Daily journalling prompts

Taking a break

2008-09-22T13:26:00.002+01:00

This blog is taking a break while I teach some paid-for courses.

"How to Blog" for yourself and your business and "Creative Writing Inspiration" - both 9-week online courses fully supported with a tutor and supportive learning group online - start on 29th September and 6th October, respectively.

You can make an enquiry by commenting on this blog which is moderated so your comment will not appear publicly.

Quotations - family

2008-09-15T08:08:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are sayings and quotations about the family.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing. Big family events and reunions can be wonderful or a little trying…
If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion.
Ashleigh Brilliant

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a family reunion

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - sweets

2008-09-14T08:07:00.000+01:00

This week's writing topic and journal prompts are from sayings and quotes.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing.
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. Barbara
Johnson
~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a favourite food of your family.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - the family as a gift

2008-09-13T08:06:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts for writers and scrapbookers are all quotations about the family.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are
to them. Desmond Tutu

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO including every member of your immediate family

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations – extended family

2008-09-12T09:06:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are from quotations

Use the quote as a starter for your writing. Is the following true for you?
The word family has taken on a wonderful and extended meaning... and can
include people like coworkers or roommates. Angela Shapiro

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a minibook with each page dedicated to a person who has meant a lot to you in your life.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations – ruling the family

2008-09-11T09:05:00.000+01:00

This week's prompts for writing and journaling are all quotations.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing. Who rules your family? Successfully? Does your family have rules or are you against them?
It is easier to rule a kingdom than to regulate a family. Chinese
Proverb

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about rules that your family have whether formal or informal: “We always have scrambled egg for Sunday breakfast”

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations – family as friends

2008-09-10T08:06:00.000+01:00

This week we’re writing in our journals and scrapbooks following from inspiration of famous quotes and sayings.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing. Are your family members also friends? Or are your friends closer than your family?

Friends are God's apology for relations. Hugh Kingsmill

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO with this quote as the title.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - family

2008-09-09T08:00:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are inspired by quotations.

Use the quote as a starter for your writing.

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. Jane Howard

What does family mean to you?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO with the title “family”.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Titles - slang

2008-09-08T08:28:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about titles.

Can you write starting with a title that is a piece of local slang or traditional terminology?

Pearly princess
Yorkshire Pudding
Angel of the North

Titles – quotes

2008-09-07T08:27:00.000+01:00

This week's writing topic and journal prompts are from titles.

Today - use a saying or quotation

"It's not the days in your life that count, but the life in your days."

Titles – similes

2008-09-06T08:24:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts for writers and scrapbookers are about titles. Today, why not start your writing with a simile - a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by ‘like’ or ‘as’:

Shine brightly like the star you are!

Titles – inspired by definitions

2008-09-05T08:23:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about Titles of various kinds.

Today – be inspired by a definition - look up a word in the dictionary – or here’s one to get you started.

Accomplish (ac·com·plish ) 1. to succeed in doing or achieving something 2.
reach point in time: to arrive at the end of a period of time

Try to create your own definition for a strong word such as an emotion - add to the definition with a thoughtful extra that is more feeling than definition.

Titles – inspiration from literature

2008-09-04T08:22:00.001+01:00

This week's prompts for writing and journaling are about Titles.

Here is inspiration from Shakespeare, no less! Romeo and Juliet…

What’s in a name?

Titles – inspiration from TV

2008-09-03T08:20:00.000+01:00

This week we’re writing in our journals and scrapbooks about Titles.

Today - take inspiration from the TV

Top Gear

Titles – not quite puns

2008-09-02T08:18:00.000+01:00

Simple writing and journalling prompts this week: titles

Create a piece of writing or a layout.

Rules of engagement

Computers – the internet

2008-09-01T07:42:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about computers.

What are your favourite websites and why?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about one of your favourite scrapping websites and what it has taught you about scrapping. Use a screenshot as your central feature.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers – the future

2008-08-31T07:01:00.000+01:00

This week's writing topic and journal prompts are about computers.

What kind of computer would you like to have in future? How do you think computers will change?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a minibook about all the different aspects of computers and their use.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers – typography

2008-08-30T08:00:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts for writers and scrapbookers are about computers.

