Writing Prompts

Write down 5 things that make you incredibly happy and describe why they make you feel this way.

What do you fear the most? Why? Is your fear rational?

What qualities about yourself do you love the most?

In the next year, what are 5 improvements you would like to make regarding your life? Write about the improvements and create a plan to accomplish each one.

Write about your one of your happiest memories?

Write about the people in your life that make you feel the most “at ease” and what they do to make you feel that way.

Write about a difficult memory and the coping mechanisms you used at the time. Would you change the way you dealt? How?

Write a poem (that DOESN’T HAVE TO RHYME), describing the exact opposite of yourself.

Write about the last time you cried. What caused you to cry?

Write about the last time you laughed really hard. What was so funny?

Write a letter to the future YOU.

Write a letter to one of your parents – even if you don’t actually give it to them.

What has your anxiety taught you about yourself?

Write down a list of ‘regrets’. Either throw them away or toss them into a fire. (Let go of past regrets & move on).

In detail, describe a perfect day.

Write a letter to a person who has negatively impacted you. (Again, you don’t actually have to send it out).

Write a letter to a person who has positively impacted you.

Write about an incredibly difficult choice you’ve had to make in your life.

Write down all your coping mechanisms. Evaluate the ones that are most helpful and the ones that are the most detrimental.

Describe what love means to you in detail.

Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself.

Write down 3 of your favorite smells. Describe, in detail, how each one makes you feel.

Have you ever felt isolated? Write about it.

Write about 5 songs that mean the most to you. Why do the lyrics speak to you? How do you relate to these songs? How do they make you feel when you hear them?

Write down all the compliments you can think of, that you’ve received. Write down compliments to people in your life.

Write a list of 10 things you want to remember during difficult times. (Use this later if you’re feeling down).

What risks do you want to take? What’s holding you back?

What element do you consider to be YOU? Write about why. (Earth, Air, Fire, Water).

What are some of the strongest emotions you’ve ever felt? Write about how those emotions affected you and what caused you to feel those emotions.

Physically, how do you feel right now?

What speaks to you on an spiritual level? (Poetry, quote, song ect.) Write about it.

What items/objects do you find the most comforting? Why do you think that is? What is comforting about them?

Write a love letter to yourself.

Write about something that is frustrating to you.

If you could be anywhere in the world at this very moment, where would you want to be and why?

What are 3 things that make you angry? Why?

What activities do you think would make you feel better? Make a plan to carry out those activities.

Write about something random you’ve seen that made you smile.

Describe your dream house.

Who or what (or both), helps motivate you the most? Why is that?

What are you worried about? Why?

What are some of your favorite books? Why? Write about them.

Write about what you perceive to be the worst thing you’ve ever done.

When is the last time you did something for someone else? What did you do and how did it make you feel?

What secrets are you keeping? Are these secrets affecting your life or mental health? Why or why not?

Write about something that truly surprised you.

Describe an outfit that makes you feel completely comfortable in your own skin.

If you weren’t afraid, what are 5 things you would do? Are there any ways you can think of to overcome the fear?

Write a letter of forgiveness to someone who has caused you pain.

Recall your most embarrassing memory, and write a funny story about it.

Think about the last time that you laughed until you cried. Describe that moment in detail in your journal.

Imagine that your pet ran your home. Write a short story about what life would be like if your dog, cat, fish or hamster was the animal you had to answer to.

Write a story about what would happen if your day went in reverse. Hint: The story would begin when you were in your pajamas and ready for bed.

What was the best joke that you heard during the last week? What made that joke so funny to you?

Make a list of your favorite puns.

Write a movie review about the funniest movie that you have ever seen.

Think about your favorite story from your childhood, such as a fairy tale or fable. Rewrite that story with a humorous twist.

Imagine an important moment from history, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence or when Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. Now, write a story about what would happen if that important historical person happened to show up that day wearing only their underwear.

Consider this scenario: Would you rather wear your bathing suit in a snowstorm or wear a snowsuit to the beach? Write a story from the point of view of someone who makes this silly mistake.

Write a character description for a funny person or animal.

In your opinion, what is the funniest sound word? You might select a word like plop, splat or squish. Write a silly poem about that word.

Think about a moment when one of your parents or grandparents was extra goofy. Write an in-depth description of that special memory, and discuss how that memory makes you feel.

