For Your Journal: Quarterly Recap
So … How’s your journaling?
Here’s a recap of the writing prompts we posted from May through August in case you missed one.
May
Envision and detail your ideal Mother’s Day. Explore any idea that comes to mind. In a world where anything can happen, where everyone follows your rules, where there are no limits and you can even control the weather, what would your perfect day- commercialized or not- be like? Read the entire prompt here.
Scan the dictionary for a word you don’t know, then write out strange and wonderful definitions that sound real. Try out different styles and tones. Write some to make yourself laugh. Perhaps one trying to sound like a medical dictionary. Or one being as long-winded and stuffy as you can. Read the entire prompt here.
Write a story about your oldest living relative. Write about times spent together, and how you feel about those experiences. Write about time you wish you could spend together. Is there more you want to know about this person? Write a letter and ask. Read the entire prompt here.
June
Explore what the idea of being a Literary Citizen means to you. But not in your traditional medium. If you are a writer, put away your pen and sketch a picture of yourself as a Literary Citizen. If you are a painter, write a poem. If you write haiku, take yourself outside and take photographs of where a Literary Citizen might visit. If you’ve never tried Twitter or Pinterest, sign up and post something. Push your boundaries. Try something different. Discover the Literary Citizen inside you. Read the entire prompt here.
Write about a current issue that divides your community, one that breaks your heart, or one that you feel needs to be put to words. Imagine that your writing will alter the course of humanity in the way that Stowe’s did. What will you say? Say it. Read the entire prompt here.
Reminisce about a book or series of books that supported you in some way as a child or teen. What springs to mind? Can you describe the characters? The town they lived in? The plot of your favorite one? Can you recall how you felt when you were reading them? Or how this story helped you in your real life? Don’t edit yourself, just write stream-of-consciousness about whatever comes to your memory. Read the entire prompt here.
July
Write about your first summer job. Describe the setting, the boss, and the particular activities you did. What did you like and dislike about it? What skills or work philosophies did you take away from the experience? Now, write about the summer employment expectations you have for your child. At what age will you expect your child to get a job? Will he/she work during the school year? Why or why not? Read the entire prompt here.
Write an as-told-to story about a father-daughter or a mother-son activity. Interview your child and write it in the child’s voice. In addition to describing the activity, explain why it’s special and the impact it’s made on your child. Read the entire prompt here.
Write a personal profile about a loved one who passed away before your child had a chance to get to know him or her. Refer to the obituary for details, but use the comments written in sympathy cards (or stories you heard at the funeral or memorial service) to create the character. Read the entire prompt here.
August
Ask your child the 10 questions listed in the post. Choose one of his/her “no” responses and answer it. Read the entire prompt here.
Write about a family heirloom you hope to pass on to your children. Describe its history and the when-why-and-how it was given to you. Read the entire prompt here.
Think of an activity that’s part of your life because you were influenced by a parent or grandparent. It might be related to sports, music, books, crafts, travel, cooking, or your profession. Write about the parent or grandparent who introduced you to the activity and describe one time you watched that person perform the activity. Read the entire prompt here.