Today – experiment – take a poem and display or print it out in different fonts, sizes and colours if you can. Download some new fonts. Does using different fonts make a difference to how you read? To how you write? Take a piece of your own writing and play with the font/print settings.

Does it inspire you in different ways?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO heavily focused on typography

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers – peripherals

2008-08-29T07:59:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about computers of all kinds.

Today - write about the peripherals you have – do you like your keyboard? Is your screen big enough? What peripherals would you like to have?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO entitled “Through the screen”.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers - wordprocessing

2008-08-28T09:58:00.000+01:00

This week's prompts for writing and journaling are about computers.

Do you prefer to write on the computer, using a word processor – or do you prefer to write with pen and paper? Compare and contrast…

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Use your journalling in your word processor and create a neat piece of text with various fonts that you can use as a journalling spot in a layout. Alternatively, create a beautifully handwritten piece and use it in a layout!

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers – my first computer

2008-08-27T07:57:00.001+01:00

This week we’re writing in our journals and scrapbooks about computers.

Describe your first encounter with computers? When was it? Was it a success?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about your computer.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Computers – software

2008-08-26T08:55:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about computers.

First – what software do you find essential on your computer? Or do you hate to use one at all?

Why?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about your favourite software.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups - events

2008-08-25T07:53:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about groups.

Have you been in any large groups at organized events?

Write about the experience of being in a large group.

How did you get to know the others in your group?

Did the group come together well or were there frictions?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about an event when you or a family member were part of a large group.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups – heritage

2008-08-24T07:52:00.000+01:00

This week's writing topic and journal prompts are about groups.

Over the years you have probably been in groups at various celebration events, weddings, family occasions.

Pick one that stands out in your memory and write as much as possible about the event.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a heritage LO about a wedding or other special occasion, focusing on the group rather than just the bride and groom.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups – uniformed groups

2008-08-23T07:51:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts for writers and scrapbookers are about groups.

Have you or a child of yours ever been a member of a uniformed organisation such as a marching band, the scouts or brownies? Write about the organisation and what it meant to you or them.

What kind of events took place during membership?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a uniformed group.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups – pop groups

2008-08-22T07:46:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about groups of all kinds.

Today – pop groups – or your favourite music group anyway. Have you ever met them?

Describe the encounter. If you haven’t met them write about what the encounter would be like.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a favourite music or pop group.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups of objects

2008-08-21T07:44:00.000+01:00

This week's prompts for writing and journaling are about groups.

Today the prompt is to write about a group of objects.

Pick a group of objects that mean something to you. Objects that are part of your daily life, or perhaps part of a treasured collection. Or even objects you can’t get away from.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a collection of objects.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups – family groups

2008-08-20T07:42:00.000+01:00

This week we’re writing in our journals and scrapbooks about groups.

Write about your family group.

How big is it? Does it include just your nuclear family or are there lots of relatives in an extended family?

How do you come together and when? Who do you like to see at family get-togethers?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about the people in your family group.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Groups – party groups

2008-08-19T07:41:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about groups.

Write about a group you were in when you had a lot of fun, at a party or festival.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a party.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Travel - sounds

2008-08-18T08:57:00.000+01:00

The Irish musicians in Dublin...

What kind of sounds characterised your holiday?

It might be the sounds of birds, or waves, or instruments, music, or people's accents.
What was different about the SOUND?

Travel - a sense of place

2008-08-17T08:55:00.001+01:00

No picture to prompt you today. Start by closing your eyes for a moment and remembering the place you are writing about. Where are you standing? What can you see?

Now write - describe the place in detail using all your senses.

Travel - food

2008-08-16T08:54:00.000+01:00

In what way was the food on your holiday or journey differrnt from what you usually have?

Travel - landscape

2008-08-15T08:53:00.000+01:00

This was the entrance to a cave on a beach in North Cornwall. So enticing and exciting!

How did the landscape strike you in your holiday location?
Was it different from what you usually see?
Did you like it?
Would you like to live there all the time?

Travel - heritage

2008-08-14T08:50:00.000+01:00

This week the writing prompts and journalling ideas are - appropriately enough for the summer holiday season - about travel. Write about a particular journey all week if you can. As a scrapbooker this should get you nicely advanced on your holiday album.

