> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.edgeanalyzer.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Entries

> How to create effective journal entries that improve your trading

The trade journal is where you document your trading process — the reasoning, emotions, and lessons behind each trade. Effective journaling is one of the most powerful tools for improving your trading performance.

## Creating a New Entry

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Journal">
    Go to **Journal** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Entry">
    Click **New Entry** to open the editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write Your Content">
    Use the rich text editor to document your trading session.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link Trades">
    Optionally associate the entry with specific trades or accounts.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Tags">
    Add tags for setup types and emotional states.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Media">
    Add images or videos (charts, screenshots, recordings).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save the entry to your journal.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Rich Text Editor

The journal editor supports professional formatting:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Text Formatting" icon="font">
    Headings, bold, italic, lists, quotes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Images" icon="image">
    Upload chart screenshots and annotated charts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Video" icon="video">
    Attach session recordings or screen captures
  </Card>

  <Card title="Links" icon="link">
    Reference external resources
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What to Journal

Effective journaling captures both the technical and psychological aspects of your trading:

### Pre-Market Analysis

* Key support and resistance levels
* Session bias (bullish, bearish, neutral)
* News events to watch
* Plan for the day

### Trade Reasoning

* Why you entered the trade
* What setup triggered it
* What confirmation you waited for
* Where your stop and target were placed

### Emotional State

Document how you felt during the trade:

| Emotion    | Impact                        |
| ---------- | ----------------------------- |
| Confident  | Often leads to good execution |
| Fearful    | May cause early exits         |
| FOMO       | Can lead to poor entries      |
| Patient    | Usually produces best results |
| Frustrated | Risk of revenge trading       |
| Calm       | Ideal trading state           |

### Trade Management

* How you managed the position
* Did you move your stop?
* Did you adjust your target?
* Were you mechanical or emotional?

### Post-Trade Review

* What happened and why
* What you learned
* What you would do differently
* Did you follow your plan?

### Setup Classification

Rate your trade quality:

* **A+ Setup** — Your highest-conviction trade, matched your playbook exactly
* **B Setup** — Decent setup with moderate edge
* **Off-Plan Trade** — Deviation from your documented setups

## Best Practices

<Check>Write entries the same day while details are fresh</Check>
<Check>Include screenshots of your chart with annotations</Check>
<Check>Be brutally honest about your emotional state</Check>
<Check>Review weekly to identify patterns</Check>
<Check>Link entries to specific trades for easy reference</Check>
<Check>Tag consistently so you can filter and analyze later</Check>

## Journal Templates

### Quick Trade Review

```
## [Instrument] [Long/Short] - [Date]

**Setup:** [What setup triggered this trade]
**Entry:** [Price and reasoning]
**Stop:** [Price]
**Target:** [Price]
**Result:** [Win/Loss] [Amount]

**Emotional State:** [How I felt]

**What went well:**
-

**What to improve:**
-

**Lesson:**
```

### Daily Session Review

```
## Trading Session - [Date]

**Pre-market bias:** [Bullish/Bearish/Neutral]
**Key levels:** [Support/Resistance]
**Session grade:** [A/B/C/D]

**Trades taken:** [Number]
**Winners:** [Number]
**Losers:** [Number]
**Net P&L:** [Amount]

**What worked today:**
-

**What didn't work:**
-

**Tomorrow's focus:**
```

## Searching and Filtering

Use the journal search and filter options to find specific entries:

* **By date** — Find entries from specific time periods
* **By account** — View entries related to specific accounts
* **By tag** — Filter by setup type or emotion
* **By keyword** — Search for specific text

<Tip>
  Filtering by emotion tags is valuable for reviewing patterns — for example, filter all entries tagged "FOMO" to understand when and why you trade impulsively.
</Tip>

## Sharing with Mentors

If you're on the Pro plan and have invited a mentor:

1. Your journal entries are visible to your mentor
2. Mentors can add comments and feedback
3. Use this for coaching and accountability
4. Mentors cannot see your financial data (balances, payouts)

<Info>
  Learn more about mentor sharing in the [Mentorship](/mentorship/overview) section.
</Info>