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.

Journaling + Fiction – December 11

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”Maya Angelou Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about which of your fantasies would affect the most people around you were it to come true. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist comes to understand that his/her fantasy won’t transform anyone’s reality, including his/her...

Journaling + Fiction – December 10

“Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void but out of chaos.”Mary Shelley Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the best thing you ever created from chaos. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist successfully improvises through total chaos.

Journaling + Fiction – December 9

Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all.Emily Dickinson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about your song that never stops. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s song of hope stops playing.

Journaling + Fiction – December 8

“Sins cannot be undone, only forgiven.”Igor Stravinsky Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about whether you’ve ever successfully undone a sin you’ve committed. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist commits a worse sin while trying to undo another one.

Journaling + Fiction – December 7

“I don’t think it’s fair that I’m living for something I can’t even define. “Ani DiFranco Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about whether your reason for living is fair to you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes s/he doesn’t understand what s/he’s been fighting for.

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...