A useful trading journal entry shows the plan you made before entry, the result and the decision you want to review. A ticker and profit figure cannot do that work alone.
The four examples below are hypothetical and use fictional securities. They show a planned winner, a loss that followed the rules, a process mistake and a profitable trade with an unplanned exit. The final section combines three entries in a weekly review.
Trading journal example 1: a planned winner
Date: 17 March 2026
Ticker: SAMPLE.AU, fictional security
Direction: Long
Strategy: 50-day EMA pullback exercise
Pre-trade thesis: Price pulled back toward the rising 50-day EMA on lower volume. The exercise requires a close back above the previous session's high before entry. The recent swing high at $44.00 sets the target.
Entry: $42.10 after the trigger
Initial stop: $40.90, below the exercise swing low
Target: $44.00
Position size: 500 units
Risk per unit: $42.10 - $40.90 = $1.20
Initial risk: $1.20 x 500 = $600
Planned reward: ($44.00 - $42.10) x 500 = $950
Planned risk to reward: $600:$950, or about 1:1.58, before costs
Exit: $43.85 after price approached the target
Gross result: ($43.85 - $42.10) x 500 = $875
Costs: $6
Net result: $875 - $6 = $869
R-multiple: $869 / $600 = 1.45R, after rounding
Post-trade note: I waited for the trigger rather than buying during the pullback. When price reached $43.85, selling pressure appeared near the planned resistance. My rule allowed an exit within $0.20 of that level, so I closed rather than waiting for the exact target. The trade later reaching $44.00 would not make the earlier decision wrong; I have to judge it from the rule and information available at exit.
What went well: The thesis named the trend, trigger and target. Position size came from the stop distance, and the exit had a rule-based reason.
Next review: Compare the next group of near-target exits with exact-target exits after costs. Keep the current rule until that review has enough comparable trades to be useful.
What this entry teaches: A winning entry still records the initial risk, costs and reason for exit. The result alone does not show whether the trade followed its rules.
Trading journal example 2: a planned loss
Date: 19 March 2026
Ticker: DEMO.AU, fictional security
Direction: Long
Strategy: Range support exercise
Pre-trade thesis: The exercise defines support at $37.20 to $37.40 and requires an entry only after price closes back inside the range. It uses an intraday sell stop at $36.80, below the range.
Entry: $37.40
Initial stop: $36.80
Target: $38.40
Position size: 800 units
Risk per unit: $37.40 - $36.80 = $0.60
Initial risk: $0.60 x 800 = $480
Planned reward: ($38.40 - $37.40) x 800 = $800
Planned risk to reward: $480:$800, or about 1:1.67, before costs
Exit: $36.80 at the planned stop
Gross result: ($36.80 - $37.40) x 800 = -$480
Costs: $6
Net result: -$480 - $6 = -$486
R-multiple: -$486 / $480 = -1.01R, after rounding
Post-trade note: Price returned through support and the intraday stop executed at the exercise price. I felt tempted to wait for the close because the loss arrived soon after entry, but that would have changed the rule. The setup failed and the record belongs in the strategy sample.
What went well: Entry occurred only after the confirmation. Position size kept the planned price risk at $480, and the stop remained unchanged.
Next review: Check whether the exercise's intraday stop produces frequent exits followed by recoveries. Test a closing-price rule as a separate version instead of rewriting this trade.
What this entry teaches: A losing result can still show sound execution. Marking it as a mistake would confuse strategy outcome with rule adherence.
Trading journal example 3: a rule break
Date: 25 March 2026
Ticker: MOCK.AU, fictional security
Direction: Long
Strategy: Consolidation breakout exercise
Pre-trade thesis: Price moved above the exercise breakout level of $3.80. The written entry rule allows a fill up to 1% above that level or after a pullback.
Entry: $3.92, which is $0.12 / $3.80 = 3.16% above the breakout level
Initial stop: $3.65
Target: $4.30
Position size: 1,850 units
Risk per unit: $3.92 - $3.65 = $0.27
Initial risk: $0.27 x 1,850 = $499.50
Planned reward: ($4.30 - $3.92) x 1,850 = $703
Planned risk to reward: $499.50:$703, or about 1:1.41, before costs
Exit: $3.72 after price returned to the range
Gross result: ($3.72 - $3.92) x 1,850 = -$370
Costs: $6
Net result: -$370 - $6 = -$376
R-multiple: -$376 / $499.50 = -0.75R, after rounding
Post-trade note: I saw price moving away from the breakout and entered because I did not want to miss it. The position size matched the $500 exercise limit, but the entry broke the 1% distance rule. The exit followed the separate failed-breakout rule after price returned to the range.
What went well: The stop, size and exit were recorded. The note names the entry decision rather than blaming the market.
Next change: Add the percentage-above-breakout calculation to the pre-entry checklist. If the result exceeds 1%, wait for the pullback required by this exercise.