Here's my son on Brighton Pier. It was a very traditional kind of English seaside experience - must have been very similar to the seaside trips of people for generations - except for the prices!

How does your holiday compare with previous holidays and vacations? Ones that you have taken, and ones that earlier visitors to the same place may have experienced.

Travel - history

2008-08-13T08:48:00.001+01:00

When we visited Fishbourne Roman Villa, we saw this Roman skeleton, thousands of years' old.

How much do you know about the history of the place you visited?

Travel

2008-08-12T08:43:00.000+01:00

How did you travel?
Was there anything unusual about the way your travelled?
Did you go on any day trips?
Did anything go wrong?

Teenagers - milestone birthdays

2008-08-11T06:51:00.000+01:00

There are several milestone birthdays in the teens.

Becoming a teenager at 13
Starting to pay adult fares at 16
Learning to drive at 17 (or whatever age it is in your country)
The big 18 when they’re not really grown up although they can legally qualify as an adult.

Write about what it means to reach one of these birthdays.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout about a milestone birthday.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - Gadgets

2008-08-10T07:50:00.000+01:00

This week’s writing prompts are about teens. If you don’t have or haven’t had teen children of your own, then apply the prompts to teenage relatives or friends, or perhaps to your own teen years. Or write about “contemporary teenagers”.

Teenagers love their gadgets. They walk around with earphones stuck in their ears (good excuse to not hear when you ask them to do a chore!) or their fingers busy with game controllers or texting. And when it comes to computers and the kinds of “gadgets” they use online like MSN or social networks…

Write about the gadgets your teenager owns, or even the way they use one particular gadget.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout on “Gadgets”

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - Prom

2008-08-09T07:48:00.000+01:00

This week’s writing prompts are about teens. If you don’t have teen children (or older offspring whose teens you remember), then apply the prompts to teen relatives or friends, or your own teen years. Or write about all teens or teenage as a concept.

The prom is a milestone in the life of many teens. In fact they may have more than one. But however many they have it is certainly an occasion for photographs and journalling.

Write about how you felt when your child went to their school leaving prom.
Start “The day of the Prom…”
Start “His/her prom outfit was…”

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout on “The Prom”.

One possibility would be to focus on the outfits.

Another would be to focus on the people.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - day in the life

2008-08-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

What does a teenager’s day consist of?

It might be interesting to write a comparison of a teenager’s typical day in a previous generation (e.g., yours if you’re a parent) and a teen’s typical day nowadays.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout on “A life in a day…” How does a typical day typify a teen’s lifestyle – or your own?

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - Secrets

2008-08-07T08:06:00.000+01:00

If you’re a parent you probably don’t know or want to know your teen’s secrets! Did you have any secrets when you were a teen? What secrets might a teen of today have? How do they hide or share them? Journals, mobile phones, computers? What about the social networks they’re members of? I bet they don’t let you be their “friend”.

Write about teenagers and their secrets.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout on “What ARE you wearing?”

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - What to wear

2008-08-06T07:45:00.000+01:00

This week’s writing prompts are about teens. If you haven’t had teen children then apply the prompts to teen relatives or friends, or your own teenage years. Or write about all teens or teenagerhood as a concept.

Teenagers seem to belong to tribes which dictate what their personal style is – emo or goth or whatever… Much of it seems to be black, whatever their style!

And when they’re not wearing strange combinations of layers, none of which are actually appropriate to the weather, they’re in fancy dress. There is a university city I drive through regularly and there doesn’t seem to be a time (except in the holidays!) when there aren’t groups of students in fancy dress walking into town…

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout on “What ARE you wearing?”

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Teenagers - attitude

2008-08-05T08:44:00.000+01:00

This week’s blog prompts and journal ideas are about teens. If you don’t have teen children (or older offspring whose teens you remember), then apply the prompts to teen relatives or friends, or your own teen years. Or write about all teens

Today: All teenagers have attitude.

My two just spent our holiday running away from me whenever I got the camera out. They know I’m a scrapbooker and they are unhelpful about providing pictures…

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with a bad picture – where someone has turned away or put their hands in front of their face or similar.

