Writers Block: 5 Powerful Journaling Prompts to Help Uncover the Inner Writer Inside You
The habit of journaling can seem a bit intimidating, especially if writing has never been your jam. You may think you’re not a writer, when in reality you’ve simply never had the tools to draw out the thoughts, feelings and emotions bubbling up inside you. Writing prompts are a great way to get out of your own head, tap into your creativity and turn even the most average writer into someone who can string words together beautifully. Here are 5 powerful journaling prompts that can help you uncover the inner writer inside you today.
- My perfect day looks like: When you first start writing, you want to make it easy, letting the words just flow without too much thought. This first prompt will help you jump in without digging too deep. Start by coming up with the perfect day in your head. How would you spend your time? What would you be doing? Who would you be with? When was the last time you actually spent time doing whatever it is you enjoy? If it’s been a long time, why? Sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to actually enjoy ourselves once in a while. This can help you recognize if you need to schedule in some “me/fun” time soon and re-prioritize your schedule a little bit.
- Make a List of Things That Inspire You: One of the easiest ways to get your creative juices flowing is to think about all the things that inspire you. This can be a list of books, podcasts, movies, YouTube videos, quotes, phrases or empowering songs. What are some things that have made you up your game and strive to be a better version of yourself? What has changed your perspective or caused a mindset shift in your life? Maybe you heard a song that really pumped you up or read a thought-provoking book that changed your life. You can even include a list of people as well. Not only will this prompt help kickstart your journaling habit, but it’s a great list to refer back to when you need a little boost of inspiration to get you through.
- What’s on Your Bucket List: Creating a bucket list is the perfect way to get you fired up and inspired to write. You can keep it simple and just brain dump all the things you want to do, see and accomplish in your lifetime or you can dig deeper and ask yourself specific questions. For example, what are the top 5 places you want to visit, who is someone you’ve always wanted to meet or what is something you’ve always wanted to learn? You can even go a step further and ask yourself why, after each of these questions. Writing down your thoughts in the form of a bucket list can you help gain clarity on what you should really be prioritizing in your life right now.
- Your Favorite Memory: Life gets busy, and we tend to put even our most cherished memories on the shelf without realizing it. This is a great way to awaken those thoughts, feelings and experiences and bring them front and center once again. What memory sticks out in your mind? A favorite vacation spot with your family? Winning a competition at school? Hanging out at the beach with your friends? Take yourself back and try to remember in vivid detail the sights, sounds and smells of actually being there. If you can’t think of any certain experience, it can also be as simple as a favorite toy you had as a child or a book you read over and over again in high school. It’s the perfect way to dust off old memories, have a little fun and bring a smile to your face.
- Your Childhood Dream: Think back to the days when you ruled the world with your tiny fist. What did you aspire to be and do and see? We all have childhood dreams that have long been forgotten as adulthood takes over and responsibilities multiply. Maybe you wanted to be a teacher or a doctor or a writer. Maybe you thought the coolest job on the planet was to be a helicopter pilot in the army or a police officer so you could have your very own K-9 partner. Take yourself back to that simpler time and write about who you wanted to become. If you didn’t have a specific dream, think about the things you liked to do when you were playing and using your imagination. This simple exercise may help you rediscover a lost passion and even change direction on your present course.
Even if you’re not a natural born writer, prompts can help to inspire you and get those creative juices flowing. These of just a few of many tools that will kickstart your journey and help you become a better writer with just a few strokes of the pen.