Whenever you find yourself at the whim of creativity, waiting for your muse to appear, creative writing prompts can be really helpful to jumpstart your create flow. Not just for word artists, these creative prompts can also launch visual artists into creating.
If you’re not yet journaling daily, but would like to, creative writing prompts can also be a great way to exercise your creative muscles and get them into shape to carry you wherever your fancy takes you. Here we have 60+ creative writing prompts to carry you through two months of writing.
“Creative writing prompts or morning pages, done daily, will summon your creative powers at will.”
~LeAura Alderson, cofounder iCreateDaily.com®
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- When Your Mind’s as Blank as Your Page
- Debate or Do?
- Why Writing Prompts?
- Creative Writing Prompts to Prime Your Prose
- Journaling for Relaxation and Meditation
- Three Tips to the Journaling Habit
- Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages Exercise
- Have Prompts to Add?
When Your Mind is as Blank as Your Page
How is it you can go from having a million ideas you don’t have enough time for, to a staring contest with a blank page and an equally blank mind? This aspect of creativity can be both frustrating and intriguing.
One thing that’s become abundantly clear from interviewing creatives of all paths, and through our own content endeavors, is that creativity is a readily renewable resource. We just need to learn how to prime the pump, and the surest way is through consistent daily practice.
Creativity is a renewable resource. The more you do, the more you can do
~LeAura Alderson, writer, editor, creator iCreateDaily.com®
Debate or Do?
You’ll find never-ending debates on whether creative blocks are real or amateur mental myths, but joining that debate doesn’t help you actually make your thing. ? Sure… no question about it; it’s easier to create when the mood strikes you. However, what’s equally true?
The process of practice produces flow.
Your inner muse is always ready for you, sometimes you just need to look for her in another direction. Other times, it’s about training her to your command and beckon her at will.
When we create even when we don’t feel like it, it’s like lifting heaving weights at the gym. It’s harder, so we get stronger in the doing.
Creativity starts as an intangible source. The more we immerse in it, the more tangible it becomes.
~Devani Anjali Alderson, iCreateDaily.com®
Why Creative Writing Prompts?
There are so many ways to journal, and no right way or wrong way. There are no journaling rules to what you write about or how you write it, unless you’re in school following specific teacher assignments.
Journaling is a tool for self-reflection… to get what’s in your head out and down to see. Sometimes you’re not completely aware of what you’re thinking and feeling… and thinking about what you’re feeling until you write it down and then read what you’ve written.
Journaling can clear your head, capture ideas, and vent frustration. Pour your mind oneo paper can help you to meet and understand yourself, your thoughts and emotions and lead you to depths undiscovered within yourself. Journaling is also a way of envisioning and creating your future.
If you want to write but aren’t sure where to start, creative writing prompts can be a catalyst to unlocking your creative reservoir.
“Vision is the true creative rhythm.”
~Robert Delaunay, artist, 1885-1941
Creative Writing Prompts
Read, Reflect, Write
1. UNDAUNTED:
An interesting word, often used in the negative, as in “daunting”. But what if you were undaunted by circumstance, whatever and whenever that may be?
2. IDEAS:
Do you think ideas originate in your brain or your mind? Or are ideas an external form of consciousness that exist somewhere and everyone has equal access to them?
3. INTRINSIC and EXTRINSIC
3a. INTRINSIC: Which of your personal qualities do you think are intrinsic traits from birth?
3b. EXTRINSIC: Which traits do you think you have adopted from your external environment, conditioning, and influences?
4. LIFE VISIONING:
Imagine you’re over 100 years old and nearing the end of full and wonderful life. What will you want to be sure to have done or accomplished?
5. TRUTH:
In the movie, The Matrix, Neo took the Red Pill (signifying truth). Have you had “red pill” moments in your life where you woke up to a new reality of realizing something you’d always thought to be true, wasn’t? Write you thoughts, feelings, discoveries and conclusions.
6. CHANGE:
Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” What is the biggest change you think the world needs, and what can you do toward making that real for you in your life?
7. GRATITUDE:
What is something you’re really grateful for? Expound on your gratitude thoughts around this.
8. RANDOM FLOW:
Random stream of consciousness: set a timer for 5-10 minutes, and write everything that comes to your mind. These don’t have to be cohesive ideas. It’s whatever comes to mind from words to ideas to sounds… whatever it is, that flits across your mind-screen, write it down.
9. REFLECTIONS:
Reconstruct a conversation. But this time, write down things you forgot to say, or thought to say later. You know… that one witty punchline you could have said, but it came to you 3 hours later while you’re making a sandwich.
10. INTERESTS:
What skill, subject or hobby do you wish you had learned at school? Is this still something you are interested in learning?
11. SPIRIT ANIMAL:
Some cultures believe in “Spirit Animals” as representing qualities within them. What animal do you think most represents your spirit? Elaborate on why.
12. TRAVEL:
Where are places you want to travel? Write about the experiences you would like to have in a different location/s. Then, ask yourself, which part of this can I have now, in the city or town where I live?
