A journal is never really "finished" – it can evolve, just like your thoughts. Dreavie makes it easy to edit, expand, and enhance your entries. Let's explore all the possibilities.
Opening an Existing Journal
From the Overview
The most direct way: Tap on the entry you want to edit in the journal overview. The editor opens immediately with your text.
From a Collection
If you know which collection your journal is in:
- Select the collection in the menu
- Find your entry in the filtered view
- Tap to edit
Via Search
Often the fastest way for older entries:
- Use search with keywords
- Find your entry in the results
- Tap to open
The Edit Mode
What Stays the Same
When you open a journal for editing, you see:
- Your original title (or space for a new one)
- The complete text
- The assigned collection
- All background images or formatting
What You Can Change
Everything! There are no restrictions:
- Add or delete text
- Change or add title
- Switch collections
- Adjust formatting
- Change background images
Text Editing in Detail
The Basics
Place cursor: Tap where you want to edit. The cursor jumps there.
Select text:
- Double-tap: Select word
- Triple-tap: Select paragraph
- Drag: Select any area
Edit menu: With selected text, options appear:
- Cut
- Copy
- Paste
- Select all
Advanced Editing
Undo:
- iOS: Shake your device
- Android: Use undo arrow
- Desktop: Ctrl/Cmd + Z
Structure paragraphs:
- Double line break for new paragraph
- Single break for line jump
- Empty lines for visual separation
Formatting Options
Basic Formatting
Dreavie keeps formatting intentionally simple so you can focus on content:
Paragraphs: The most important structure element. Use them generously for better readability.
Emojis: Perfect for visual accents
- 😊 for moods
- ⭐ for important points
- 💡 for ideas
- ❤️ for emotional moments
Special characters:
- Em dashes (—) for pauses
- Bullet points (•) for lists
- Quotation marks (" ") for quotes
Creating Lists
For structured thoughts:
• First point
• Second point
• Third point
or
1. First idea
2. Second idea
3. Third idea
Highlighting Quotes
Use quotation marks and indentation:
"Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance,
you must keep moving."
- Albert Einstein
Using Titles Effectively
When Titles Make Sense
For overview: With many entries, titles help with quick scanning.
For topics: "Talk with Caroline", "Flying dream", "Project idea: App"
For series: "Gratitude #24", "Morning thoughts - Tuesday"
Adding Titles Later
Often you only know what it was really about after writing:
- Read through your entry
- Find the essence
- Summarize in 3-5 words
- Add the title at the top
Switching Collections
The Collection Button
Above the title you see the current collection. A tap opens the selection.
When Switching Makes Sense
Wrong initial categorization: The "Work" entry was actually about fears → Move to "Feelings"
Thematic development: An idea became a project → From "Ideas" to "Projects"
Cleaning up: Move old entries to archive collections
Background Images and Mood
Adding Backgrounds
In the editor you'll find the option for background images:
- Choose from preset mood images
- Or upload your own photo
- The image appears subtly behind your text
When Backgrounds Work
For special moments: Vacation memories, important days
For moods: A rain image for melancholic days
For inspiration: Motivating images for goals and dreams
Advanced Editing Tips
The Right Time
Immediate editing: Typos, forgotten details
Daily reflection: Expand the day's entry in the evening
Weekly review: Add new perspective to old entries
Year review: Annotate important entries with insights
Marking Additions
When you add something later:
[Added on Jan 15]: Today I know that...
or
PS (a week later): Everything turned out well!
Smart Editing Helpers
Using "Go Deeper"
Also available when editing:
- Activate "Go Deeper"
- Get new questions about your text
- Use them to expand the entry
AI Perspectives (Second Mind)
Let AI comment on your entry:
- Discover new viewpoints
- Recognize blind spots
- Inspiration for additions
Common Editing Scenarios
Completing Dream Journal
Quickly noted key points in the morning? Later:
- Add details that come back
- Interpret symbols
- Draw connections to other dreams
Updating Project Journal
- Document progress
- Add new insights
- Plan next steps
Emotional Processing
- Leave first emotional outburst
- Later add reflection with distance
- Add insights and learning moments
Editing on Different Devices
Mobile Editing
- Optimal for quick corrections
- Voice input for longer additions
- Touch gestures for intuitive text selection
Desktop Editing
- Ideal for longer revisions
- Keyboard shortcuts for efficiency
- Larger screen for overview
Synchronization
- Changes sync immediately
- Start on phone, finish on PC
- No version conflicts thanks to smart sync
Tips for Mindful Editing
Preserve Original Emotion
Improve spelling, but leave raw emotions. They're authentic and valuable.
Don't Over-Perfect
Your journal isn't a book. It can have rough edges.
Respect the Date
Major retroactive changes? Consider a new entry instead of complete revision.
Mark Learning Moments
When you have new insights from distance, mark them as such. Your future self will be grateful.
Editing as Reflection Practice
Editing journals is more than proofreading. It's:
- A second chance for reflection
- A dialogue with your earlier self
- A way to document growth
In the next article, we'll show you special journal types and how to optimally use voice entries, mindmaps, and scanned handwriting.