Add a humorous title.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Simple prompts - sound

2008-08-04T11:20:00.000+01:00

Simple prompts for a lazy time of year (northern hemisphere anyway!)

Is there a sound which you associate with a particular memory? For me it's the sound of the ropes on sailing dinghies and yachts flapping against the masts - not a sound I hear often except when visiting a harbour or sailing beach - which is very rare in my life - but it reminds me of the seemingly endless summers we spent in North Wales on holiday when I was a child. It was a big sailing area, and the breezes set the ropes flapping onthe masts and that sound takes me back to my childhood like no other...

Write about a particularly significant sound.

Simple prompts - left out

2008-08-03T08:16:00.000+01:00

This week's blog prompt and journalling topics for your creative writing and scrapbooking are very simple, though no less powerful for that!

Think about the last time you felt left out. Happens to us all one time or another. Someone went somewhere without you - forgot your birthday, or similar.

For me it was my 25th wedding anniversary when I started to organise a wonderful party months in advance and everyone said they couldn't come (months in advance?????). So I cancelled the party and when the time came no-one even sent a card despite the fact they must have known it was coming up.

I'm still gutted and I'm still smarting.... better not write any more!

Simple prompts - change

2008-08-02T07:14:00.000+01:00

This week's blog prompt themes and journal topics for your creative writing and scrapbooking are very simple, as it's holiday time here.

Today's theme is "change":

The thing I'd most like to see change is...
How I cope with change is...

Simple prompts - creativity

2008-08-01T08:11:00.000+01:00

This week's writing ideas and blog prompts are very simple.

Today's theme is "Creativity"

Write:

Creativity is...
My creativity...
What my creativity means to me is....

Simple prompts - dream house

2008-07-31T08:52:00.000+01:00

Today's writing prompt follows this week's theme of simplicity.

What woul your dream house be like?

Simplicity...

2008-07-30T09:51:00.002+01:00

This week's blog prompt themes and journal topics for your creative writing and scrapbooking are very simple, as it's holiday time here.

Check out today's news stories and take one of the headlines as a prompt for writing or journalling.

Simple prompts

2008-07-29T09:47:00.000+01:00

This week's prompts are very simple:

What did you dream about last night?

OR

Write about a dream you would like to have.

Time - relive a moment #2

2008-07-28T09:10:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about time.

If you could relive ONE HOUR of your life - AND if you could change it - what hour would it be?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about something you regret.
Use hidden journalling

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time - Relive your life

2008-07-27T07:07:00.000+01:00

This week's writing and journalling prompts are about time.

If you could relive ONE HOUR of your life - but without changing anything - what hour would it be?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a special time in your life.
Often such times don't have photographs, so use journalling as your centrepiece rather than a photograph.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time - the past is another country

2008-07-26T08:03:00.000+01:00

This week's writing ideas and blog prompts are based on concepts and issues around TIME.

If you had a TARDIS and could travel anywhere in the past - to any era - when would it be and why?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a heritage layout.

Use the word "time" somewhere on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time - making a date

2008-07-25T08:00:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling and blog prompts are based on concepts and issues around TIME.

Today you are going to make a date with yourself. Set aside an hour tomorrow or the nest day when you are going to write and/or be creative. If you have to, arrange to get up an hour earlier!

When you've made a date, write it at the top of your page in your jorunal or new Word document and then write down all the reasons why you should make time for your creative self.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Tidy up your space in preparation for a big scrapping session tomorrow...
If you're already tidy - create a small project, e.g., 6x6 LO or maze book, about your scrapping spacxe.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time - timewasters

2008-07-24T07:57:00.000+01:00

This week's blogging and writing prompts are based on concepts and issues around TIME.

