Are you having trouble coming up with topics when you go to write in your journal? For some people who are used to keeping a journal, coming up with topics is easy. For those who are new to keeping a journal, or would like to write, but just don’t know what about, try using a newspaper or magazine headline for a prompt.
I just opened a magazine to a random page, and read the headline: ‘Summer Fun… There’s no time to waste like the present’. Right away I thought of family fun at the beach, things I enjoyed on our day out, a memory that made me smile and my entry started to flow.
Another one jumps out at me: ‘Serious Party Girl’. Well, perhaps not much any more, but boy do I remember when.
The advertisements too offer a special way to get any kind of prompt. It may work better too if you remove some of the title, e.g. ‘Joy is powered by passion, not fuel.’ in a BMW advertisement. Take off the end, and you are left with a great prompt, ‘Joy is powered by passion.’ What passion has given you joy recently?
Don’t discount photos either. Go through a magazine and clip out some of the photos that capture your attention at first glance. Keep a file (you can always collage a journal page later) so that you can pull out a picture anytime you are looking for something to write about. When you look at the photo, start writing what you feel right away. You’d be surprised what comes out.
If you are having trouble looking for ideas to journal about, they may just be a fingertip away as you search a favourite magazine.