Journal Ideas for Summer
On hazy summer days, I often get the urge to write simply for the sake of writing. This restless and eager urge can prompt delusions of grandeur, making me believe that, once I grab my journal and put pen to paper, I’ll surely write the next great American novel or a masterpiece novella born out of my inspiration. This is, of course, not the case. One of my biggest obstacles as a writer, and indeed an obstacle shared by many, is being able to channel the urge to write and transform it into productive and meaningful projects, no matter how simple or ambitious. We can stay prepared to meet the desire to write by keeping writing materials in close proximity and journal prompts geared toward the mood of summer handy. Lets talk about journal ideas to stay inspired and active as writers this summer.
Journaling Habits
An illustration teacher I study under insists that, if one wants to become a productive draftsman, we must keep our tools nearby and ready for use incase inspiration strikes. Similarly, if we want to make use of the sudden desire to write, then our writing tools should remain close to our person. For me, I tend to enjoy writing poetry with pen an paper, while long form projects are best accomplished on a keyboard. Consider what kinds of writing you are most drawn to, the mediums and materials you find most comfortable to work with, and methods to stay prepared for writing.
If you prefer writing with a keyboard, keep a laptop or tablet charged and close by, or curate a dedicated space in your phone for creative writing (I know I’m not the only one whose notes app is totally unhinged…) If you prefer writing in a notebook or journal, keep stationary within reach, writing instruments sharpened and fresh, or pick up a small pocket journal and pen set to carry with you as you travel.
Preparing Journal Prompts
Finally, be sure to have a generous archive of journal prompts readily available, incase your desire to write lacks an accompanying idea to draw from. Keeping in mind Barry Schwartz’s “paradox of choice,” the idea that too many options can create paralysis and anxiety, we should try and curate a thoughtful list of writing prompts unique to our aesthetics as writers and frequency of writing, so as not to strain the writing process.
If you only tend to write once or twice a week, take a day or two at the start of the summer to cultivate a list of 12 handpicked writing prompts for each week of the summer. If, on the other hand, you write on a more frequent basis, consider curating a list of prompts based on moods or themes, topics you want to meditate on, and be sure to update that list as needed, trying to not exceed 5 themes and 5 prompts per theme (aka keeping a running list of about 5-25 prompts handy.)
To keep these prompts within reach, store your list of prompts in your phone or notes app; bookmark your favorite online writing prompts or websites for ease of access; print out a small piece of paper with your prompts and slip them into your go to journals; or write out a few prompts somewhere visible like a mirror or chalkboard. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own prompts, more journal ideas for summer, or want a pre-prepared list of journal prompts to use this summer, you can check out our next post where I’ve written out 12 writing prompts I’ll be using this summer!
