365 Prompts for Art, Journaling or Creative Writing
Hi there - I'm a folk artist who writes about creativity issues.
Get inspired! Start writing!
Write something every day.
How to use these prompts
I'm using these prompts to inspire my daily art practice. It takes only a few words to get my imagination working. Right now for practice I'm painting with watercolors in a Canson Mix Media sketchbook, but I've also used pens, pencils, gouache, and other art mediums. Use whatever you want to experiment with.
In the past I've done a lot of journaling - not art journaling, but just writing. These prompts can help inspire journal tangents, lists, and memories you might want to write about.
Daily creative writing practice helps improve your writing skills. It doesn't take long. Write for five, ten, fifteen minutes - whatever feels right to you. It is possible that you'll come up with ideas you could use later in longer literary works.
Daily practice writing prompts are for quick inspiration. You can write flash fiction, prose, poetry, or non-fiction - whatever you're drawn to. Switch around and try different things if you like. If it feels good, do it.
Your practice art or writing is for your eyes only! That is, unless you decide to share, as I have occasionally done on my blog.
Of course, if you're inspired to write something that turns out so well you want to have it published, that's fine too. One word at a time, and life gets beautiful.
Don't be distressed if your art or writing isn't perfect, or if it seems pointless. That's just part of the fun of daily skills practice. Try something new the next day, keep writing, keep creating art, and have fun.
January writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. suitably warm
2. candy apple red
3. I didn't go there
4. why didn't it happen to me?
5. shreds of doubt
6. can't be
7. where will it be found?
8. three reasons
9. chance
10. essence of __________
11. black horse
12. heartstrings
13. another day
14. the color yellow
15. eyes that can't see
16. renovate
17. chocolate
18. wild child
19. driving north
20. China
21. it's time to __________
22. don't laugh
23. rosemary
24. something new
25. pyramid
26. __________ at night
27. many pages
28. floating
29. wood
30. something witnessed
31. on a hill
February writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. find the solution
2. it is red
3. something you heard your friend say
4. trained to do it
5. an issue you care about
6. country field
7. take it away
8. it's gigantic
9. very subtle
10. dreaming again
11. that's the plan
12. a great man
13. do not tell
14. a gray coat
15. revenge
16. digging for treasure
17. dancing
18. play a game
19. apple tree
20. good medicine
21. impossible
22. intense clarity
23. a bird cage
24. say it again
25. can't be sure
26. ribbons
27. human spirit
28. renaissance woman
29. extra spice
This Is the Moleskine Notebook I Use
March writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. candle
2. in a catalog
3. tie-dye
4. neighbors
5. cold day
6. favorite
7. tea cup
8. royalty
9. rumormongers
10. a gourmet chef
11. rigid beliefs
12. absolute discord
13. it occurred to me...
14. childless
15. goodness
16. direct opposites
17. rooster
18. essence
19. a collection
20. rapid breakdown
21. silence
22. take a chance
23. stubborn old mule
24. eyes of blue
25. picking oneself up
26. an artist
27. listen to the song
28. simple thoughts
29. rebellion
30. candy apple red
31. chatter
April writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. new beginnings
2. so cold
3. punk rocker
4. first love
5. swing set
6. haunted
7. odd jobs
8. cooking
9. a promise
10. culture shock
11. don't waste your time
12. game console
13. a stack of boxes
14. __________ changed everything
15. temptations
16. suburban sprawl
17. a portrait
18. science
19. it is elegant
20. a house in the country
21. a law student
22. sick in bed
23. garden spirit
24. privacy
25. cantankerous old __________
26. jewelry
27. more than expected
28. at the top
29. child of mine
30. rabid dog
My Favorite Pens For Art and Creative Writing
May writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. sanity
2. walk in the park
3. money
4. child's play
5. small town
6. authority figure
7. I saw it in the sky
8. busy people
9. waterfall
10. under the tree
11. new furniture
12. a cat walks past
13. expenses
14. I never expected __________
15. aroma
16. an obstacle
17. red lines
18. hopelessly romantic
19. cinnamon
20. over the hill
21. something breaks
22. green
23. unexpected entry
24. bearing fruit
25. ridiculous statement
26. it's all a sham
27. sugar coated
28. wonder woman
29. baseball
30. far from home
31. a joke
June writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. missed opportunity
2. a challenge
3. phone rings
4. twelve babies
5. curious animal
6. blogging
7. in a garden
8. gratitude
9. stopped in the road
10. swimming
11. dropped off
12. it surrounds you
13. make a list
14. a mountain
15. in a shambles
16. explore
17. flat tire
18. desk lamp
19. total silence
20. an ID bracelet
21. jumped the fence
22. a joyous moment
23. recovery from __________
24. a working relationship
25. show no fear
26. under control
27. it was pink
28. empty calendar
29. dowsing
30. two hens
July writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. a flaw
2. sterilized
3. pretending
4. crystal ball
5. trickle down
6. open __________
7. law breaker
8. the cost of ___________
9. who took it?
