Journaling 101 // 10 Writing Prompts
Some days I feel like writing, but I don’t know where to begin. Or other times I think that journaling would be a good idea, however I find myself without a topic to write about. If you’ve ever been in the same situation, writing prompts might be for you. They are usually just a one liner that give you direction. Often once you follow their path, it leads you down a few twist and turns before your writing session is complete.
Where do you find writing prompts? I created a handful of phrases and wrote them at the back of my journal – when I get stuck, I turn to the last page and use one of them. You can also find books with lists of them, search on the internet or make a few up yourself! Writing prompts can be light-hearted, serious, fun, thoughtful – all to suit your mood.
No matter how you are feeling, journaling your thoughts gives them a home other than in your mind. Why would you want that? Well, if you’re like me, I need space in my head to create, imagine, dream and develop. Clearing my mind by putting pen to paper frees up space and also helps me to process thoughts/emotions worth processing 🙂
So, let’s get started shall we? Here are some writing prompts that might just get you writing today.
10 WRITING PROMPTS TO HELP YOU JOURNAL
No.1 I am thankful for these 10 things…
No.2 Lately, when I think of the future, I feel…
No.3 Friendship is important to me because…
No.4 5 ways that I can make tomorrow a better day…
No.5 Spirituality means this to me…
No.6 If I were on a deserted island, I would want these 10 items with me…
No.7 My idea of the perfect date with someone is…
No.8 Today I was happy that I ________. I wish I hadn’t _________. This person frustrated me _________. This person was kind to me ___________. Overall, it was a ___________ day.
No.9 If I could go anywhere in the world right this minute, I would go to…
No.10 10 things that I love about my family are…
[line]
This post is Part 3 of Journaling 101. Click here for Part 1 & Part 2 and be sure to tune in next week for segment 4 of this series – I’ll be sharing how journaling helped me through a tough time in my life.
Emily Smith, Editor of The Best of This Life, has been crafting lifestyle content and delicious recipes for over a decade. Featured on platforms like BRIT + CO, Today's Parent, and Chatelaine, she writes about family, food, home, and wellness, inspiring readers to live well and savour life's beauty. Based in Ottawa, she shares her adventures with her husband, two beautiful kids, and their mischievous cat, Zoro.
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I really have to think at nr. 6 😉
i don’t journal really regularly unless inspiration strikes and sometimes that’s word vomit and pages and pages and sometimes just a line or two. thanks for the advice 🙂
Oh I love #9! if I could go anywhere in the world opens the door for dreaming out LOUD! I might just get to Edinburgh, Scotland one day!
What a lovely writers-block un-blocker! I’m bookmarking this list for future reference. 🙂
@Michaela I know!! Me too 🙂
@Stephanie I definitely go in waves, sometimes it’s like writing a chapter and other times it looks more like the fill in the blanks (line no 8). Thanks for coming by!
@Nicole Hahaha, I hear you! That’s one of my favourite writing prompts, because I can always think of a place!
@Beth (@RunTraveler) Thank you Beth! So happy that you like them and that you will keep them for future need.
Such great ideas for writing things down and remembering. Thanks Emily!
These are great prompts! I think I’d be able to fill a whole journal with just a few of them! Bookmarking this now 🙂 xo
I am loving your Journaling 101 series! I especially love the photos that show you handwriting. Something special about handwriting that gets lost in the world of email I think. Visiting from SITS from over at http://www.ritewhileucan.com where I get giddy about all things paper and the lost art of letter writing. You might enjoy. 🙂
I don’t really journal, unless you count my blogging or when I am documenting pictures in a photo album. But I think I just might use this technique more in the upcoming year. So glad I saw this post!