Journaling + Fiction – July 20

“Fairness is like love. What is given has nothing to do with what we seek.”Haruki Murakami Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about an event or gift in your life you considered unfortunate when you first experienced it but now appreciate. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist finds an unexpected and important use for an unwanted gift.

Journaling + Fiction – July 19

“Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.”George Orwell Journal prompt: Reflect on your previous journal entries and spend at least 20 minutes writing about an experience when you should have restated the obvious to avoid negative consequences. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist fails to avoid being gaslighted by restating the...

Journaling + Fiction – July 18

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”Desmond Tutu Journal prompt: Spend at least 20 minutes writing about the impact of a person in your life who continuously distributes little bits of good. Fiction writing prompt: Write a scene in which your protagonist earns an unexpected advantage because of a little bit of good s/he’d long...

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:...