Creating a new journal in Dreavie is as easy as writing a WhatsApp message – except this message is for yourself. Let's walk through the process together.
How to Start a New Journal
The Magic Plus Button
No matter where you are in Dreavie, the path to a new journal always starts with the plus button – but it can do more than you think.
On Mobile (iOS/Android):
- The plus button sits centrally in the bottom navigation
- Quick tap: Opens the text editor directly – perfect for quick thoughts
- Long press: A menu appears with all options:
- Text editor for classic entries
- Camera icon for journal scans
- Mindmap for visual thoughts
On Desktop:
- In journal overview: Plus button bottom right
- In sidebar: Plus button top right next to the logo
- One click opens the editor directly
Alternative Routes:
- In journal overview: Three dots top right → Scan journal
- Via bottom navigation: Tap directly on "Journal"
The Journal Editor: Your Creative Space
The Basics
Once you tap the plus, your personal writing space opens:
The Title (optional)
At the top, you can give your moment a title. "Monday Thoughts", "Last Night's Dream" or just leave it blank – you decide.
Why optional? Sometimes you only know what it was really about after writing. No pressure to find the perfect title.
The Main Collection
This is where the magic happens. Just start typing. Dreavie saves automatically in the background – no save button, no worries. You can fully focus on your thoughts.
Assigning to a Collection
Above the title, you'll see a button with the current collection (default "All Entries"). Tap it to open collection selection:
- You see all your collections with their icons
- Choose one or stay with "All Entries"
- You can change this anytime – even after saving
Pro tip: Don't have to decide immediately. Write first, organize later.
Special Journal Features
Backgrounds for Your Mood
Sometimes a picture says more than a thousand words. You can add a background image to your journal that captures your mood.
How it works:
- Tap on the background image in the editor
- A window opens with different mood images
- Choose one or upload your own
- The image appears subtly behind your text
Go Deeper with Smart Questions
When you don't know how to start or want to dive deeper into a topic:
- Tap "Go Deeper" in the toolbar above the keyboard
- AI suggests fitting reflection questions
- Choose one that speaks to you
- Use it as a springboard for your thoughts
What's special: The questions adapt to what you've already written. The more you write, the more specific they become.
Different Journal Types
Text Journal (Standard)
The classic journal – just start writing. Perfect for most situations. Quick tap on the plus button and off you go.
Mindmap Journal
For visual thinkers. Create thought maps with connections and branches.
How to start: Long press on plus button → Select mindmap
Perfect for: Brainstorming, organizing complex thoughts, planning creative projects.
Camera Scan (Premium)
You wrote on paper? Photograph your pages and Dreavie digitizes them.
How to:
- Option 1: Long press on plus button → Select camera icon
- Option 2: In journal overview → Three dots top right → Scan journal
The process:
- Camera opens
- Photograph your handwritten page
- Dreavie recognizes the text and makes it searchable
- The original photo remains as attachment
Saving and Finishing
Automatic Saving
The good news: You don't have to do anything. Dreavie saves continuously while you write. No "save" button, no lost thoughts. Everything happens automatically in the background.
Closing Your Journal
Finished writing? There are several ways:
On mobile:
- Tap the back arrow top left
- Or swipe from left to right
- Your journal is automatically saved
On desktop:
- Click outside the editor
- Or use the navigation
- Here too: Everything automatically saved
Tips for the Perfect Start
Leave Perfectionism at Home
Your journal doesn't have to be perfect. Typos? Doesn't matter. Incomplete sentences? No problem. It's about your thoughts, not an essay.
Use the Time of Day
Many write in the morning (morning pages) or evening (daily reflection). Find your rhythm.
Start Small
Your first journal can be a single sentence: "Today was a good day." That counts!
The 5-Minute Rule
Set a time limit if you're unsure. Write for 5 minutes, then stop – unless you want to continue.
Your Journal After Saving
After saving, your journal lands in the overview. You'll recognize it by:
- The date (today)
- The title (if given)
- A preview of the text
- The collection color on the left edge
From here you can open it again anytime, edit it or move it to another collection.
Ready for Your First Entry?
Now you know all the possibilities. But don't forget: The most important thing is to start. Tap plus, write a sentence, and you've created your first moment in Dreavie.
In the next article, we'll show you how to organize your journals optimally and keep track of everything.