At what age do you think a person is at their funniest? Write about why you feel humor peaks at this particular stage of life.

Pretend that you are going to be performing a stand-up comedy act for your friends and family members. Write a draft of what your act might sound like.

Write a one-act play with at least three characters. Make sure the play is written to make people laugh out loud from their seats.

Consider something that you are most scared of, and then write a story about a character encountering that fear. Make sure the character has a reaction to their fear that is so exaggerated it becomes funny.

Describe the funniest teacher, coach or mentor that you have had in your life. How did their sense of humor help you along the way?

Write about something funny your brother, sister or best friend did recently. Did they mean for it to be funny? What made the moment so humorous?

Make a list of the feelings that you feel when you are laughing so hard it hurts.

Describe a time when humor helped you feel better about a challenging situation.

How would you describe your own sense of humor? What sense of humor do you relate to the most?

Write a list of funny excuses that you could use to get out of doing your homework.

Rewrite a current news story in satire format.

Think back on a painful memory that has now become funny. How much time had to pass before you felt it was okay to laugh about the situation? Why can you laugh about it now?

Pretend that you are creating a holiday dedicated entirely to humor. How would you celebrate this day?

Write step-by-step instructions for creating the perfect joke.

Make a list of 15 things that you find particularly funny. Why are those things funny to you?

Write a funny short story in which the main character is your alter ego.

Imagine that you have been hired to be the curator at a museum dedicated entirely to comedy and laughter. What sorts of exhibits would you create for this space that celebrates all things funny?

What is something that people from older generations do that you find to be odd or quirky? Why is it funny to you that they have this habit?

Write a poem describing laughter.

Make a list of 5 unique knock-knock jokes that no one has ever heard before.

Have you ever tried to use your own sense of humor to impress someone? Write about whether or not your jokes worked their magic.

Consider the perspective of your favorite animal. Write a story from their point of view about humans and all of the wild and wacky things that they do.

Reflect on a funny photograph or image. Write a response about why that image makes you laugh.

Think about an inside joke that you share with a friend or family member. How did that inside joke come to be?

Who do you believe is the funniest celebrity? Why?

What values do you consider most important in life (honesty, justice, altruism, loyalty, etc.)? How do your actions align with those values?

What three changes can you make to live according to your personal values?

Describe yourself using the first 10 words that come to mind. Then, list 10 words that you’d like to use to describe yourself. List a few ways to transform those descriptions into reality.

What do you appreciate most about your personality? What aspects do you find harder to accept?

Explore an opinion or two that you held in the past but have since questioned or changed. What led you to change that opinion?

List three personal beliefs that you’re willing to reconsider or further explore.

Finish this sentence: “My life would be incomplete without …”

Describe one or two significant life events that helped shape you into who you are today.

When do you trust yourself most? When do you find it harder to have faith in your instincts?

What three things would you most like others (loved ones, potential friends and partners, professional acquaintances, etc.) to know about you?

What difficult thoughts or emotions come up most frequently for you?

Which emotions do you find hardest to accept (guilt, anger, disappointment, etc.)? How do you handle these emotions?

Describe a choice you regret. What did you learn from it?

What parts of daily life cause stress, frustration, or sadness? What can you do to change those experiences?

What are three things that can instantly disrupt a good mood and bring you down? What strategies do you use to counter these effects?

What are three self-defeating thoughts that show up in your self-talk? How can you reframe them to encourage yourself instead?

What go-to coping strategies help you get through moments of emotional or physical pain?

Who do you trust with your most painful and upsetting feelings? How can you connect with them when feeling low?

What do you fear most? Have your fears changed throughout life?

What parts of life surprised you most? What turned out the way you expected it would?

What three things would you share with your teenage self? What three questions would you want to ask an older version of yourself?

List three important goals. How do they match up to your goals from 5 years ago?

Do your goals truly reflect your desires? Or do they reflect what someone else (a parent, partner, friend, etc.) wants for you?

What helps you stay focused and motivated when you feel discouraged?

What do you look forward to most in the future?

Identify one area where you’d like to improve. Then, list three specific actions you can take to create that change.

How do you make time for yourself each day?

What do you most want to accomplish in life?

List three obstacles lying in the way of your contentment or happiness. Then, list two potential solutions to begin overcoming each obstacle.