Journaling + Fiction – August 12

Hold fast to dreams,For if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged bird,That cannot fly.― Langston Hughes Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most recent dream you’ve let die. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist must watch without participating as others live a dream s/he let die long ago.

Journaling + Fiction – August 11

“Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.”Samuel Johnson Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience when you chose safety over happiness. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist throws caution to the wind.

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.