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I noticed that when you post a entry, there are few factors that increase the chance of getting rapid corrections: write something fun/interesting/absurde/peculiar/trivia - write something not too long (if I have to write something long or very long I usually split the entry in more parts) - make as few stupid errors as you can. Keeping in mind that you can't avoid making mistakes (actually making mistakes is the *good* part of lang8), remember that you can narrow their nature/number. Doing so who corrects you will focus on the mistakes you're unaware of (the ones you want to find out, analyze and correct) and or will suggest alternatives to your sentences.
The fastest way to solve your doubts is to post them: "Is this correct or not?" "Can you say X?" "Any Japanese person is likely to say this?" "What word would you use here? My dictionary gives me X Y and Z but even using google I can't get the nuances" "Do you think that this sentence is too formal compared to the rest?" etc...
Then wait for the corrections / comments. That's how I deal with my doubts.
I think there are lots of way of using lang-8 but remember one thing: the biggest part of the natives that are going to correct you....are unaware of Japanese grammar rules! However a part of the lang-8 users are hard-core full time language learners, so you may be lucky and find someone very exhaustive about grammar rules but don't expect too much ;D
Welcome to lang8!

I'm lazy, so if I can't say it, I generally don't write it. I might look up a word or 2, but that's about it.

On lang-8 native speakers give you feedback, so if you can't say it, people tell you how to say it.

ems573 Wrote:On lang-8 native speakers give you feedback, so if you can't say it, people tell you how to say it.

Then you add those cards into the srs as a production type card and your set for understanding it/producing it

Hyperborea Wrote:I've recently started writing journal entries on Lang-8 and I'm not sure what is the most effective way to write them. I've been writing them while using a dictionary (electronic) and having a grammar book at hand. It can sometimes take me a fair bit of time to write a short passage because I'm trying to say things at the limits of my ability to express them in Japanese.

Is that the most effective way? Would I be better off just writing simpler passages more quickly and probably more frequently? What do others do?

If you are just starting to write Japanese sentences, then it will take longer at first, but you will get better with practice (obviously). There's nothing wrong with writing shorter, simpler sentences at first. You'll probably get corrections quicker and more often that way.

I think it is also best if you find one or two Japanese people you can really connect with. Then you can teach each other and converse with each other on Lang-8 in both your target languages. I've found it very helpful when someone converses with me in Japanese, not just once, but consistently. And don't forget to make a good effort to correct other people's journals that are in your native language also.