Journaling + Fiction – July 17

“Love … is the divine vitality that everywhere produces and restores life.”Lydia M. Child Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about someone you love so much that s/he has restorative qualities in your own life. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist achieves what appears impossible through sheer force of love.

Journaling + Fiction – July 16

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”Vincent van Gogh Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about several small things you’re currently doing that you could bring together so the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a series of small actions your protagonist took over time successfully culminate in a short-lived...

Journaling + Fiction – July 15

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”G.K. Chesterton Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the the greatest dragon in your life you have yet to slay. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a lesson your protagonist from a fondly remembered childhood story inspires a solution to a...

Journaling + Fiction – July 14

“Humility, like the darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.”Henry David Thoreau Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the experience in your life so far that, in retrospect, has most humbled you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which another’s humility humiliates your protagonist.

Journaling + Fiction – July 13

“A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation.”Thomas Jefferson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about experiencing or observing the law conflicting with doing what was right. Fiction writing prompt:...

Journaling + Fiction – July 12

“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about something that’s obvious to you in retrospect but was invisible to you in the moment. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist can’t see a threat staring him/her in the...

Journaling + Fiction – July 11

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.”Plato Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first time another heart whispered back to yours. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which the heart your protagonist hears whispering back proves in some way unreachable.

Journaling + Fiction – July 10

“A quiet conscience makes one strong!”Anne Frank Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a strength of conscience others do not notice in you because it’s so quiet. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to go along to get along without explaining why.