13. IF I WERE BRAVE:
Journal your response to this lyric from Jana Stanfield’s song If I Were Brave:
“What step would I take, today, if I were brave?’
~Jana Stanfield, singer, songwriter, entertainer, keynote presenter
14. SIMPLIFY IT:
For any challenge in your life, ask yourself: “If this (problem you’re facing) were simple, what would it look like?”
~Tim Ferriss, author, biohacker, famous for The 4-Hour Work Week
15. EARTH:
Astronauts who’ve traveled beyond the earth’s atmosphere have all reported the transformative experiencing of looking back at the earth. How do you think your perspective on life would change if you were able to see the world from space? Imagine that perspective and journal your thoughts.
16. ADVICE:
Picture a time when you were facing a struggle as a kid/teen. What advice do you have for that version of you, now that you’ve accumulated more life experience?
17. I LOVE…
There’s always a tendency to put our focus on the negatives in the world for it blairs out from . Instead, write something that you love about the world as it is now.
18. I SMILED…
What is something that made you smile today? Or yesterday if you’re journaling early in the morning.
19. I WANT…
What are the material possessions that you really want? Feel free to dream! 🙂 How would this enrich your life?
20. I FEEL…
How are you feeling right now, in this moment? Anything you’re currently happy about? Or maybe there’s something weighing on your mind you want to get out? Write it all down.
21. THANKS…
Who is someone in your life that helped you through a hard time? Write about your appreciation for them. If you want that could turn into something you share with them, (prayerfully, if they’re passed on). If they’re here, to share it with them in some form would probably make their day! 🙂
22. I’M INSPIRED BY…
What is something you’ve read, watched, or listened to that inspires you, and why?
23. MY MOON SHOT:
Peter Diamandis talks about “taking your moon shot.” The idea is about solving a big problem. What is a problem you want to solve, that others have told you is impossible? Here is a YouTube talk to learn more about Peter’s Moon Shot concept.
24. A FEAR OVERCOME:
What is a fear that you have overcome? Journal about some of the lessons you learned from overcoming that fear, and how you can use that to overcome other fears.
25. CORE VALUE/S:
What core values do you stand for? Write them down and then write why they are important to you.
26. LESSONS LEGACY?
If you have kids, or plan to in the future, what are some lessons you want them to know that you’ve learned?
27. LESSONS FROM PETS:
Do you have—or have had—a pet? What lessons has it taught you?
28. WHEN CREATING, I…
What are some of the thoughts and feelings you experience during your creative process?
29. MY CREATIVITY IS INSPIRED BY…
Who or what has influenced your creativity the most? What is it about what they’ve done, or what/who they are, that attracts you?
30. I’VE GOT THIS, BECAUSE…
What positive and encouraging things could you tell yourself in moments of uncertainty, worry, fear and doubt?
31. I LOVE FEELING…
31a. What is your favorite emotional state? Write about why you like it and how it has served you. E.g., gratitude, joy, peace, serenity.
31b. In what emotional state do you spend most of your time? If you’re not spending enough time in your favorite state, how can you do more of that?
32. MY THOUGHTS ON PERFECTIONISM:
Do you struggle with perfectionism? Consider pondering and then writing why you struggle with this.
33. MY CONFIDENCE AFFIRMATION:
When fear holds you back from sharing your work, what are some affirmations you can use to encourage yourself?
34. I’M STRUGGLING WITH…
Are you going through emotional turmoil such as depression, anxiety, healing from physical pain? Or anything else? Write one page about how you really feel. Pour all the emotions out. Then, if you feel ready to release that, you could burn the paper symbolizing the shedding of that emotional coat.
35. QUIET COMMUNION IN NATURE:
Find a quiet area in nature to sit and breathe for some time, even just 5-10 minutes, longer if you can. Where does your mind wander? What ideas catch your fancy? Write those musings!
36. CREATIVE FREEDOM MEANS…
What does creative freedom mean to you?
37. CREATIVE FREEDOM FEELS…
How does creative freedom feel?
38. AS A CHILD, I LOVED TO…
Is there an activity you loved as a child but don’t do anymore? Why did you stop? Is it still something you love to do?
39. MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO AND WHY:
Superhero stories tend to cycle in our culture every once in a while. If you’re a fan of superheroes, what qualities are you most attracted to? How can you harness some of the positive qualities from the characters in those stories?
40. A LETTER TO MYSELF:
Write an encouraging letter to yourself that you can read anytime you feel low and need reassuring pick-me-up.
41. MY COMMENCEMENT SPEECH:
If you were to write a commencement speech, what lessons, stories, and encouragement would you want to pass on to the audience?
42. IT BOTHERED ME TO HEAR/READ…
Did you hear something on the news or the internet, that’s upsetting? Write away your frustrations with that event.
43. CREATIVITY FEELS…
When you think of creativity, what emotions do you feel?
44. CONCEPTUAL REFLECTIONS:
“Pry open the portal to infinity.” Write what comes to mind when you read this?
45. SACRED SPACE:
Do you have a sacred space where you can create, write, or just think? If so, write about why that space is important to you. If not, write about where you can create a sacred space even if you don’t yet have one.
