For Your Journal: Writing Prompt

Do you keep a journal – or wish you could get one started?
Literary Mama wants to help.

Three times a month, I’ll post a writing prompt. Open a notebook and write for 10 minutes. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation – just write. Then let the writing simmer and your mind wander for awhile.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll discover a character for your next short story or a theme for a narrative essay. Or maybe you’ll use the idea to create a special holiday card or photo album for someone in your family. However you decide to use your journal entry, I know you’ll enjoy re-reading it months–and years–down the road.
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Why I should have a pet:

I’ll clean her cage. I’ll care for her myself. I’ll pay for the food and the toys. It will live in MY room. I’ll even get her from a shelter. I’ll read about the animal. I’ll take a pad of paper and pencil when we get her so I’ll know if there’s anything special I need to know about my pet!

Love, your pet loving daughter, Ellen

My daughter wrote this letter when she was about 9 years old – and I said “no.” We already had a cat and, to be honest, I’m not a dog person. But I promised that we’d do what I thought was the next best thing: volunteer at the local dog shelter. For the past three summers, we’ve made weekly visits. Even though she’s not getting the full experience of caring for a dog, she’s learning what it means to be a responsible pet owner. She’s horrified by what she’s learned about puppy mills and is becoming an advocate for spaying and neutering.

Best of all, she’s willing to ask herself these questions from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before adopting a pet.

Journal Entry: Write about a childhood pet and the role it had (or has) in your family. What is the real reason you added a pet to your family?