Answer the question (and think carefully about it):

What are your biggest timewasters?

~~~Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout about the ways you LIKE to waste time.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time #2

2008-07-23T08:40:00.001+01:00

This week's journalling and writing prompts are based on concepts and issues around TIME.

Yesterday you did some freewriting.

Today, take the writing and look at it. Is there any word or phrase that jumps out at you or that you think you could contiinue to write from? Use that as a starting point for a more leisurely ten minutes' writing, developing that theme.

Alternatively if you have no freewriting to look at, start with

If I only had time ...

What would you do?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with the title "Just in time".
Use a clock or watch face somewhere on the page.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Time #1

2008-07-22T11:26:00.003+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on concepts and issues around TIME.

Today - give yourself a time limit and freewrite.

Freewriting is a great way to "loosen the writing muscles" especially when you're sitting down to start a writing session, or trying to get over a writing block.

Give yourself a time, say ten minutes, and just keep writing. The rules are:

Don't stop moving the pen (or typing)
Start with a word or phrase (one from any previous day on this blog would do!)
Keep writing even if it's just repetition or rubbish
Don't worry about punctuation or spelling, untidiness or typos!

When you've finished put the writing away for today.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Find some photographs that reflect to you some aspect of the word "time"
Jot down a few details about the photos in preparation for layouts.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #7

2008-07-21T10:24:00.001+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

Today - create your own friendship quote. What does friendship mean to you?

A friend is...

Friendship means...

A true friend...

Use it to prompt further writing, blogging, or journalling

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with your quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations -- friends #6

2008-07-20T10:16:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

"To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon." - Chinese Proverb

Use it to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #5

2008-07-19T10:15:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend."

Use it to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #4

2008-07-18T10:14:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."- Mother Teresa

Use it to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #3

2008-07-17T10:13:00.001+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

Use them to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling

"Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold"

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #2

2008-07-16T10:12:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes.

"I get by with a little help from my friends."- John Lennon

Use it to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Quotations - friends #1

2008-07-15T10:11:00.000+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on some inspiring quotes about friends and friendship.
Use them to prompt your writing, blogging, or journalling

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."- Anais Nin

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with today's quotation on it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Ageing

2008-07-14T10:10:00.001+01:00

This week's journal prompts are based on the Seven Ages
Use them as daily writing prompts, blog prompts or to help you with your journalling

Today's topic: ageing

What's the worst thing about growing older?
What's the BEST thing about growing older

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout about the passing of the years. Use a birthday photo. How do you feel as you approach another birthday?

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Parenthood

2008-07-13T10:09:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts are based on the Seven Ages
Use them as daily writing prompts, blog prompts or as inspiration for your scrapbook journaling

Today's topic: Parenthood

Is parenthood necessary for everyone or can you have a fuilfilled life without children?
This can be a controversial and emotive topic - but you don't have to let anyone else see it!

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about parenthood and how you feel about it. Your journalling should be hidden.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Young adult

2008-07-12T10:08:00.000+01:00

This week's daily journal prompts are based on the Seven AgesUse them as creative writing prompts. blog prompts or for scrapbook journalling

Today's topic: Young adult

When did you first start to feel "grown-up"?
Was it a particular incident or rite of passge that prompted it, or a gradual realisation?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a significant occasion or rite of passage in a young adult's life, such as 21st birthday, graduation, leaving home, engagement.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Adolescence/teens

2008-07-11T10:07:00.002+01:00

This week's journalling prompts are based on the Seven AgesUse them as writing prompts, blog prompts or scrapbooking inspiration.

Today's topic: Adolescence/teens

What advice would you give someone just turning 13 on how to get through this turbulent part of their life?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a teenager (your child, yourself, a relative, a friend). In what way are they a typical teenager and in what way are they not?

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Schooldays

2008-07-10T10:06:00.000+01:00

This week's journal prompts are based on the Seven AgesUse them as journaling prompts, blog prompts or to help you with your scrapping

Today's topic: schooldays

Were schooldays the best days of your life?
How? If not, why not?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about a schoolchild - use a school photo. Include journalling about the joys or not of schooldays.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Childhood

2008-07-09T10:05:00.002+01:00

This week's journaling prompts are based on the Seven Ages
Use them as journal prompts, blog prompts or to help you with your writing

Today's topic: childhood

What is your earliest memory?
Write about a place you remember from childhood.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about yourself as a child. Include journalling about the place where the picture was taken.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

The Seven Ages - Birth

2008-07-08T10:04:00.001+01:00

This week's journal prompts are based on the Seven Ages

Use them as writing prompts. blog prompts or to help you with your journalling

Today's topic: birth

Where were you born?
Does your place of birth impact on your life?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a LO about where you were born. Include a photo either taken by you or found on the Internet.
Journal about whether you feel you "belong" to this place?

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - cards and boardgames

2008-07-07T09:17:00.000+01:00

Do you play cards – or boardgames?

What was the last game you played?
Do you like to win or do you play just for the fun of it?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with playing cards on - either real ones or scanned.

