Time - relive a moment #2

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 ~~~

Play - cards and boardgames

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

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

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 - how do you play?

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

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 ~~~

Travel: coming home

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

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

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?

Colour - a car

What colour car (or other vehicle) would you ideally like (or maybe you have it…)

Finding your inspiration - ask the audience

Here's a simple one for Monday - ask a family member or friend (show them the photos, the layout, the journal, the inspiration spark or whatever if you have one) and say:

What shall I write about?

Either

• they will say something and you will think - oh yes, good idea OR
• they wil say something and you will scoff and think that's not what I want to write about!

Either way you are a step closer to knowing what to write about!

Finding your inspiration – random words

It sounds silly, but have you ever tried just opening the dictionary at a random page and picking a word? A completely random word may be too far from what you are hoping to write about - although try it if you're COMPLETELY stuck for something to write.
If you have a topic or subject or particular photo or event to write about, I guarantee every page of the dictionary will have at least one word that relates to your subject, even if you have to hunt through the page to find it.
If you want to be a little more focused try opening at random a book about your subject (e.g., a book about Italy, or scrapbooking, or organising your home...).
If you're scrapbooking - try a random photo as well!


I picked a random dictionary page - turns out to be the first two pages of the letter J.

Jolly japes on a jaunt in the forest?
Maybe not!
Jam-packed visit from Jenny? getting warmer...

Sometimes I'm jealous of the fact that my friend Jenny lives on a beautiful remote island off the Gold Coast, where bellbirds sing and exotic flowers fill the garden with scent - and the weather's better! But just maybe Jenny is sometimes jealous of the lovely part of England I live in - traditionally green and pleasant, and packed with history from William Morrise to the Romans. I think we often come away from our (chiefly virtual) visits and chats grateful for what we both have...

Finding your inspiration: the notebook

Every writer, journaller or scrapbooker should always carry a small notebook and a pen or pencil with you. We have those big handbags (purses for you Americans) yes? It doesn't have to be a big notebook.

If you take a photo, you can quickly note down where, when, why, what... the details that you'll quickly forget.



If the weather is interesting describe it - it could come in useful in a story sometime.



If you have a brilliant idea - jot it down - a scrapbook layout, an idea for a plot, a memory that's fleeting.



I have a notebook by my bed as well - vital for captuiring those middle of the night or just-dropping-off-to-sleep thoughts - otherwise you NEVER remember them in the morning!

So it's not so much a writing or scrapbooking journalling prompt today as a task - get yourself a notebook. If you're really creative, make or alter one...



For some inspiration check out Clareyfairy's notebook on Flickr. She includes ribbon strings to use as page markers so I know where to find all my important information. What a brilliant idea!

Photo by Dano on Flickr

Finding your inspiration: brainstorming

This week is all about finding your inspiration and beating that Writer's block or scrapper's block.
Often you know what you want to write about, you know what you are trying to journal about, but somehow you’re feeling blocked and you can’t get going.

Try not to procrastinate! This week I'm offering various activities which will ease you into writing and boost your creativity.

Today's idea:

Brainstorm

Start with a word, then just sit down and scribble down as many words, phrases, ideas around that word as you can. When you've finished you'll have a collection from which you can pick the words or ideas which appeal to you most.

If you're scrapbooking a picture - look at the photo and write down as many words and phrases to describe it as you can come up with.

Letters to lost loved ones

Sometimes, when you are getting over the loss of a loved one, it can help to write them a letter with all the things you said or wanted to say. If you have lost a loved one, whether recently or a while ago, why not write them a letter, tell them what’s been going on and why you miss them.

A Letter To My Younger Self

Have you made any mistakes in your life? Who hasn’t, whether they’re big or smaller. Wouldn’t it be good to be able to write a letter to your younger self?
If you could have it sent back in time to offer advice, help or support, what would you say?

If you can’t think of an age pick 19 (unless you’re UNDER 19 of course!).

This week's theme - Letters

A letter is a great way to express yourself in writing, whether writing a real letter, one that is never meant to be read, or even using the letter format for any kind of writing.

Today's prompt is to: Write a letter to your loved one(s). It's probably something we never do in this day and age.

Tell them why you love them.
Tell them what you love most about them.
Tell them the things that you never usually get to say.
Write to your kids, your partner, your mother, your sister, or brother.
This would be an appropriate activity perhaps once a year.
If you’re brave, you could send the letter.
Or post it on your blog and send them the link.