Sunday Scribblings
Sunday Scribblings is a site that posts a writing prompt every Saturday. The idea is that on Sunday you create a piece of writing inspired by the prompt, post it on your blog, and leave a comment on the “Sunday Scribblings” site letting them know that you’ve participated.
Here are some of their prompts:
- What scares you?
- Pain. Anxiety. Giving up after failing too many times. Things outside myself that mess up my life. Pain. Hate. People who yell. Not knowing enough. Not knowing how to do something simple that people feel they are babysitting me if they tell me how to do. Especially nurtured pricks who don't know what it's like not to have had someone to show you such things. Maybe that's less of a fear and more of something that makes me angry. Not so much being wrong as being misperceived. Never having anyone who understands all of me or cares to.
- Do you have a Plan? Do you need a Plan? Have you had a plan fall spectacularly to pieces?
- Many of my plans spectacularly fall to pieces. I don't know what to do. I try to be encouraged by Edison and his lightbulb, but sometimes defeat seems overwhelming. I suppose that's what Satan wants me to feel like, or for the non-believers out there, my inner weakness takes over and makes me want to just forget it or punch it or them, etc. Even though I would never punch anyone.
- What is your take on soul mates?
- I think they're real, but I think I've either missed mine, or they're yet to come. I want to have babies, though, so I might try with the next available person if it feels like it's getting too late.
- Will it really help me to get the negative out, or should I try to change my bent to positive things?
- Are you a worrier? Is there a particular worry that you can’t shake? How do you cope with worry?
- I'm not really sure what the problem is that is causing me to worry this afternoon, because I've gone through lots of my "steps," and I really still feel like boo.
- Dear Past Me . . .
- Love. Grow, but not too fast. Sunscreen came up from remembering the song Luhrmann does like this. (Whaddya know, I was right. :) Where did the letter go from the Catholic retreat? Where did your past go? Meeting the Indian girl who was your roommate at that one apartment (was that the apartment you were in when you went in the military?).
- Dear Future Me . . .
- It'll get better. Remember all these pictures and feelings? Aren't you glad you wrote some? I should have added Google to the thank you list today. What do you need from this writing to make your today better? What do you need to leave behind? What's great? Let it go. Pray. Love. Grow. Stop learning long enough to appreciate everything in your life.
Create Lists
You can create lists of many things, such as the following:
- Places you’ve enjoyed visiting.
- Japan
- San Diego
- Home (I miss mom.)
- I must be missing mom, because that makes me sad. Also, Auntie Dot having an effect?
- St. Augustine in the early morning
- Daytona-the boardwalk, swimming late because the supes let us even though the pool was supposed to be closed, fascination with the bar that floated or just looked like tiki-was it tropic sun or whatever that brand is?, mini golf at the castle before granny died, lots more
- Kyoto was especially nice. I really liked the mini-Eiffel in Tokyo with JH even though he wasn't feeling all that nice.
- Mushroom restaurant that ended up being too expensive (when he was being nice)
- Tennessee/Knoxville
- Hot springs-nc, buffet in Japan and different baths, natural hot springs in general
- Waterfalls
- Cascades park, especially with Mary
- All the places I've hiked, especially with JH
- Jazz restaurant that closed on Navy Pier that I visited with
- Fairs-high school in lake county, big ferris wheel in narita (did not ride), that bus ride to NEX hotel the first night in japan, preparing before the flight and DML taking me to the shuttle in the early morning, Bloomington by myself and with BabyJ when he was little, taking the boys
- King's Island with Ashlee
- Cincinnati with BabyJ et al for Thomas ride
- Trivia where I was too slow at et al's house
- Spending time with SuperS when she had time for my brand of ness
- Holidays
- Splashing Safari by myself
- Wild Waters-riding over and over with no lines late or in the rain with BBoy and EMan
- Wet n Wild with church and etc.-dad telling me to have faith
- Boardwalks and Baseball-shelly telling me to have faith
- Miami, the gorgeous art-deco hotel that was becoming run down, and auditioning for American Idol
- Things you’ve done that you previously thought you could never do.
- See Miami, above
- I typically think I can do anything, but I'll put things that amazed me that I did them.
- Date AA
- Navy stuff (join, "see the world," archery/guns crack shot and sharpshooter, survive, albeit not well, learn to drink and have a tolerance, but not become addicted run a 9 minute 1.5 mile.)
- See mom vanish like that
- Get through my solo albeit really nervous
- Be tutored by a teacher at the 2nd most prestigious music school in the US/world
- The people you most admire.
- Jesus
- Mom
- Grandma
- JHeart
- EWing
- Renee Fleming, et. al.
- Your favorite books.
- Pride and Prejudice
- Harry Potter and ...
- The Cat Who...
- The Hunger Games
- non-fiction
- the ones grandma wrote me
- some that I have started
- Belong to Me de los Santos
- Your favorite movies.
- Princess Bride
- Pride and Prejudice BBC minis from 1995
- Beautiful Mind, &c
- Accepted
- Ever After
- Your favorite songs.
- Out of Eden (band)
- Two Step (particular version by Dave Matthews and Tim Collins at a specific university)
- I'd Rather Have Jesus
- More Precious Than Silver
- Der Jager
- Sound of Music
- Rent
- Your top five short term goals.
- Your top five long term goals.
Confessions
Do you have anything you would like to confess (even if it’s just to the pages of your journal)?
- Nobody knows that I . . .
- Dear ____, it weighs on me that I never told you . . .