Be inspired by the names of the suits: hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - an instrument

2008-07-06T08:12:00.002+01:00

Have you ever played an instrument?
If so, try to describe what it felt / feels like.

If not – what instrument would you play if you could learn now – painlessly – and why?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

If you were a musical instrument which would you be?
Create a LO inspired by playing an instrument (the singing voice could count as an instrument).

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - music

2008-07-05T07:09:00.002+01:00

Writing doesn’t have to be perfect first time – and if it’s just for a journal or scrapbook, it is important to include the everyday – what might seem mundane but in a few years’ time will be part of the big picture of your and your family’s past.

Do you play music?
What kind of music do you like to play when you are writing – or do you prefer silence?What kind of music makes you feel playful?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

What music did you listen to most recently? Did you like it? Why? Or why not?

Create an "everyday" layout and use a reference to music to help you start journalling.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - insight?

2008-07-04T08:06:00.002+01:00

The writing prompts this week are about play:

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” Joseph Chilton Pearce

Has playing or experimenting ever given you an insight?

e.g., Have you learned to use a camera or software by playing?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

You probably have pictures of yourself "letting your hair down".

Use one (or more) of these to create a LO or mini-book about how you have fun...

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - playthings

2008-07-03T06:02:00.001+01:00

This journal prompt is particularly for parents and those with small children in their families.

If you have a child – watch their play. What do they say? How do they play? What’s their favourite plaything of the moment?

If you haven’t a child to watch, think about yourself as a child – what did you enjoy playing with? What was your favourite plaything?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Find a picture with a plaything on (or take one!) and create a LO with an account of why that plaything was liked and how it was used. If you haven't one of yourself with a plaything, find a picture on the Internet of one you remember.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play - how do you play?

2008-07-02T08:58:00.002+01:00

It’s important to write honestly and truthfully about how you feel about things. You may shy away from a word or topic “I don’t play – I’m too old for that” but play is essential in our lives – for relaxation and for creativity.

“Play is the beginning of knowledge.”

How do you play?

I play by....

I like to play...

My play is ...

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Is scrapping play for you? Take a pic of your stash or yourself or friends scrapping.,

What's fun about it? How do you play?

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Play

2008-07-01T06:54:00.001+01:00

This week our daily journalling prompts are all about play.

What does play mean to you? Is it something you still do?

Creativity is all about play, whether you are playing with words, or playing with paper and glue as a scrapbooker. I do both!

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout with the subject "Play with abandon"

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - uniforms

2008-06-30T06:05:00.002+01:00

All this week the journaling prompts are inspired by “black and white”.

Uniforms!

A lot of uniforms are black and white – what does a uniform mean to you?

Pick one of the following:

I liked school uniform because…
I hated school uniform because...
My favourite kind of uniform is…
Policeman look …
Firemen look …
If I had to wear a uniform I’d rather it were …

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout or mini-album or card featuring a uniform
Your journalling should concentrate on why the uniform was worn (e.g., first day at school, fancy dress party, on duty with St John ambulance….)

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - the little black dress

2008-06-29T06:04:00.004+01:00

This week all our writing prompts and ideas for scrapbooking are inspired by “black and white”.

Little black dress or tuxedo

Do you have a little black dress? Do you love it? If so why? If not – what kind of posh frock would you prefer?

If not female (or not into little black dresses!) what do you wear when you go out to a swish occasion? Or don’t you like things too posh?

Dressing up is …

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a scrapbook page about a special occasion when dressing up was involved.
Your journalling should concentrate on the outfits(s) worn.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - crossing Abbey Road

2008-06-28T06:03:00.000+01:00

Every day this week we offer writing and journaling prompts inspired by “black and white”.

Zebra crossing! Pelican Crossing!

Remember that pic of the Beatles crossing Abbey Road?
In any case - here it is…
http://www.btinternet.com/~digital.wallpapers/beatles_abbey_road.htm

What’s it like crossing the road?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Set up an Abbey Road-inspired crossing the road photo opportunity with your friends, family, children…
On a zebra crossing if possible!
Create a LO. Your journalling should have the word “road” in it.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - films

2008-06-27T06:01:00.000+01:00

All this week the daily writing prompts are inspired by “black and white”.

Check out some old films in black and white./ There’s more difference to the ambience of a black and white film than just the colour – there’s a whole classic/antique feeling to them.

If you were in a classic film noir, what would be the plot?

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Take a picture in black and white see if it makes you feel differently about the subject
Create a layout in monochrome (any single colour) with the black and white photo
Your journalling should have an old-fashioned feel.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - animals

2008-06-26T06:00:00.000+01:00

All this week the journalling prompts are inspired by “black and white”.

Zebra!
or panda, or lemur or badger or penguin…

if you were an animal which animal would you be and why?

A great one for the BOM (Book of Me) and you can do it about any member of the family, friend, celebrity, etc. etc.

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout about your animal
Your journalling should say why you (or the subject of your photo) is/are like that animal.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and white - lyrics

2008-06-25T05:59:00.000+01:00

All this week our daily journal prompts are inspired by the colours “black and white”.

Piano keys!

Check out the lyrics of “Ebony and Ivory”

http://www.lyricsmania.com/print/86267.html

Pick one of the lines of the song and use it to start a song of your own…

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout based on this or any other Beatles or McCartney song
Your journalling should be in the form of song lyrics (whether a song you like or written by you).

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Black and White

2008-06-24T05:57:00.000+01:00

All this week the journalling is inspired by "black and white".

Here’s the prompt:

What do you think of when you hear “black and white” – make a list – pick one off the list and keep writing…

