For Your Journal: Writing Prompt

Do you keep a journal – or wish you could get one started? Literary Mama wants to help. Several times a month, we’ll post a writing prompt. Open a notebook and write for 10 minutes. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation – just write. 

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A cat purring on a quilt.

The first snowfall of the season.

Gerbils.

When I was a teenager, a book called 14,000 Things to Be Happy About was published. The book is a huge list of smells, sounds, tastes, and images, to stimulate the sense of pleasure. Someone bought it for my family, and I remember going through page by page, finding many things that made me happy (and some just plain silly things!)

Clean air-dried sheets.

A warm, soft chocolate chip cookie.

Getting so lost inside a book that you lose all track of time.

We often think finding and creating happiness is complicated. But really, it can be as simple as being present in the now and noticing the joy in each moment. What brings happiness for each of us is different, but we all need to find it.

Receiving a letter in the mail.

A child with a balloon.

Yarn.

In your journal today, make a list. Don’t overthink, just list things that bring you happiness. Small, big, whatever, let your mind wander and write down what makes you smile.

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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!