Journaling + Fiction – April 14

“In reality, humility means nothing other than complete honesty about yourself.”L. William Countryman Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an aspect of yourself you’ve never before been completely honest about. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is forced to admit something about him/herself that your protagonist has concealed.

Journaling + Fiction – April 13

“The good citizen will demand liberty for himself, and as a matter of pride he will see to it that others receive the liberty which he thus claims as his own.”Theodore Roosevelt Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a freedom you enjoy that you could help extend to those to whom it’s currently not available. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist is...

Journaling + Fiction – April 12

“To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden.”Lucius Annaeus Seneca Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about why you are troubled by a society-level misfortune. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must fake a calm response to a devastating misfortune.

Journaling + Fiction – April 11

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.”C.S. Lewis Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about that to which love makes you most vulnerable. Fiction writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist’s heart first was broken.

Journaling + Fiction – April 10

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”Maya Angelou Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a challenge you’ve persistently resisted. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must bravely face a humiliating defeat.

Journaling + Fiction – April 9

“Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.”Irving Berlin Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an even that at the time seemed important or signficant about which you now have a different perspective. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a loved one to put a relatively minor event into perspective.

Journaling + Fiction – April 8

“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an object or idea you consider sublime that most other people do not. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds no allies in his/her appreciation for an object of beauty.

Journaling + Fiction – April 7

“Night is a time of rigor, but also of mercy. There are truths which one can see only when it’s dark.”Isaac Bashevis Singer Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the truth you’ll see tonight after you turn off your lights. Fiction writing prompt: Write the scene in which your protagonist first stayed up through the night and into the next day.