelling should not be stressed in your writing yet notice repetitions or patterns. These may tell you about how you pay attention to details or if they affect your other writings.
Write an entry each day. If you can’t write a full entry, jot down random thoughts, images so that you can return later and expand into a colorful verbal picture.
Honesty is the most important element to successful journals.
See Reflection: Getting Learning Out of Serving, Mark Cooper.