Free journal writing prompts


Journal Writing Prompts | Journey.Cloud

What are Journal Prompts?


Have you ever had a feeling that you want to write something in a journal but don’t know where to start? Journal prompts, also known as writing prompts, are journaling ideas that help you to focus on what to write. Using journal prompts give you a clearer direction before you start writing!


Finding your Perfect Journal Prompts

Choose whatever works for you: word, phrase, quote, photo. You can find prompts in the Coach section of the Journey app. But if you’re stuck, we'll provide a list of journal prompts you need below! The following journal prompts are designed to help you clarify your thoughts, perspective, and desires. You’re sure to find a writing prompt here that will spark your imagination and get your words flowing.


Journal Prompts Examples

Some suggestions below are a series of examples to start off your first entry!


Write about yourself

  • What brings you joy?
  • Describe a place where you felt happiest.
  • What was your greatest fear, and how did you conquer it?
  • Write a letter to someone that you always want to thank but have never had the chance to do so.
  • What is something that you would like to change about yourself? How can you change it?

Write about the daydream that you had

  • Describe your dream job/partner/house.
  • Where’s one place that you’d like to visit, and how do you imagine your time there?
  • If you are granted a wish, what would you wish for and why?
  • If you are a superhero, what superpower would you like to have and how would you use it?

Write about the present

  • Write a letter to someone that you care about to tell them how you feel.
  • Reflect and write letters to yourself with constructive feedback to improve yourself.
  • Write about the people around you to describe what they are like, and what are your views about their actions etc.
  • You can also record voice memos if you feel more comfortable to say those feelings out before writing them down!

Write about the future

  • List down a bucket list with the things that you have always wanted to do.
  • Where do you see yourself in the next 1, 3, 5, 10 years from now?
  • What is something that you would like to achieve? How do you plan on reaching your goal(s)?
  • How could you make someone you care about feel better if he/she just lost something important to them?

With Journey, all journals written are kept private and secure, so you can write about anything that concerns you, and you would like to reflect on.

Journal Buddies Home • JournalBuddies.com

Yes, it’s true. And, lucky for YOU…

Journal Buddies is YOUR Go-To Source for Writing Prompts

Because of my love for creating prompts and love for sharing them…

I am proud to tell you that Journal Buddies is one of the best free writing prompt list resources on the Internet.

Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.

You see…

I’m Journal Buddies Jill, and I have a burning passion for prompts. (One that keeps on getting brighter and brighter.)

I love publishing fabulous and inspiring journaling ideas, creative writing prompts, and fun topics on my blog and sharing them with you! (And, with teachers, homeschoolers, young writers, parents, kids, students, and writers of all ages). 

Now check this out…

If you’re a fan of fabulous writing prompts, you’ll definitely want to stay in touch which I hope you will do. Signing up for my email list is a great way to do just that.

Writing & Journaling Prompts Lists

Again, because of this burning passion of mine for prompt lists and for sharing I am able to offer you loads and loads of absolutely FREE prompts and ideas.

This means there are loads of prompts that are all easily accessible right here and available at your fingertips.

So, if you also have a BIG love for prompts — or just a need for them — I guarantee you’ll find prompts here on my blog that you will love!

But please know and note this…

While my prompts are all free for you to use (in non-commercial/non-money making endeavors), I ask that you give my site credit. Please do so when you use my prompts with your writers, in your classroom, homeschooling, or if you share them on social media or elsewhere.

See This: I do not grant permission for republishing my prompts elsewhere in any form. I appreciate your willingness to respect my work, creativity, and intellectual property.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it! 

Let’s Talk Videos

Yes, we have fun videos for some of our most popular prompt lists! 

I continue to add videos to my site and hope you find them helpful (and I think you will). Which is why… I’m thrilled to share them with you on nearly every page of my blog. Here’s a peek at one of our latest videos:

See the live prompt generator –> Click HERE <–

Sharing Free Prompt Lists & Resources

Yes… there are over 15,000+ writing ideas and journal prompts here on my blog for you to use. Best of all, there are even more prompts to come. 

