Daily Journal Writing Prompts

I will be adding prompts to this list on a weekly basis.

My goal is to create a list of 365 prompts, one for each day of the year.

Journal Writing Prompt 1

Try to think of small things that you are normally not aware of in your life. Take a look around the room you are in and finish this sentence:

I am grateful for_________.

Do this for about five to ten minutes.

Journal Writing Prompt 2

Look over your gratitude list (see JWP 1) and finish this sentence.

This list surprises me because _________.

Journal Writing Resources

Journal Writing Topics: A blog.
Journal Writing Topics: A Squidoo page featuring some general journal writing topics.
Journal Store: A store featuring leather journals, unlined and lined journals, books, and other journal related items.
Journal Insights: A weekly e-mail newsletter where journal topics, thoughts, and resources are shared.

Journal Writing Prompt 3

Think about thoughts or things that have been popping into your head lately. Finish this sentence:

I am feeling drawn towards _________.

What is capturing your attention? What is calling you? Don't censor yourself.

Journal Writing Prompt 4

Look over your list from JWP 3. Finish the following sentences (pick one or do all):

I am surprised that I am drawn towards _____ because _______.

I think ___________ would be a fun thing to pursue because ____________ .

___________ reminds me of _____________ (think of a person or memory and expand by describing the person or memory).

Journal Writing Prompt 5

Irritating or annoying things are common place. Finish this sentence:

________ drives me crazy because ______ .

Journal Writing Prompt 6

Re-read the journal entry from JWP5. Try to read it in a detached manner, as if you were reading someone else's journal. Now answer this question.

When I read the journal entry I feel ______ .

How has your perspective changed? How do you feel about the writer and the person being written about?

Journal Writing Prompt 7

Use the person or thing you wrote about in JWP 5 and make a list of positive, good, or beneficial qualities this person or object possesses.

Can you think of any? If no, why not?

If yes, are you surprised by the things you wrote?

Journal Writing Topics

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Journal Writing Prompt 8

The last time I let myself do what I wanted without thinking about the consequences was _________.

While doing this I felt ______________.

The outcome was __________________.

I would or would not do it again because ____________.

Journal Writing Prompt 9

Right now, I want to _______________.

I can't do this because _______________ or

I can do this because _____________.

Journal Writing Prompt 10

I want to give up ________________.

I want to give up __________ because _________.

I know I can do this because _______________.

Journal Writing Prompt 11

I turn to ________________ when I need guidance in my life.

The reason I turn to ___________________ is because ______________.

I trust _____________ because __________________.

Journal Writing Prompt 12

My strengths are ________________ (make a list).

Journal Writing Prompt 13

The last time I had to draw on one of my strengths was ________________.

Journal Writing Prompt 14

Review the list you made in JWP 12. Answer this question:

These strengths (list them) ___________________ complement each other in these ways (write it out) ____________________.

Journal Writing Prompt 15

Think of a recent situation where you wanted to yell at someone, but your didn't.

Now, rewrite the scene and let that person have it.

Journal Writing Prompt 16

Have you been writing about your everyday activities in your journal?

Take a few minutes to complete this sentence:

Today I _________________.

Do this for a week.

Journal Writing Prompt 17

Review your entries from JWP 16.

Now, complete these sentences:

Wow, I am really __________.

I am seeing the following pattern in my entries _____________.

Something I forget to mention last week is ___________.

Journal Writing Prompt 18

This is an adaptation from something I read on http://www.erinpavlina.com. Her post talks about finding the perfect relationship. I think it equally applies to other things you may want to find in your life.

Think of something you want such as a great job, relationship, home, etc.

Now, list all of the characteristics you want to find in this job, relationship, home, etc.

For instance, relationships:

I want to find a person who has _____________ (generous spirit, loving, etc.).

List as many characteristics as you can think of.

Erin Pavilina: This is the link to the exercise on finding a relationship that can be found on Erin Pavilina's blog.

Journal Writing Prompt 19

Look at your list from JWP 18.

Take some time to expand upon each characteristic on your list.

Ask yourself:

How do I describe or define this characteristic?

Why is this characteristic important to me? (you may find it isn't)

How does this person/thing communicate or show this characteristic to me?

For instance, you have loving as one of your characteristics. What does this loving person do to make you consider him/her loving?

Do they buy your gifts? Hold your hand? Wash your car? Write you poetry?

Journal Writing Prompt 20

Look over the writing you have done for JWP 18 and 19.

Ask yourself, How many of these qualities exist in myself or are qualities I would like to exist in myself?

Write away.

This can be done even if the object of your desire is not a physical person. For instance, comfort could be one of the characteristics you want to find in your perfect home. This could be expanded upon as a place where you feel safe, cozy, etc. This idea of comfort could be a quality you have or wish to have.

You might want people to feel a sense of comfort around you.

Now, big rooms might be a bit more difficult. But, big rooms could translate to spaciousness.

As a person what would that quality mean? It could mean you give people the space they need to be themselves.

Journal Writing Prompt 21

Sometimes, taking the time to write through your wants will either motivate you to work towards the thing you want or clarify what you really want. Look over all of the writing you have done in JWPs 18, 19, and 20.

Ask yourself, Have my feelings or desires changed because of the writing I have done?

Expand upon this.

Squidoo

Daily Journal Writing Prompts