How many of you write journal entries on a regular basis?Now, don't feel bad if you don't. I don't write journal entries as often as I should, either. Click for Free Writer's Block Help E-Zine and Free E-Book My best friend has always told me that I should write down everything that happens to me, whether it's in my relationships, my work, or some other area of my life. If what I'm writing is from a pessimistic point of view, it is just a way to release my frustration, and hopefully one day look back and see that whatever I was annoyed with just wasn't worth it. However, if what I'm writing is from an optimistic, happy-go-lucky point of view, I will cherish each page that I've written when I look back on it years from now. I've tried to write something every day for a long time, but the fact of the matter is that life gets in the way. There sometimes isn't time to write it all down. If you don't have the time to write, don't fret. You can make time. You just need some writing prompt questions to start you off on the right foot. Or, you need to learn how to write journal entries. These can be reflective writings, personal writings, or general writings based on other types of prompts that get your mind flowing and keep your journal pages filled with whatever is on your mind. You may even choose to write about your dreams and take up writing in a dream journal to get your subconscious working for you as well. Just because you start with one journal entry prompt doesn't mean that you can't veer off and write about something different. There are no set rules here. I'm not grading what you've written. You're not even grading what you've written. You're just trying to move past your writer's block and find something that you are passionate enough about to keep your pen or pencil moving on the page. The following are some ideas for journal entries that I have used as bellwork prompts for my English students. At the beginning of each class period, each and every day, there is a bellwork prompt on the board that they have to write at least a full paragraph (4-5 sentences) about. I preferred them to stay on topic, but if they veered, as I'm saying you can, I was not upset. The point was to get them writing and keep them writing. We spent a few minutes sharing what they wrote to get them discussing and elaborating on their entries. So, here are some of my favorites (notice all of the "why" questions - those are what makes the journal entries so thorough): What is your favorite book, magazine, or other reading material, and why? Have you ever traveled to another country? If so, where? If not, where would you like to go and why? If you could be any character from a book or movie, who would you be and why? If you could write a book about anything you wanted, what would it be about and why? What would the title be? If you could only have one of your five senses, which would you want to have and why? Or, conversely, if you had to lose one of your five senses, which would you be willing to give up and why? Write about a time when someone wanted you to do something that you didn't want to do. What was it? Did you do it? Why or why not? What do you think of technology? Is there too much or too little of it in the world? Explain your views. How far would you go for a friend? Have you ever lied to protect a friend? What makes for a good friendship? If you could make up a holiday, what would you call it and how would it be celebrated? What is your favorite song? Why? What lyrics do you like best and why? If you could have lived during any time period, which would you choose and why? If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be and why? Write about the strangest dream you've ever had. What would you do if you woke up in another country and no one could understand a word you said? If you could have been someone in history (an actual historical figure), who would you have liked to be and why? If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why? What would you do if you had all the money in the world? What would you buy? Who is the person that you admire most? Write about anything you want. What gets you upset? If you could be a superhero, who would you want to be and why? You're welcome to make one up. If you could build your own theme park, what would it be called and what would you have in it? If you could go any one place right now (city, store, house, etc.) where would you go and why? What toy, game, or other item from your childhood do you remember most? Why? If you could have a song written about you, what musician would you want to compose it, who would perform it, and what would it be called? If you could be a contestant on any game show, which would you like to be on and why? If you could break one current world sports record, which one would it be and why? Who should be cast as you in a film about you and why? Besides looks, what traits are important in finding someone you like? Why? If you could make a sequel to any movie you've ever seen (that doesn't already have a sequel), which would it be and why? If you could have been the first person to discover any part of the world, what place would you want to have found and why? Now, you may think that all of these journal entries seem like they will get you nowhere. However, if you just start writing, you'll find that thinking about what toy you liked as a child may spark memories about other childhood or adolescent games you played, shows you watched, etc. You may find that a memoir is just the type of writing that will be perfect for you. You might realize that thinking about how far you'd go for a friend will have you writing a short story about two best friends who would do anything for each other. When one of them is accused of murder, the other friend has to decide if their friendship is really worth getting dragged into a murder trial and being put on the stand. Thinking about your favorite novel, magazine, or song may get your mind filled with ideas about how you too can try to write like J.K. Rowling and discover a new wizarding world, or like Washington Irving and find the next headless horseman. So, in this sense, journal entries can be reflective writings as you reflect on different parts of your life and find what works best as you learn to defeat your writer's block and emerge a better, stronger writer. Or your journal entries can be personal writings where you really delve into who you are and how you came to be that way. You see, all of the aforementioned topics seem general and seemingly simple to write about, but the fact is that they are all able to be seen in many different lights. They all can become personal if thought about in that way, and they all can help you as you reflect on other writings you've done, other places you've been, or other ideas you've had. See the writing prompts page for more suggestions about how to get your writing started. Don't forget to add your own twist to all of these journal entry or writing prompt ideas. You may find that you have much more to say than you ever would have believed.
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