~~~ Scrapbooker’s journalling challenge ~~~

Create a layout based on a newspaper theme
Your journalling should follow the style of a tabloid newspaper story.

~~~ Scrapper’s journaling challenge ~~~

Travel: coming home

2008-06-23T07:30:00.000+01:00

Daily blogging prompts give you something to write about – even if you only blog once or twice a week or less. And writing prompts are a boon for the author with writer’s block. Scrapbookers too are often stumped for ideas. Try something a bit different about your journalling…

The last in this week’s special feature of travel, today’s prompt is about: coming home. As for all the prompts this week it’s better if you select a particular past journey or trip to bear in mind as you write, but you can if you wish write more generally.

What’s it like when you get back?
Are you delighted to be home?
Relieved that the house has burned down while you’re away (or is that just me!!!)?

Travel: transport

2008-06-22T07:29:00.000+01:00

Today’s daily blog prompt (and for writers and journallers too!) is still in our weekly topic area of travel.

Modes of transport

What’s your favourite mode of transport? What makes you feel like you’re really on a journey?

I love ferries because they have that definite holiday feel about them. If it was work, I’d be flying, but the ferry trip is part of the holiday….

Travel: getting there

2008-06-21T06:27:00.000+01:00

If you’re a scrapbooker you may have piles of photos from holidays and other trips – do they all look alike? It can be difficult to scrap holidays and journeys differently. Follow our journalling prompts this week for seven different ways to write about your holiday.

Today think of a particular holiday – look at the photos if you like, for inspiration, and ask

So what was it like when you got there?

Was it wonderful? Did it disappoint? How did you feel as you moved in?

Travel: the journey

2008-06-20T07:25:00.001+01:00

Travelling and journeys is such a big area to write about – and if you’re a journaller or a scrapbooker you’re bound to have notes and/or photos from your past trips.

Dig some out and think not about the PLACE you went to but how you got there. Was the journey exciting? Relaxing? Part of the holiday? Or was it a nightmare, you took 2 days to get Los Angeles, had the meeting, turned round and came home?

Write about the journey and what you remember most.

Travel: the list

2008-06-19T08:18:00.000+01:00

Our subject matter for the daily writing prompts this week is travel and today’s writing prompt is about: what you take with you on a journey.

What do you take? What’s essential and what’s not

Here’s some on my list:

An Englishwoman can’t go anywhere without tea, so the first thing I pack is my teabags. Sometimes I’ll pack milk in a thermos to keep it cool and a teapot as well, especially if going abroad where teapots aren’t usual.
I always take a picnic kit too. It’s much cheaper to buy the makings of sandwiches than the made sandwiches, but you invariably need a knife to cut up the bread, and picnic plates, paper napkins etc. are all very useful for a successful family lunch out.
I take a small towel and/or teatowel – someone’s bound to get wet the minute the family goes near the sea or water of any kind
Anti-mosquito spray and suncream are absolutely essential as I react badly if bitten (and am allergic to most antibiotics) and since I got badly sunburned in Pompeii one year, I never tan, just come up in heat bumps, so I need a high factor suncream….

Travel: setting off

2008-06-18T08:17:00.000+01:00

Here are more ideas and journal prompts to get you started on your writing. Don’t face a blank screen, use our daily prompts to get your started with writing! Whether you’re a blogger, journaler, scrapbooker or writer, the prompts will get your writing muscles working!