46. MY REMEDY FOR CREATIVE BLOCKS:
If a friend asked for your advice on writer’s or creative block, what would you tell them?
47. REPLACING A NEGATIVE WITH A POSITIVE:
Have you had a negative thought about yourself today? Write down encouraging words you can remind yourself instead!
48. I OWN MY…
What does “owning yourself” mean to you?
49. I GREW FROM…
Struggles can break us or help build us. What is a struggle that helped you grow in life?
50. FREE TO CREATE:
Today… I am free to create. What inhibits my creativity? What releases my creativity?
51. MY LEGACY:
What legacy would you like to leave?
52. EDITS AND REVISIONS:
Flip through something you’ve written in the past and either edit it or expand on that thought with fresh eyes.
53. MY SPIRITUAL SELF:
Describe your spiritual self and/or relationship with spirituality.
54. MY AFTERLIFE BELIEF:
Share your thoughts on life beyond this one.
55. JOY:
Continue this sentence: “Joy in my life looks like…”
56. THANK YOU FOR…
Write a note of gratitude and appreciation to yourself!
57. MY QUESTIONS FOR CREATORS
What 3 questions would you ask your favorite creators (alive or dead) that would help you in your own aspirations?
58. THE STORY OF MY FUTURE:
Write the story you want to live. Leave off the villains and sorrows for that story is the past, and does not belong in the story of your future, beginning now.
59. FUTURE SELF THOUGHTS:
What is the mindset of the life I want to live? What do I need to adjust, beginning today, to come closer to that way of being?
60. INSPIRES ME TO BE BETTER:
Write about who inspires you to be a better person?
61. IF I WERE BRAVE… I WOULD:
What’s something that is holding you back for fear or doubt or…? And… how would it be different if you braved yourway through that?
62. MY PERFECT AVERAGE DAY:
“If there were no limitations or consequences, what would your perfect average day look like?”
~Frank Kern, Marketer, entrepreneur, copywriter
Listen to a 9-minute clip of this powerful exercise from Frank Kern, who coined the concept.
Journaling for Relaxation and Meditation
Many people are inclined to journal when they’re feeling strong feelings. However, these creative writing prompts help prime your prose to flow at will through reflection, contemplation and exercising your imagination.
The basic rules of creativity apply to anything you wish to do: The best way to start anything is to just start doing it. Then do it consistently and persistently over time.
Journaling is a form of reflection and reflection is a form of meditation.
~LeAura Alderson, writer, editor, creator iCreateDaily.com®
Three Tips to the Journaling Habit
Below are a few tips to help you get going in your journaling aspirations.
- Commit to a time each day to write, no matter what, even if you only have 5-10 minutes on some days. It’s about setting a commitment to show up for yourself. The intention of committing to something alone can kick your mind and creativity into gear. E.g., you could commit to 60 days of writing using these creative writing prompts.
- Set a timer and don’t stop writing until the alarm sounds. If you’re someone who works well under the pressures of a ticking clock, this method could be applied to many creative projects. It’s creating a self-induced deadline which can break the slump of a creative block.
- Keep it Simple. Don’t overthink it or try to make it perfect. All journaling is basically practice and exercising your word muscles.
Creative Writing Prompts and Journaling Can Clear the Way for Creativity
Journaling doesn’t need to be a complicated activity, as you can see from these creative writing prompts. It can help either stimulate creativity or release of tension which then helps free you to be more creative. A sort of clearing or whitewashing of the canvas of emotions. Seeing your thoughts on paper (or screen) can help you grow in discovery and self-awareness.
Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages Exercise
Julia Cameron is a well known prolific artist, creator, and author. Many creators cite Julia’s work for helping their journey. In her book The Artist’s Way, as well as on her website, Julia has a practice called “Morning Pages“, which is about jumpstarting the creative writing process through journaling.
When it comes to feeling stuck, sometimes it’s not the lack of ideas but too many ideas that stop us from getting started. Morning Pages can help with that. As Cameron states, “there is no ‘wrong’ way to do this. You just write from mind to page, no editing and it doesn’t have to be about anything important.”
The goal is to declutter your mind of anything that could interfere with later work and art. If you would like to learn more about this practice, check out this video from Julia Cameron.
This quote by Julia Cameron sums up the importance of creating daily:
As you move toward a dream, the dream moves toward you.
~Julia Cameron, artist, author, novelist, journalist, teacher
Have Journal Prompts to Add?
If you want to send us any responses to any of the prompts, we’d love to read them. They are meant for your personal writing, but if it’s something you want to share, we’re all eyes! Or if you have other journal prompt ideas. Shoot us an email.
We may publish some of them here along with a link back to your website, blog or social media page.
Like drawing? You will also enjoy this article on drawing prompts by Lynda Suzanne Wright. Or if you want some fiction ideas, here are some story prompts! If you’d like to try some conceptual prompts start here.
“The process of practice produces flow.”
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
~LeAura Alderson, iCreateDaily.com®
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