Journaling + Fiction – August 10

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”Ralph Nader Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a leader who inspired you to become a leader. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to persuade a follower to stop following and start leading.

Journaling + Fiction – August 9

“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about something you once found unacceptable that you’ve found the courage to accept. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist settles.

Journaling + Fiction – August 8

“The little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.”Vincent van Gogh Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned from getting off track by responding to an unimportant emotional trigger. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist flies off the handle because of what everyone else considers...

Journaling + Fiction – August 7

“Integrity has no need of rules.”Albert Camus Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first time you realized you would have to break a rule to do the right thing. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist breaks a rule his/her family considers inviolate to stay true to his/her code.

Journaling + Fiction – August 6

“Learning is by nature curiosity . . . prying into everything, reluctant to leave anything, material or immaterial, unexplained.”Philo Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first time you went down the rabbit hole of learning something just because it excited you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers a painful truth because s/he refuses to leave a passing...

Journaling + Fiction – August 5

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.”Stephen Hawking Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the greatest gift since the moment you believe everything changed for you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s expectations are shattered.

Journaling + Fiction – August 4

“All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.”Laozi Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience when you gained the high ground by being humble. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist comes out on top by being on the bottom.

Journaling + Fiction – August 3

“In case of dissension, never dare to judge till you’ve heard the other side.”Euripides Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a topic on which you’d made a choice or formed an opinion without hearing a better alternative. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist proceeds into peril because s/he didn’t care to hear the other side.