Oh, and all of these prompts and more started years ago when I published a girl’s journal and a boy’s journal.  Both of my printed journals have been retired yet with this blog, I continue celebrating magnificence and discovering excellence through unique journal ideas and fabulous writing ideas (and lists of prompts!).   

Further…

I love supporting your journaling adventure and helping you take an ordinary journal and your journal entries and giving them “a new look” and a new feel. Ideally, one that encourages a positive outlook, and healthy relationships — with yourself or others with the help of your buddies.

Now, I’m going to say this again…

Journal Buddies is YOUR Go-To Source for Prompts

Ok, as a thank you for visiting my blog I have a free gift for you! Simply click on the image below to download two adorable Printable PDF Journal Pages.  

Journaling, Writing Ideas, Journal Prompts, & Creative Writing Resources

So why I am so dang passionate about offering prompt lists free of charge? Because I know that journaling and creative self-expression helps children, kids, students, and all of us feel more empowered. And, being empowered leads to better choices which lead to better outcomes in life and greater happiness and success!

I am so glad you found my writing ideas blog and hope you enjoy the information on Journal Buddies.  Before I close this note, I want to share my mission for my blog with you. It is:

To offer fun and educational writing prompt resources to teachers, homeschoolers, and parents so they can empower kids to connect, communicate, and celebrate through  creative, prompted, guided, and interactive journaling and creative expression.”

Thanks for visiting my journaling and creative writing resources blog. Visit often and, above all, keep on writing!

Sincerely,

Journal Buddies Jill

Creator & Curator of JournalBuddies.com

 

See this Sampling of the Writing Prompts and Journal Ideas found Here on JournalBuddies.com

Below is a small sampling of some writing prompts from my blog. Take a look and enjoy.

 17 Fun Writing Prompts

  1. How do you know your parents love you?
  2. Who is your favorite singer?  What do you like about him or her?
  3. Write about your first memory of going to the doctor.
  4. Write a poem about writing poems.
  5. Write a poem about vacations.
  6. What is something interesting that no one knows about you?
  7. Why is it so important to help other people in need?
  8. Would you rather finish a project early or do it at the last minute?  Why?
  9. If you had three months left to live, what would you do?
  10.  If you could be a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would you be?  Why?
  11. What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
  12. Would you rather be tall or short?  Why?
  13. What is the greatest challenge facing people in our world today?
  14. What is the scariest experience you’ve ever had?
  15. Write a poem about music.
  16. Write about a favorite memory of something you did with your best friend.
  17. What is your favorite game to play?  What do you like about it?

(See the full list of 28 Fun Writing Prompts Here)

13 Topics for Writing

  1.  Write about a great female role model.  Why is she inspirational?
  2. Write a scary story.
  3.  Write about a time when you had to make a tough choice.  How did you decide what to do?
  4. Write about a time when you were entrusted with a secret.
  5. Write a letter to a person who has inspired you.  What would you like to say to him or her?
  6. How would you describe yourself?
  7. If you could get rid of any one chore or responsibility you have, which would you choose?  Why?
  8. Write about a time when you couldn’t stop laughing.
  9. If you could have an extra sense, what would it be?  Why?
  10. Do you believe in magic?  Why or why not?
  11. What makes you feel safe when you are scared?
  12. Would you rather live in the city or in the country?  Why?
  13. If you were a teacher, what subject, class, and grade would you teach?

See the full list of 30 Topics for Writing Ideas Here

List of 22 Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

  1. Imagine that you are stuck inside a TV. What will you do? What shows would you visit?
  2. What would you do if you won the lottery?
  3. Would you rather be an animal or a toy?
  4. What is the most important thing you’ve learned in school?
  5. If you invented a celebration dance, what would it be called? What would it look like?
  6. Do you want to get married someday? Why or why not?
  7. What does it mean to be an optimist?
  8. Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
  9. If you designed a video game, what would it be called?
  10. What is an issue that our world needs to work on?
  11. What is the last movie you saw in a theater?
  12. If you could learn any language, which one would you choose?
  13. What is your birthstone? Does it represent your personality well?
  14. What are three things that you could never live without?
  15. What is your favorite food?
  16. Who is your favorite actor?
  17. Which type of natural disaster is the scariest?
  18. Would you rather be really big or really tiny?
  19. Do you think you’ll go to college someday? Why or why not?
  20. What is your favorite thing to do on vacation?
  21. If your pet could talk, what would he or she say?
  22. Do you ever donate money to people in need?

See the full list of 65 Creative Writing Prompts for Kids Here

One last note: Here is a 65-page listing of writing prompts on journalbuddies. com. There is also a search box across the top of the page and in the footer. I invite you to use it.

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5 Journal Supplements and Printables to Build the Habit of Daily Journaling • Oki Doki

Journaling is one of the best habits for mental well-being and reflection. But it's a hard habit to get into, so these apps and websites improve the experience to make it easier to write a journal every day.

The basics of building a logging habit are the same for all methods. You have to be honest and write freely, do it at least once at the end of the day, and don't be careful with yourself. Along the way, you can track mood and progress in logs, but the main goal is to reflect.

1. Swipe Journal (Android, iOS): The fastest journal for people in a hurry

Swipe Journal turns a traditional journal into a multiple choice test. You will not write or record diary entries with this app. Instead, you will use parameters. This is a series of questions and answers that is much faster than writing.

Programs for Windows, mobile applications, games - EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)

When you first set up your Swipe log, select a few categories and maps to track. Categories include work, school, relationships, well-being, finances, and self-development. Each category has multiple maps to track, and you can also add your own maps or categories.

Once selected, the Swipe Journal acts like a journaling tinder. You will see the card as a question with the answers "thumbs up", "thumbs down" or the next/earlier card. Go through the set to record and track your experience daily. You can go to the statistics at any time to see how your mood on these individual topics has been for a long time.

Download: Swipe Journal for Android | IOS (Free)

2. Journalistic (Internet): A micro-magazine with features similar to Twitter

Whether you use Twitter, Medium or Instagram, you'll feel right at home with Journalistic for all your daily magazine needs. A self-contained micro-journaling app is about recording small thoughts as they come to you, not a separate daily journaling session.

Journalistic is a progressive web app that works great on all mobile and desktop browsers. Although there is no character or word count, the idea is to quickly write short sentences in your diary and move on.

You can use Twitter syntax to make searching and browsing easier. For example, use @ in front of a person's name to quickly find all mentions of the person later, or use hashtags to add search tags.

The app separates gems and ideas into separate categories, encouraging you to review your magazine regularly. Take those heartbreaking soulful thoughts or inspirational ideas and put them in your own section. There is also a Dream magazine for paid customers, but the premium version only offers this mode and Dark mode, which you don't have to pay for.

3. Journify (Android, iOS): Voice diary to record journals as audio clips

You are talking to Siri, Alexa and OK Google, why can't you talk to your diary? Journify believes in recording audio recordings. It looks like you're more likely to sign up as it takes less effort to just talk.

Press the play button and start recording. You can pause recording and resume later, allowing you to record all day log entries at different points. Of course, you can stop the recording and save it, and then start a new audio recording. And you can also delete the entire recording by clicking "Reload" for a fresh sound.

Add a title, up to five tags, and a note to each journal entry. You can then search or filter for posts with those tags and titles. Journify also runs daily logging to record energy levels, sleep patterns, and motivation. The free version allows up to five entries, with tiered paid options after that. Give it a shot as the first month is free.

Download: Journify for Android | IOS (Free)

4. Perspectiva (Internet): fresh daily tips to kick-start your journaling habit

If you're trying to start journaling without doing it before, you may have trouble figuring out what to write each day. The simple hints provided in most journal applications are not good enough. Perspective kicks off this habit by releasing fresh, thought-provoking prompts to choose from, giving you something to write about.

The app provides four different categories of requests: General, Parental, Stoic, and COVID-19. Click any to create a question that you can answer as your journal. Even if you don't want to use the Perspectiva app for logging, there is a free Perspectiva Covid Tips mini app and mailing list to get tips. You can then use these hints to write in your own journal application.

Perspectiva is a simple logging application with a clean interface. When you start writing a new entry, it also shows you the earlier entries as inspiration or a starting point. You can also activate it on Telegram to post Perspectiva updates through the messaging app.

5. Pocketmod Mood Diary (Print version): Tiny Paper Journal that fits in wallets

Not everyone needs a digital magazine app. If you prefer good old pen and paper but want to travel with you, Pocketmods is a great choice.

Anyone can create a Pocketmod from standard A4 or Letter size paper used in printers. It converts into an eight-sided mini booklet, small enough to fit in a wallet. And you can do as much as you want in an instant. By default, you can even use an empty Pocketmod as a journal, freeing you to use the space however you want.

Mood Diary Pocketmod is a magazine for tracking up to four days in one brochure. Add your thoughts to the main section while you can track your mood, weather, sleep hours, exercise, medication, and food intake in designated areas. In addition, those diagnosed with depression or anxiety can also track their mood.

If you don't have a medical diagnosis, try another Pocketmod from the same manufacturer. This is a more detailed mood and emotion log where you track time, emotion, source, and follow-up.

Print the PDF that best suits you, then fold according to PocketMod's instructions. The DIY Planner website also has other magazine prints worth checking out.

Other journal apps for productivity and mental health

Oh, don't think these are the only digital journal apps. There are so many diary apps on the internet that you will lose them. The point is to find an app that works for you, much like a good productivity system or a good therapist.

If the above five are not to your liking, try these other digital journal apps to improve your productivity and mental health. For beginners, Cactus is worth noting, which will guide you through the process of journaling and habits.

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8 best diary apps of 2022

Keeping a diary can increase your productivity and well-being in just a few minutes a day. Simply writing down your thoughts or recording what happened throughout the day is an easy way to manage stress, increase creativity, increase happiness, improve health and improve work efficiency. The problem is that keeping a diary is not easy. To do this, you need to be committed to this new habit and be ready to open up when you write on a clean slate. What have you done today? Who are you really? Diary apps will help you figure it out and set a daily writing routine. After testing almost two dozen options, here are the best diary apps to help record your memories this year and beyond. Click on any app to learn more about why we chose it, or keep reading to learn more about diary apps.

Article title:

  • 1 Best diary apps
  • 2 What makes the best diary app?
  • 3 Best Diary App for Mac and iOS Users - Day One (Mac, iOS, watchOS, Android)
  • 4 Best Cross-Platform Diary App - Diarium (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS)
  • 5 Best App for secure diary - Penzu (Web, iOS, Android)
  • 6 Best diary app for social media power users - Momento (iOS)
  • 7 Best Template Diary App - Grid Diary (macOS, Android, iOS)
  • 8 Best Diary App for Beginners - Five Minute Journal (iOS, Android)
  • 9 Best Email Diary App — Dabble Me (Web)
  • 10 Best diary app for non-writers — Daylio (iOS, Android)

Best diary apps

  • Day One for Mac and iOS 9 users0086
  • Diarium for Windows users
  • Penzu for secure journaling
  • Momento for social media users
  • Grid Diary for template journaling
  • Five Minute Journal for budding journalists
  • Dabble Me for email diary for Daylio
  • non-writers

Unless you need a brand new app, you can always use your current note-taking app as a diary. Or you can do even better and create your own diary application without any code - just a quick automation.

What makes the best diary app?

All of our best app reviews are written by people who have spent most of their careers using, testing, and writing articles about software. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it should be used and rating it against the criteria we set for that category. We are never paid to post app information or link to websites in our articles - we value the trust of readers who trust us to provide reliable ratings for the categories and apps we review. A paper notebook and pen are great for journaling, but apps offer more. They give you more information about what you have achieved and where you want to go next. They also let you include photos from your phone or social media posts to make journaling more rewarding. Add to that reminders and the ability to search your diary entries, and keeping a digital journal becomes almost pointless. I have been professionally testing and writing about software for over a decade. For the last three years I have also kept a diary every day. This is an important ritual for me personally, and it is here that many of the best ideas in my work are born. In my experience, the best diary apps have a few things in common:

  • Ease of entry: If it takes more than a couple of clicks or taps to add a journal entry, chances are you won't.
  • Pleasant interface: A minimalistic, uncluttered interface helps you focus on your thoughts and makes journaling an enjoyable experience.
  • Reminders: Perhaps the biggest difficulty in journaling is remembering to do so. Automatic reminders will help you keep this habit.
  • Export: If the application stops developing or you want to switch to another diary platform, you will need the ability to export your entries to a format that other programs can read, such as PDF or RTF.
  • Synchronization: Synchronization will keep your log up to date no matter what device you are using.
  • Availability: We have excluded some applications due to the high price. Journaling doesn't have to be expensive.

Other digital diary features that you may find important include password protection, Markdown support, the ability to add more than one photo, location and weather tags, and diary tips. For each diary app, I started by creating a few new entries, complete with images. I then spent some time looking into the settings, testing the daily reminders, and making sure the sync and export worked as described.

Best Diary App for Mac and iOS Users - Day One (Mac, iOS, watchOS, Android)

Since its release in 2011, Day One has been one of the most recommended diary apps, repeatedly ranked as "Choice Apple editions in the App Store. It's not hard to see why. The application offers a wide range of features - almost everything you might need in a digital magazine. You can create journal entries with a single click on your Mac from the menu bar, use templates to simplify journaling, and automatically add metadata such as location, weather, traffic activity, currently playing music, and step count. There are additional tips if you don't know what to write about. You can also tag posts with hashtags, embed photos and videos, password protect your journal, and format posts in Markdown format. And all this in an elegant, unobtrusive design. It is made in one main blue color, and the menus and icons are in gray, without frilly toolbars. Perhaps the best feature of Day One is the ability to set up multiple reminders. Most other diary apps only send one reminder per day. But on Day One, you can get reminders at the start of the day, at lunchtime, and then at the end of the workday, for example, to keep track of your activities and thoughts throughout the day. The free app offers almost all the basic diary features, but for syncing, unlimited photos, handwriting and audio, and multiple diaries, you need to subscribe to the Day One Premium service. Price : Free version available; $2.92/month for premium features with annual billing

Best cross-platform diary app - Diarium (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS)

Diarium offers great native apps for every platform. The Windows app in particular is prettier than any other I could find. But there is a lot more interesting stuff here. You can add several types of media to your diary entries. If you like talking more than typing, you can dictate your thoughts with accurate speech recognition. You can attach an audio file, a painted picture or any other file, as well as several photos to the recordings. Plus, you can even evaluate your diary entries (perhaps most useful as a way to keep track of how happy you are each day). Diarium works without registration, or you can sync it with cloud apps such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or WebDAV. You can also export your entries to DOCX, HTML, RTF or TXT formats - with separate files for media attachments - so you can be sure your data is always available. To make journaling even easier, Diarium can automatically pull up feeds from Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, as well as fitness apps including Google Fit, Fitbit, Strava, and more. In addition, in Diarium you can add appointments from the calendar and even the weather for the day. Combine this with daily reminders and beautiful native apps for each platform and you have the best cross-platform diary app on the market. Price Diarium : Free version available on Android ($4.99 for Pro), iOS ($4.99 for Pro) and macOS ($8.99 for Pro). The Windows 10 version costs $19.99.

Best secure diary app - Penzu (Web, iOS, Android)

Writing a diary entry in Penzu is very similar to writing a blog entry in WordPress: WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface with text formatting toolbar . So why not just use Word, WordPress, or a note-taking app like Evernote? For example, Penzu saves your entries in a single journal online rather than in several different files. Custom email reminders help you remember to write a diary entry. In addition, Penzu can send you reminders of what you've written in the past so you can remember the good old days. More importantly, Penzu keeps your recordings 100% private. You can lock your journal with a special password (which is different from your account password), protect content with 128-bit encryption, and choose to automatically lock your journal at all times. If you're on the Pro plan, Penzu can protect your recordings with military-grade 256-bit encryption. If you want to keep a diary just like you would a personal blog, but still keep it private, Penzu is a great option. However, you'll have to purchase the paid Pro plan to get basic digital journaling features like tagging. Prices for Penzu : Free version; paid version from $19.99/year for advanced encryption, reminders and PDF export.

Best Diary App for Social Media Power Users - Momento (iOS)

If you're already documenting your online life on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Medium, you already have a diary - it's just scattered around the entire Internet. Momento consolidates all of your shared messages and interactions on similar sites into one place, helping you maintain a digital archive of your online interactions. Momento supports 11 channels, including Uber ride history, Spotify saved tracks, and YouTube videos. You can also create new diary entries, just like you would with a regular diary app. Momento does a great job of bringing back memories of where you've been and what you've done in the past. You can group individual posts (or "moments") into "events" so that all the Instagram photos you've been tagged in for a family reunion can live together. The app will show you what happened on a specific date in previous years so you can see how time has flown by. And pre-set reminders - for example, "what did you dream about?" at 7:30 am and “how was your day?” at 8 p.m. - make it easier to keep a diary when you are not sure what to write. Prices for Momento : Free for 3 social channels; $2.49 per month for the Premium plan, $37. 99 per year for the Premium Gold plan, which offers unlimited channels, hourly updates, and the ability to add multiple photos to a post.

Best Template Diary App - Grid Diary (macOS, Android, iOS)

Grid Diary bills itself as "the easiest way to get started with a diary." Instead of a blank slate, this application offers you a grid of fields that you can assign your own titles to. The default options are Today's Wins, Health & Fitness, and Personal Growth, but you can customize them however you like. It gives you a bird's eye view of what's going on in your life, one day at a time. You can view entries using the built-in calendar or use view "Headers" to view all entries in a specific grid. There's also support for attachments and sync across multiple devices if you're using the paid version. Instead of thinking about what to write about every day, use the Grid Diary to write down simple answers that will help you make sense of your days. Cost of Grid Diary : Free version; paid version from $2. 99/month for sync, unlimited logs and PDF export.

Best journaling app for beginners - Five Minute Journal (iOS, Android)

If you're new to journaling, writing down your thoughts and feelings every day can seem like a daunting task. It can also be difficult to find time to dedicate time to it. Five Minute Journal makes journaling simple and accessible with timely prompts throughout the day. In the morning, the app asks you three questions designed to evoke feelings of gratitude and determine the purpose of your day. In the evening, two questions will ask you to reflect on what has been positive and how you can improve tomorrow. Based on positive psychology research, Five Minute Journal helps support the habit of gratitude and introspection, and if you pay a subscription, you can turn it into a free-form journal by following prompts or adding your own prompts. Prices for Five Minute Journal: Free version; The paid version for $4.99/month offers customizable questions, home screen widgets, and the ability to add photos and videos to posts.

The best email diary app is Dabble Me (Web)

The main problem with diary apps is that you have to remember to open them. Dabble Me doesn't have this problem as it works entirely by email. The paid version ($3/month) will send you an email once a day, reminding you that it's time to keep a journal - reply to this email and you're journaling. The free version doesn't give you daily prompts, but journaling is still as easy as writing a letter - in the settings, you can find a custom email address to send entries to. You can also view the full archive of your diaries on the website, which also offers search, a calendar view, and even a page to view and listen to the Spotify links you've included in your entries. Exporting entries to TXT or JSON files is also supported, so you can take your entries with you if you decide to close your account. One way to keep a diary is to pretend that you are writing letters to a friend. Dabble Me is great for this because it lives where you already write letters. Prices for Dabble Me: Pro - from $3 per month.

The best diary app for non-writers is Daylio (iOS, Android)

Journaling traditionally focuses on writing long texts, but not everyone knows how to work with words. If you prefer visual communication, Daylio is the best diary app. A Daylio diary entry captures your mood and activities for each day. Most importantly, there is absolutely no typing involved (unless you really want to add extra notes). Choose your mood by choosing one of five emoji icons. You can also select icons that represent what you did that day (for example, shopping, work, sports, games, and reading). Both mood options and activities can be customized. Although it only takes a few seconds to complete each entry, the details add up to a holistic picture of what your day was like. Daylio also includes standard journaling features such as reminders, record export, and goal setting. As a bonus, it offers a detailed dashboard that brings together a monthly mood chart, mood and activity metrics, and average daily mood.


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