- The biggest lie I’ve ever told is . . .
- Is there anything you feel guilty about? Is there anything you need to be forgiven for?
- What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?
- What’s your secret desire?
- What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever done?
Use Quotes as Prompts
Look at the following quotes and write whatever comes to mind when you read them.
- “If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.” — Rilke
- “I have always imagined that Paradise will be some kind of library.” — Jorge Luis Borges
- “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 in your life is calling you? When all the noise is silenced, the meetings adjourned, the lists laid aside, and the wild iris blooms by itself in the dark forest, what still pulls on your soul? In the silence between your heartbeats hides a summons, do you hear it? Name it, if you must, or leave it forever nameless, but why pretend it is not there?” — The Terma Collective
- “Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul and you answer.” Star Richés
The Most . . .
- The most terrifying moment of my life was . . .
- The most fun I’ve ever had . . .
- The most surprised I’ve ever been . . .
- The most disappointed I’ve ever been . . .
- What are you looking forward to the most?
Visual Journaling Prompts
- Leaf through a couple of magazines and cut out any images that catch your attention. Use each one as a prompt.
- Look through your photographs and choose a few to write about.
- Buy art books that are at a discount and cut them up for images.
Three Things
- Three things you can’t go without.
- Three celebrity crushes.
- Three favorite book characters.
- Three favorite things to wear.
- Three things you want in a relationship.
- If you had to evacuate your home because of a natural disaster, what three things would you take with you?
- Three pet peeves.
- Three things you’d do if you weren’t so afraid.
- Three favorite TV shows.
100 Things I Love
You’re going to make lists that will add up to 100 things you love. Make sure you give an explanation for each of the things you add to your list. For example, don’t just list your favorite restaurants, write down what you enjoy about each one (the warm bread they serve before the meal, the waiter who always remembers your favorite dish, the whimsical decor, and so on).
- 10 Activities
- 10 Restaurants
- 10 People
- 10 Foods
- 10 Games
- 6 Drinks/Beverages
- 4 Desserts
- 10 Paintings
- 10 Web Sites
- 10 Writers
- 10 Famous lines from books/movies
Express Your Emotions
- My saddest memory is . . .
- Some of the things that make me happy are . . .
- How do you deal with anger?
- How easy is it for you to forgive those who have caused you pain?
- What is the dominant emotion in your life right now?
Rituals and Traditions
- My favorite Sunday ritual . . .
- The Holiday traditions I most look forward to . . .
- Things I always did with my dad when I was small . . .
- Things I always did with my mom when I was little . . .
Ask “If” Questions
- If you could have dinner with anyone currently alive, who would it be?
- If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?
- If you could change one thing about your present life, what would it be?
- If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would you live?
- If you could go back in time and change one things from your past, what would it be?
Memories From Your Childhood
- What was your favorite toy?
- Did you ever get lost?
- Who was your best friend in elementary school?
- Did you ever run away from home?
- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
- What was your favorite subject in school?
- Who was your favorite teacher?
- What’s your first memory?
- What was your favorite cartoon?
- What book did you read over and over again as a child?
- What is your most vivid memory of the kitchen in your childhood?
- As a child, who was your favorite relative?
Thinking of the Week That Just Ended
- Who made you feel good this week?
- What was the biggest mistake you made this week?
- What did you do this week that moved you closer to reaching your goals?
- Is there anything you did this week that you wish you’d done differently?
- What did you most enjoy doing this week?
- How did you procrastinate on important tasks this week?
- What did you learn this week?
- What’s the funniest thing that happened to you this week?
Write a Letter
- Write a letter to someone you need to forgive.
- Write a letter to someone who believed in you even when you didn’t believe in yourself.
- Write a letter to be read by each of your loved ones after you’ve passed away.
- Write a fan letter to your favorite actor/actress.
- Write a letter to the editor of your favorite magazine telling them what features you would like to see included in the magazine.
- Is there something you’re reluctant to tell someone? Write a letter to help y0u organize your thoughts.
Landmark Events
- Write about your first dance.
- Write about your first crush.
- Write about your first week in college.
- Write about your first job.
- Write about the first apartment you ever rented.
- When did you feel truly independent for the first time?
The Sky’s the Limit
- What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
- What would you do if money were no object?
- What would you ask for if a genie granted you three wishes?
- What’s your wildest dream?
- What would you do if you could live a day without consequences?
- What grand adventure do you wish you could go on?
- If you could become an expert in any subject or activity, what would it be?
- What would your perfect day be like?
- Close your eyes and imagine the kind of world you would like to see. What is it like?
An Ode To Your Uniqueness
- What makes you unique?
- How do you stand out from the crowd?
- What are your best character traits?
- What are you really good at?
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would your best friend describe you?
- What character traits do you need to work on?
- What are some of your idiosyncrasies?
- How do you indulge yourself? Do you need to indulge yourself more often?
- How do you think others see you when they meet you for the first time?
Dream Triggers
Use your journaling sessions to think about your ideal life. Ask yourself dream triggers, such as the following:
- How would you like to make this world a better place? How can you best share your gifts with the world?
- What qualities do you want in a romantic partner? What are the top ten characteristics that you look for in a romantic partner?
- What are the top ten qualities a friend should have (treats people with respect; listens but doesn’t judge; has a quirky sense of humor; is an artist; lives with passion; doesn’t sweat the small stuff; is loyal and trustworthy)?
- What would make you feel spiritually fulfilled?
- What famous world festivals would you like to attend?
