How to Start a Curse Journal — Your First Step and How to Use It
Want to try a curse journal but unsure what or how to write first? Learn how to start Noroi Nikki, where saved entries are not public to other users, from setup to your first-day entry and tips for keeping it up.
By Katsuki Mitsumori

"I'd like to try a curse journal, but I don't know what to write first, or how." Plenty of people freeze right here. Journaling carries an image of something you must keep up, so we brace ourselves before we've even begun.
But starting a curse journal is genuinely simple. This article walks you through it in order — from opening the app to placing that first line, plus tips for keeping it up without strain. No difficult preparation required.
What kind of app is a curse journal
A curse journal gives you a place to write out resentment, anger, and swallowed truths — with real names left out. In Noroi Nikki, saved journal text is not shown to other users. You choose whether to share a separate card or verse; the privacy policy explains limited operator review and optional AI features. There's no need to worry about reactions like on social media, and no need to reframe things positively.
The key is that it never demands pretty conclusions. Many journaling methods push gratitude or reflection, but a curse journal is a place where you may write negative feelings as "curses," exactly as they are. That's precisely why the barrier to starting is so low.
Starting is three easy steps
You need no special preparation to begin.
1. Open the app. Just open it and look at the blank screen. If nothing comes, closing it again is fine.
2. Write one line about what's bothering you most today. "My boss's remark left me uneasy," "They broke a promise and it stings" — short words are plenty. It doesn't need to be a neat sentence.
3. Once written, quietly close it. You don't have to re-read. You got it outside you — that alone completes the first step.
What to write on day one
On the first day, the biggest tip is not to try to write well. Recall the moment your feelings moved most today. Irritated, sad, resentful — put that feeling into words as it was.
As you get used to it, try adding "who," "what remark," and "how you felt." The real feeling hidden beneath the anger gradually comes into view. Because the saved entry is not posted to other users, it can be easier to use unvarnished words.
Small tips for keeping it up
Deciding to write every day tends to backfire. Opening it only on the days you want to is enough. On days your mind is stirred, on days you had truths you couldn't say, let a little out. That accumulation becomes a habit of not bottling too much up.
Starting takes no courage. Just one line today, about what you felt today. The saved entry is not posted to other users; sharing a card or verse is your choice.
If you'd like to write with more peace of mind, see also how to check device locks and journal app privacy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q.How do I start a curse journal?
Just open the app and write one line about whatever is bothering you most today. It doesn't need to be polished. Short words like "that made me angry" or "I'm so done" are plenty. Saved journal text in Noroi Nikki is not public to other users.
Q.What if I don't know what to write?
Recall the moment your feelings moved most today, and put that feeling into words as it was. Adding "who," "what remark," and "how it made me feel" keeps it flowing naturally. Don't try to write well — the order it comes to mind is fine.
Q.Is it pointless if I don't write every day?
No — writing only on the days you want to is enough. Making it a duty is what makes people quit. Opening it only on days your mind is stirred, or when you've swallowed something you couldn't say, still works. What matters is building the habit of letting a little out before it piles up.
About the author
Katsuki Mitsumori三森 捷暉
CEO, SURISUTA K.K. / Operator of Doya Marke AI
Runs Doya Marke AI, a suite of practical AI services spanning content, ads, sales and HR, and hosts the YouTube channel 'SaaS wa Shinimasshen.' Creator and developer of Noroi Nikki, an app for writing out and letting go of emotions.
This article explains folklore, language and culture. It is not medical, legal or religious advice. Traditions are introduced as culture, not as instructions to harm anyone. Claims without a source are marked as popular belief.
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