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.

Journaling + Fiction – August 2

“The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about whether progress towards a goal is sufficient. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist suffers by making perfect the enemy of good enough.

Journaling + Fiction – August 1

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”Harold S. Kushner Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the last time you did something for someone who could do nothing for you in return. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds out that someone your protagonist did not help when given the chance can do something...

Journaling + Fiction – July 31

“The best way out is always through.”Robert Frost Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you learned by once failing to go through. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist can’t get out because s/he refuses to go through.

Journaling + Fiction – July 30

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”William James Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the last prejudice you rearranged. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s closed mind prevents vanquishing a foe.

Journaling + Fiction – July 29

“Step out of the circle of time and into the circle of love.”Jalāl ad-Dīn Mohammad Rūmī Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you notice about yourself when you’re too focused on the clock to experience what’s happening at the time. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist transcends a physical experience to achieve something greater than...

Journaling + Writing – July 28

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you revealed weakness, or had weakness revealed to you, by withholding forgiveness. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which a person your protagonist cares for withholds forgiveness for your protagonist’s...