Journaling + Fiction – February 22

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”Winston Churchill Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a situation in which your continued efforts counted. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is encouraged by people s/he considered allies to give up.

Journaling + Fiction – February 21

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”Jane Austen Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about you felt abandoned by someone you believed really was a friend. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails a person who considered your protagonist a friend.

Journaling + Fiction – February 20

“Who cares? Do your thing, and don’t care if they like it.”Tina Fey Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you’re proud that you did a thing others didn’t like. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to do the right thing because s/he is intimidated by the opinions of others.

Journaling + Fiction – February 19

“Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.”Charles F. Kettering Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the perspective of a relative or friend who has a completely different opinion than yours on an important subject. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which an experience causes your protagonist to change her/his mind about a subject your protagonist considered...

Journaling + Fiction – February 18

“But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”Martin Luther King, Jr. Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time in your life when dawn broke after it was darkest. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Journaling + Fiction – February 17

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”Eleanor Roosevelt Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience in which you observed the impact of using the head when the heart was called for, or using the heart when the head was called for. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist arouses a hostile response by applying his/her head...

Journaling + Fiction – February 16

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”John Maxwell Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a challenge in your life to which you should change your approach. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist gets a stern lecture from a respected elder for whining instead of adapting.

Journaling + Fiction – February 15

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”Winston Churchill Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time you believe you gave up too soon. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist stops short of her/his goal.