Dear Middle Grade Students,
Are you stuck inside 'cause of COVID? Wanna write but don't know where to start? Just plain bored? Here are 31 journal-writing prompts (a whole month's worth!) to get you started.
By the way, don't worry about word count or anything like that -- express yourself how you want, as much as you want.
1. Describe two people you look up to or admire: one real, one fictional. Why do you admire them? How are they different? How are they the same?
2. What's something that always makes you laugh, whether you're feeling happy or sad?
3. Write about a mistake you made recently. Did you learn anything from it? What did you learn?
4. If you could have any fictional creature as a pet, what would it be and why?
5. Pick your least favorite character from your favorite book and write from their point of view.
6. What was your least favorite thing about quarantine? What was your favorite thing?
7. What's a food you could eat every day for the rest of your life? Do you think you'd get tired of it? Why or why not?
8. If you could learn another language, what would it be? Why? How would you use it?
9. Write a poem about your happiest memory.
10. Write a poem about a sad memory.
11. Do you have a favorite song? If you do, describe what you love about it, how it makes you feel. If not, why? How does music make you feel?
12. If you could talk to your future self, what would you say? Would you want to learn about what happens in your life, or would you want to keep it a surprise?
13. If you could talk to your past self, what would you say? Is there anything you'd suggest they do differently?
14. If it's nice out, find a safe spot outside. Sit down. Close your eyes. Listen to the world around you. What do you hear? If you can't go outside, find a spot by a window. Sit down. Close your eyes. Listen to the world outside. What do you hear? How does it make you feel?
15. Write about something you're proud of, even if you don't think it's a big deal.
16. If you have a hobby, write about why you enjoy it and what got you into it in the first place. If you don't have a hobby, write about one that sounds fun.
17. What is the best advice someone has ever given you?
18. What calms you down when you're upset?
19. Is there anything that worries you about the future? How do you think you'll handle it? Is there anything you can do about it now?
20. Describe three things you enjoy about today, no matter how small.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
22. Imagine you have access to a time machine. Would you go to the past or the future? What do you think it would be like?
23. Write your autobiography in only six words.
24. What is one thing that excites you about the future?
25. Close your eyes. Imagine your favorite color. Now describe it as if you were talking to someone who's never seen it before.
26. What are 5 things you'd like to accomplish during your lifetime?
27. What do you like about the city you live in? What would you change?
28. What are 3 things you will never forget? Why?
29. Write a letter to someone who will never read it.
30. What is something you'd change about school? Why? How do you think students would deal with the change? What about the staff?
31. What is your best quality? Why? If you want to be extra ambitious, write this entry in the form of a one-page comic.
And there we have it -- a whole month of journal prompts. Don't feel like you need to do them all -- just do as many as you'd like.
One last thing: after you're done journaling, think about what you've written. Did you learn anything new about yourself?
Looking for recommendations? Fill out our form to get a custom list of reads or a Book Bundle for pickup.
Youth Services Librarian Chris