What this entry teaches: A detailed journal identifies the exact rule break. "Bad trade" would not tell you what to change.
Trading journal example 4: a changed exit
Date: 10 March 2026
Ticker: TEST.US, fictional security
Direction: Long
Strategy: Trend continuation exercise
Pre-trade thesis: Price bounced from the exercise's 20-day EMA condition. The recent high at $28.00 sets the target, while a close below $25.80 invalidates the setup.
Entry: $26.60
Initial stop: $25.80
Target: $28.00
Position size: 750 units
Initial risk: ($26.60 - $25.80) x 750 = $600
Planned reward: ($28.00 - $26.60) x 750 = $1,050
Planned risk to reward: $600:$1,050, or 1:1.75, before costs
Management note: Price reached $27.80. The plan did not permit changing the $28.00 target, but the target was moved to $28.50.
Exit: $26.90 after price retreated
Gross result: ($26.90 - $26.60) x 750 = $225
Costs: $6
Net result: $225 - $6 = $219
R-multiple: $219 / $600 = 0.37R, after rounding
Post-trade note: When price reached $27.80, I focused on the extra gain that might come from a higher target. I moved the target to $28.50 even though the plan did not allow it. Price never reached the original $28.00 target, so I cannot claim that moving it caused me to miss a fill. I can say that I changed the plan during the trade and later exited at $26.90.
What went well: The entry and size followed the strategy, and the trade remained profitable after costs.
Next change: Decide before entry whether a near-target exit, partial exit or trailing stop is allowed. Test that rule on later trades instead of adding it after price has moved.
What this entry teaches: A positive result can contain a process problem. Preserve the first target so the review can compare plan with action.
How to review a group of closed trades
This sample combines the three closed trades from examples 1, 2 and 3. Use the same trading journal review structure for a weekly or monthly review.
| Trade | Strategy | Net result | R-multiple | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SAMPLE.AU | 50-day EMA pullback | +$869 | +1.45R | Followed plan |
DEMO.AU | Range support | -$486 | -1.01R | Followed plan |
MOCK.AU | Consolidation breakout | -$376 | -0.75R | Entry rule broken |
Net result: $869 - $486 - $376 = $7
Wins: 1 of 3
Total R: 1.45R - 1.01R - 0.75R = -0.31R
Average R: -0.31R / 3 = -0.10R, after rounding
The set made $7 while total R was negative because the trades used different initial risk amounts. The $869 winner earned about 1.45 times its $600 risk. The two losses totalled $862, but their R values were measured against $480 and $499.50. Dollar P&L and R answer different questions, so keep both.
What went well
The first two trades followed their entry, size and exit rules. One won and one lost. Both belong in the strategy records.
What needs attention
The breakout entered 3.16% above its level despite a 1% rule. This is the clearest process error because the journal contains the level and calculation.
One action for the next review
Add a field that calculates entry distance from the breakout level. Require it before recording a breakout as open. Keep the strategy unchanged while testing whether this step improves rule adherence.
What not to conclude
Three trades do not establish which strategy performs better. This review identifies a documented rule break and a field that can prevent it. Keep collecting complete entries before comparing strategy averages.
What makes a trading journal entry useful?
Each complete example has five layers:
- Identity: date, fictional ticker, direction and strategy.
- Plan: thesis, entry, stop, target and size before the result.
- Risk: risk per unit, total initial risk and planned reward.
- Outcome: exit, costs, net result and R-multiple.
- Review: rule adherence, lesson and one specific next action.
You can shorten the prose as your routine develops, but keep the plan and arithmetic. A screenshot can add chart context, but it does not replace the written trigger or invalidation rule.
Reusable journal prompts
Use these prompts when a blank notes field slows you down:
- What had to happen before I entered?
- What price or event invalidated the idea?
- How did the stop distance determine my size?
- Which exit rule applied?
- What did I feel tempted to change during the trade?
- Which decision followed the plan?
- What one field or rule should I review next?
Answer in one or two sentences. A specific short note is more useful than a long summary written after you know the result.
Trading journal example questions
Should every entry be this detailed?
No. Use enough detail to reconstruct the plan and decision. Save longer notes for unusual trades, rule breaks and review examples.
Should I write in the first person?
Yes. A personal journal should record what you decided, noticed and felt. The examples use first person inside clearly labelled fictional scenarios.
Can I copy these prices and rules?
Use the structure, not the trade idea. The tickers are fictional and the parameters exist to demonstrate journal arithmetic.
For a smaller first-entry template, follow how to start a trading journal from scratch. If you already have entries, use the common trading mistakes journal review to choose questions for your next session.
Swingfolio keeps trade plans, strategies, risk details and reflections with the trade record. Analytics calculates performance measures from your entries, so you can move from a single example to a strategy review without rebuilding formulas.
Copy the five-layer structure above into your journal and complete it for the next trade before you review the result.