Journal prompts
20 journal prompts for creativity
Half of these are questions and half are small exercises you can do with whatever is on the desk in front of you. Both kinds are here to get you making something.
Half of this list is reflection and half is exercises. The reflection asks when you work well and what has been pulling at your attention lately. The exercises ask you to do something small and specific with an object already in the room, which is a different kind of question and wants a different kind of answer.
Numbers six to eleven are the working half. Change an everyday object. Add something to it. Take something away. Put three unrelated things together and see what they make. These are constraint exercises and they are deliberately trivial, because a small brief is easier to start than an open one. It is the same reason the rest of this site exists. Nothing you write here has to be any good. They work by producing a lot of bad ideas quickly, which is the only reliable route to the other kind.
The exercises are repeatable, which the reflection questions are not. Number nine in particular gives a different answer every time, because it depends entirely on which three objects you happen to look at. It works better as a warm-up you come back to than as something you do once.
The prompts
How would you describe your current creative process?
A creative process is often what you do to come up with new ideas or products. If you don't have a formal creative process, try to think of moments of creativity and describe your steps.
When are you at your most creative?
This is usually when you feel at your best and most productive. It can involve time, location, or a combination of factors. Try to name them all so you don't miss a crucial trigger.
When do you feel most inspired?
What does inspire mean to you? Try to make a mental model first and then go out and discover when you feel closest to that state. How does it feel? Remember that triggers that inspire you may change over time.
What were you drawn to recently?
This can be any topic, person, event, or even object. There's no wrong or right, it's how you feel.
What would you like to learn more about?
If you could learn all there is to know about a subject with the snap of a finger, what would you do with this superpower? There's a catch, of course. You can only name one thing. Good luck.
Look around and find an everyday object. How would you change it for the better?
Focus on what you would change and why it would be better. What is the goal of this object in the first place? Write down any observations; you may realize why an everyday object is shaped the way it is.
Think of an everyday object in your house. Is there something you can add to make it extraordinary?
This question specifically asks you to add an element (not remove one). Is there an object that one small improvement could make just right for you?
Think of an everyday object in your house. Is there something you can remove to make it better?
This question specifically asks you to remove an element (not add one). By removing attributes we don't use, we may end up with a simpler and better object. If you feel stuck, try to imagine a feature on a product you only used once and didn't like. What would happen if you would remove it?
Name three physical items at random. Can you bring them together to make something new?
You must name the three (random) items first. These shape the confines for this challenge. It might help to bring a notebook and draw the physical objects as they come to mind.
Can you think of two completely different brands that would fit well together?
Approach this question any way you like. Think about what both brands stand for. What kind of products or services would these brands produce together?
Can you think of ways to reduce the number of steps needed to do an everyday task?
It helps to think of a task you find annoying or repetitive. Write down each step in the process; could you get rid of a few? Sometimes it helps to combine tasks to reduce steps or introduce technology or physical items.
What do you think is one of humanity's biggest problems, and how would you solve it?
Pick one problem that feels meaningful to you and brainstorm ideas to ideally solve it — or at the very least, improve it.
Describe any book you would like to read. How would the story go?
It can be fictional but also a 'biography' of sorts. The book doesn't have to exist and can be a reflection of your creativity and needs.
Imagine being all-powerful. How would you use your superpower today?
It's easy to pick something extraordinary and amazing. But why not try to pick something small and actually achievable? What could you do yourself?
What is your favourite fantasy?
If you have multiple fantasies, focus on one. This fantasy may change, and that is okay. Why is this your favorite fantasy at this time?
Which colour would best describe your day, and why?
The meaning of color changes from one culture to the next but can even differ from person to person. What color springs to mind, and what does it mean to you? There's no wrong or right here.
What could your key takeaway be from the last dream you remember vividly?
It helps to keep a dream journal. You may experience common themes and emotions that can be related to real life. For example, if you often dream about pacing, it could mean you are struggling to meet urgent goals.
What is your view on repetition?
Repetition can be positive or negative depending on context and personality. To make this question more practical, focus on an actual situation where repetition does occur. How does it make you feel?
Imagine finding your perfect teammate. What core values would they have?
How do these core values compare to your own? They may be very similar, but your perfect teammate may also offset your own values and bring much-needed balance to a team.
What or who inspires you?
Try to focus on a single thing. Education, work, physical objects, locations, or something intangible even. As long as it is inspiring to you, anything goes.
Prompts that keep your answers
These lists are yours to use anywhere, and a notebook works perfectly well. If you would rather the questions came to you, and kept every answer in one place so you can read them back later, that is what Luci does. Over 600 prompts across twenty topics, and when a question comes round again it shows you what you said last time.
All journal prompt topicsSee how guided prompts work in Luci
Start where you are
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