Journaling + Fiction – December 19

“Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.”Roger de Rabutin, comte de Bussy Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience when a person or thing’s absence allowed you to understand that what you felt about that person or thing wasn’t really love. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a chance encounter with a...

Journaling + Fiction – December 18

“Often the test of courage is not to die but to live.”Vittorio Alfieri Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most trying experience you’ve lived through. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist feels s/he would rather die than continue to experience the situation.

Journaling + Fiction – December 17

“The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”G.K. Chesterton Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time being open-minded led you to bite off more than you could chew. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a new idea prevents your protagonist from closing his/her mind before taking the idea a step too...

Journaling + Fiction – December 16

“Magicians are the most honest people in the world; they tell you they’re gonna fool you, and then they do it.”James Randi Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the last time you got fooled but found the humor in the experience. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your antagonist tells your protagonist that your protagonist is about to get fooled and then proceeds to...

Journaling + Fiction – December 15

“Knowledge is proud that it knows so much;wisdom is humble that it knows no more.”William Cowper Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you don’t know about a topic about which you’ve earned significant expertise. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which an ally humbles your protagonist by asking a question that reveals your protagonist isn’t as...

Journaling + Fiction – December 14

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what’s on the other side of your vast and endless sea. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns that management and leadership are not the...

Journaling + Fiction – December 13

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”Lao Tzu Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first step you need to take on your next journey. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist takes a single step forward but two steps back.

Journaling + Fiction – December 12

“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.”Benjamin Franklin Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the best outcome you ever achieved from beginning with anger. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s anger devolves into a shameful expression of impotent rage.