Journaling + Fiction – September 15

“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.”Miyamoto Musashi Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about a moment you realized you were thinking too deeply of yourself instead of everything around you. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist misses a chance to do good for others because s/he’s thinking too deeply of her- or himself.

Journaling + Fiction – September 14

“Along with voting, jury duty, and paying taxes, goofing off is one of the central obligations of American citizenship.”Sarah Vowell Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about your favorite way to goof off. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist goofs off with a frenemy.

Journaling + Fiction – September 13

“However much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about a truth you’ve been denying so long you’ve forgotten it exists. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist refuses to believe s/he has been betrayed by an ally.

Journaling + Fiction – September 12

“Love is what you’ve been through with somebody.”James Thurber Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the most intense circumstances you’ve been through with a person you loved at the time. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist realizes that a relationship based on a shared intense experience won’t work.

Journaling + Fiction – September 11

“The most striking quality common to all primitive art is its intense vitality. It is something made by a people with a direct and immediate response to life.”Henry Moore Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about what you’ve learned about the value of living in the moment. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist discovers s/he has no time to think about how to...

Journaling + Fiction – September 10

“Thinkers aren’t limited by what they know, because they can always increase what they know. Rather they’re limited by what puzzles them.”Daniel Quinn Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about something that makes you ask yourself, “Self, why are things the way they are?” Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist skips learning something that later proves...

Journaling + Fiction – September 9

“Hope is the pillar that holds up the world.”Pliny the Elder Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the hope you secretly fear will never be fulfilled. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist’s pillar crumbles.

Journaling + Fiction – September 8

“Punishment may make us obey the orders we are given, but at best it will only teach an obedience to authority, not a self-control which enhances our self-respect.”Bruno Bettelheim Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the first time you remember obeying yourself instead of obeying a parent. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist disobeys an order from a...