Telling Your Stories

I've been hanging out in book stores a lot lately. Hubby and I spent the morning browsing through interesting books this time without the little guy. He was at kindy. I liked looking at the biographies. It's amazing how many stories people have to share. I know I have several. What about you?

Spend some time writing in your journal about your stories. Create a list of the stories you have to share. Catagorise these into humorous, inspirational, thrillers, and so on. Which of these is worth sharing with others? Perhaps you've battled an illness or raised a child with a learning problem or disability. Even stories about breeding animals are interesting, especially if they're well told. Which would be a good base for a fictional account? Delve into the stories that make up your life and see what you can use in your writing or even art. How willing are you to share these stories with the world?

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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Your Own Wimpy Kid Diary

While browsing in a book store this morning I came across Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, which I couldn't resist taking a look at. What a great idea. If you're looking for a way to get your own kids into journal writing, this just might work. If your kids already read the hugely popular series by Jeff Kinney you're more than half way there. I have to admit I was tempted to buy the book just for myself. My little boy is just a bit too young for it at the moment, but I will keep it in mind for him in a couple more years.



Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather

Locating Your Feelings

I read another great prompt on Creativity Portal's Prompt Generator today. I often use it for days I'm feeling stuck on what to write in here. The prompt was a simple 'where do your feelings come from?' This is quite a deep journal writing prompt. I intend to use it myself tomorrow. Imagine locating the place your feelings come from. Spend some time writing about this place in your journal. I suggest revisting this idea in a few days, after you've had time to ponder the idea further. Perhaps create a visual page about this place where your feelings are generated.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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Favourite Journal Books

One book I turn to again and again is The New Diary. This is a book I've owned for quite some time. I have several other books on journal writing, but Rainer's book remains a favourite. Please share your favourite journal writing books, also any with a focus on visual journalling. I'm compiling a list as a resource for journal keepers of all persuasions everywhere.

Please leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

Heather
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Freaky Friday #13

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

This story is the most comprehensive online news item I could find on the murder of a teen girl in a small south-west town in my state. The news has shocked and upset many West Australians with continual updates as more is revealed on the story*.

It seems the poor young girl was murdered by her best friends. Of course, this leaves a lot of questions, especially for parents. But the purpose of me mentioning this news in the latest Freaky Friday was to bring yet another journal writing challenge your way.

Today, write a journal entry as if you are your best friend. You may want to write what your best friend thinks about you. Or perhaps you may want to understand something your friend is currently going through that you haven't fully grasped. Feel free to write on anything you like. These are simply suggestions.

I'm not implying either you or your best friend have murder in mind. The news, as mentioned above, had me thinking about best friends since yesterday.

*This is from an older journal entry from my previous blog

I hope you enjoy this journal writing challenge. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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The Idea of Perfection

I've run out of time today for much, but just wanted to express that when it comes to writing in your journal you need to leave the idea of pefection somewhere else. Look up the word perfection in the dictionary, but first define what this word means to you. Perhaps create a visual page on what perfection as one way to highlight how impossible it is to be perfect at anything.

I never worry about writing perfectly in my journal. Spelling errors don't matter. Just getting it down, the movement of my hand across the page, doodling, spirally my pen because it feels good, is sometimes enough. I enjoy words and express myself easily this way, but once I let go of the idea of perfection that was when I was able to really enjoy writing in my journal.

Try some free writing to warm you up, but you can even use this as your journal entry when you're feeling stuck with what to write. Write pages of free writing and then cut them up to use in a visual page. Let go of your ideas of perfection and enjoy writing in your journal. I hope this helps you to do the same.

Heather
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Faces

I found this prompt on a visual journal group I've recently joined: Blissfully Art Journalling Group. The prompt was simply about making a study of faces. While this is a great visual prompt, don't forget to explore what the study of faces could do in writing. You could sit somewhere and look at faces on the people passing by, or do a search on google images, or look through photos. Then open up your journal and write. Make no plan, just write about the different faces and see where that takes you.

Of course, a study of your own face would also be a great idea to explore in your journal. Take a photo a day, create a montage of these faces after a week, a month, or whatever period you decide. Your children might be happy to pose instead if you feel reluctant.

I hope you enjoy this journal prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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Freaky Friday #12

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

This week I have another unusual journal writing prompt idea. Those familiar with the popular TV series The X-Files will understand what I'm asking you to do today much quicker. For those who need the information, read a description of the TV series here.

The two main characters represent different two extreme perspectives when it comes to the supernatural. One is a firm believer in supernatural activity. The other character is a true skeptic and needs further explanation, a logical way to answer the problems they encounter in the course of their investigations.

Today try to identify which character you are more like. Once you've decided this write a journal entry about your reaction to a specific supernatural event from the other character's point of view. You may choose one of the topics covered in the TV series or some other in the news lately.

I hope you have fun with this one. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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The Happiness Project

I came across information about the book called The Happiness Project today and thought it something worth sharing with my regular readers, just in case it's new for you, too. Author Gretchen Rubin has an interesting website called The Happiness Project Toolbox, where you can use her 8 Happiness Tools for yourself. You do need to register, but it's free. She also has a blog to follow. The book will be released early next year. My favourite tools were the one sentence journal and secrets of adulthood. A slightly different slant on journal writing you might need to refresh you own habit.

Heather
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Brickstorming

On reading the Creativity Portal's newsletter today I had a good giggle at Chris Dunmire's Brickstorming creative prompt. I really liked the idea, too, and just had to share it with you. There's even a great page to download to use for the idea. If you create anything for this prompt, please be sure to credit Chris with the idea. I'm just passing something on.

Heather
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Fourth Anniversary Challenge

Ten Two Studios is having a fun challenge to celebrate their fourth anniversary. All you need to do is purchase Fourth Anniversary digital collage sheet, which is available from their website. Looks like fun and since it only costs 40 US cents, some of your time and a little imagination, I think it's worth joining in.

Heather
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Working Things Out

I haven't been online too often lately because I've had computer troubles. Since I don't have much money these days I've had to spend time working out what's up with it. I'm glad I find learning easy. I've been reading about computers and discovering stuff about this one I never knew before. So, as far as I can tell I've worked the problems out and things seem to be running as they should be.

Most of my life I've had to try and work out how things run so I could fix them myself. I suppose it comes from never really having all that much money, but I think I also enjoy discovering what is inside something and how it goes together. There's terrific satisfaction in getting it to do the job again, too. Hubby is the same. He is currently trying to work out what's up with the lawn mower.

What about you? Do you like to work things out, or are you happier letting someone else do that? Do you enjoy creating things, putting them together, be it crafts, machinery or furniture? Write about working things out in your journal. You may choose to write about working out emotional issues if you prefer. Just take the idea and write.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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Sorry for my absence

Just letting you know I'm sorry I haven't been here writing in my blog. For some reason only half the page would open for me whenever I came to write an entry here on blogger. For some other reason it all seems normal today. So, I'll just get back to where I was, I gather.

I've been doing a fair bit of rereading of my recent journal. Each time I do I spend time writing about the events that almost stole hubby away from me. I keep thinking how close I came to being a widow, a terrible thing at any time of life, but one I certainly wouldn't have been prepared for. Although, it's early days for me, I know I will eventually write an entry about what I'd have done if I did lose him.

What journal entry or idea are you putting off? Is it time to write that entry or are you simply not ready yet? Write a list of things you will write in your journal about one day.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
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