This week’s writing topic is travel and today’s writing prompt is about: setting off

What do you think of when you leave to go on a trip? Excitement, trepidation? I hate packing – I am in the worst temper when I have to pack the day before a holiday or a trip. And I don’t sleep – it used to be excitement, but now I’m the one who’s responsible for all the arrangements I worry that something will go wrong!

Write about setting off on a trip.

Travel: planning

2008-06-17T06:15:00.000+01:00

Ever sit there facing the blank page wondering what to write? Or maybe you know what you want to write but somehow you can’t get started? Here’s just what you need, a daily writing prompt that will start you off with your journalling and give you those warm up writing exercises to boost your journal writing

This week’s writing topic is travel and today’s writing prompt is about: planning

Do you like to plan? I do – the going away isn’t the same without the pleasure of weeks o0f planning.

Or do you prefer to just set out and not plan? Why not plan?

Gadgets in the future

2008-06-16T09:11:00.000+01:00

What gadget would you like to see invented?

Gadgets – best buy

2008-06-15T06:49:00.000+01:00

What was the best household gadget you ever acquired? Why was it such a success?

Gadgets - I wish!

2008-06-14T07:05:00.000+01:00

What gadget (that exists in the shops) do you wish you had now?

Gadgets that don't work

2008-06-13T09:04:00.001+01:00

Everyone at some point has had a duff gadget, that seemed like a good idea at the time but never worked...

Do you have any gadgets that never worked the way they were intended?

I had a slow cooker that was the rage when I first got it. It was a wedding present in the early 1980s. The idea was that you popped a selection of food ingredients into it and lo and behold when you came home from work your dinner was all ready and cooked. The trouble was it didn’t work – there was a good 10 hours between leaving for work and arriving home and that was too long for most of the programs. And who wants a meal that has been cooking on a very low heat for ten hours anyway? The slow cooker – I really should unearth it from that cupboard and just throw it away!

Gadgets in the kitchen

2008-06-12T08:56:00.000+01:00

What gadgets do you use most in the kitchen?

Gadgets – my favourite gadget

2008-06-11T07:55:00.000+01:00

What’s your favourite gadget?
And why?

I have just acquired a HTC TyTN II PDA/smartphone, and I love the idea of having all in one neat package a phone directory and phone, camera, calendar (synchronised with my laptop) and the ability to take notes electronically. For learning such devices have even more possibilities. Indeed, it was a seminar on the learning possibilities that convinced me I NEEDED one of these gadgets.

Gadgets

2008-06-10T08:53:00.001+01:00

What are the gadgets you can’t live without?

From electric toothbrushes to broadband dongles, think about the gadgets that surround you. List them? Why are we so dependent on gadgets?

This should be a general survey of gadgets that surround you – we’ll look at specific ones later in the week!

Emotions: enthusiasm

2008-06-09T08:49:00.002+01:00

When were you last really enthusiastic about something?

What was it and why did it make you feel enthusiastic?

It was really great to see Robert Kubice win the Canadian Grand Prix - not
that he's a big hero of mine or anything, but it was nice to see someone work
hard and get the result he deserved. In a race that was a big disappointment for Lewis Hamilton fans - because he managed to crash in the pit lane AGAIN, it was also great to see David Coulthard on the winners' rostrum again.