Journaling + Fiction – December 6

“Now that we are all so smart, we don’t easily find resolutions.”Dejan Stojanović Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you’ve persuaded yourself is the reason you’re not where you want to be. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist talks her/himself out of the right decision for all the right...

Journaling + Fiction – December 5

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment when you were able to cover a failed intent with simple kindness. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s frustration at failing to achieve a grand intention causes your protagonist to miss a...

Journaling + Fiction – December 4

“Do,” said Louisa finally, “whatever you can’t not do.”David Mitchell Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the impact on others of what you can’t not do. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist tries but fails to suppress the imperative of what s/he can’t not do.

Journaling + Fiction – December 3

“Being right keeps you in place. Being wrong forces you to explore.”Steven Johnson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a time in your life when being wrong turned out to be the solution. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds the right answer in the wrong place.

Journaling + Fiction – December 2

“If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more.”Roy T. Bennett Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about something you don’t have that you think you need. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist learns to be careful what you wish for.

Journaling + Fiction – December 1

“Want of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue.”Oliver Goldsmith Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned from a moment in your life when virtue failed to intersect with prudence. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist reveals that s/he lacks a virtue everyone believes s/he possesses by acting imprudently.

Journaling + Fiction – November 30

“A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.”Polybius Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you gave up for the right reason. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist proves a bad leader by refusing to see victory is not possible.

Journaling + Fiction – November 29

“Remember that what you have now was once among the things you hoped for.”Epicurus Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about something you’re glad to have left behind during the past year. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist sheds a burden. Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash