Top Ten Question Prompts
Copyright 2005 Writer's Eye Advisory Service
Questions can be very effective in helping develop your journal
technique. Exploring is part of the fun of journaling. Questions
allow you to explore, develop and plan creative ideas, as well
as solve problems. Just listen the people who are mostly likely
to ask and answer questions: students, journalists, teachers and
coaches. You can discover quite a bit of information about
yourself and others just by asking questions. I've listed ten
questions that you can use as your first journal prompts. Some
questions might resonate more with you than others. Be sure to
read the complete list before you start your journal entry.
Experiment with one question first. Answer it and see where it
takes you. If your answer sparks your interest or gives you a
new idea, reminds you of someone or sounds intriguing, continue
writing until you've answered the question to the best of your
ability. After answering a few of the questions, start creating
some of your own, watch and see where the questions lead you.
You can discover quite a bit just from working through one
simple question and answer session.
Remember than when you are done with this list, you can write
your own question prompt list. You can develop a theme,
interview yourself, interview someone else, script an important
conversation or eavesdrop on others' questions, then rewrite and
answer them in a new sequence. Formulate question prompts
exploring several levels of your theme. For example, What's your
favorite cake? ( general information) What do you like best
about carrot cake?(detailed information) What is your favorite
memory about eating carrot cake? (ifocusing on memories: it was
my thirteenth birthday) What were you wearing the first time you
ate carrot cake?(focusing on senses: a pretty white dress with
red rose design) Who gave you your first piece of carrot
cake?(focusing on relationships: my mother) The more directions
that you explore with your question and answer prompts, the more
informative your journal entry will be.
Enjoy writing and discovering more about using question and
answer journal prompts
Here is the list:
What really made you happy today?
How do you encourage your friend in hard times?
What is one of your worst pet peeves?
What do you draw when you doodle?
What creative idea did you remember today?
What is your favorite success story?
How do you create new ideas from your mistakes?
What did you see when you looked out of your window?
Where would you go on a dream vacation?
What do you like to do to relax?