Here’s one way to break up writing in a journal format. I used a Post-It as a template for the squares.
1.
After review of art journal pages over on Flickr, I decided to make a
colorful background pattern that I would write on when complete. I used
3" square Post-Its to move around on my journal page as I drew radiating
lines over the edges with a fine black Sharpie marker.
2. I colored in the squares lightly with watercolor pencils, and painted
over them with water to make a painting. The space around the squares
were also colored and painted.
3. After the painting was dry, I wrote a few notes about my day inside
the squares with a few different gel pens. I like the
overlapping transparent look to the squares and think this process has
more possibilities.