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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Tooth Fairy
It’s 5 a.m. and I wake with a start. My daughter lost a tooth at dinner last night, and I’ve forgotten to play tooth fairy. I shuffle downstairs to find my billfold, chiding myself for accepting the cute, cross-stitched tooth fairy pillow my mom was so excited to sew. Stealing into my child’s room shortly after he’d fallen asleep with one less tooth was fun with child number one, but now, five years later and with child number three, the exercise is a hassle.
But I have remembered: I won’t have to make up a story—like I did last time–that sometimes, it takes two nights for the tooth fairy to visit everyone on her list.
I hold my breath as I remove the tooth and slide two quarters into the pouch on the Tooth Fairy Pillow. My daughter continues to sleep; I tip-toe back to my room and into bed, proud that I’ve kept the magic alive.
Later that morning, my husband teases me about being cheap.
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Interested in how much the Tooth Fairy leaves under children’s pillows? Check out this infographic.

Journal Entry: Do you play Tooth Fairy? Why or why not? Write about the conversation you’ve had with your spouse or a friend defending your position. Then write about a conversation you’ve had with your child about the topic.
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Do YOU have a writing prompt to share with Literary Mama readers? Send your 150- to 300-word narrative and associated writing prompt to lmblogeditor (at) literarymama (dot) com. We’d love to read your ideas!