10. the patent office
11. cooperation
12. far back in time
13. a label you hate
14. a new spatula
15. hidden from your eyes
16. with a shovel
17. birthright
18. lawnmower
19. follow the __________
20. underground
21. turnip soup
22. bouncing
23. nervousness
24. showers
25. graduation
26. worst case
27. electricity
28. folk singer
29. high class
30. random laughter
31. bowl of ___________
August writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. rake
2. new coat
3. short __________
4. walk a mile
5. ignite
6. kindness
7. genius
8. country road
9. jagged edge
10. out of date
11. policeman
12. delete
13. flying overhead
14. on a mission
15. miniature __________
16. it never worked before
17. a bottle of __________
18. zero gravity
19. an accessory
20. slumlord
21. what you're longing for
22. a harp
23. too much water
24. a dreadful __________
25. the confrontation
26. rocks
27. on a sailing ship
28. pure __________
29. wild parrot
30. energy
31. damaged
Favorite Roller-Ball Writing Pens
September writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. chocolate
2. say it with __________
3. what he found out
4. punch line
5. raven
6. trust
7. an emergency
8. turtle
9. in my room
10. __________ was here
11. advanced
12. a beautiful choice
13. racing
14. nevermore
15. chalice
16. soap bubbles
17. later in the year
18. place of birth
19. your policy
20. an apprentice
21. within the lines
22. staff
23. five thousand dollars
24. for the time being
25. a musician's life
26. contacts
27. for the planet
28. bewildering experience
29. future
30. a screeching halt
October writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. a dark and stormy night
2. in the shade
3. drained
4. plastic wrap
5. the hunt for __________
6. community
7. packing up his gear
8. pizza delivery
9. a new car
10. mining
11. apple pie
12. scissors
13. humiliation
14. she's better than that
15. sifting through sand
16. I wish I'd never seen __________
17. across the river
18. mashed potatoes
19. the solution to all problems
20. painting
21. phone book
22. out to dinner
23. fountain
24. peace
25. ready for anything
26. that's the key
27. it's futile
28. your slogan
29. a pile of papers
30. generosity
31. a crystal cup
November writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. a goblet of wine
2. growing love
3. dogs
4. servitude
5. quick exit
6. ethnic food
7. adventure
8. a red blanket
9. bright lights
10. the color yellow
11. migration
12. steam
13. intense flavor
14. doubt
15. been there before
16. a castle
17. whispering
18. small animals
19. flip a coin
20. loss of memory
21. a great discovery
22. moody person
23. clouds
24. in the mirror
25. watermelon
26. starry night
27. boiling water
28. Africa
29. the phone is ringing
30. street people
December writing prompts for creative writing inspiration
1. prancing ponies
2. a yellow cloth
3. time to __________
4. no remorse
5. file folder
6. moving away
7. a cave
8. taking chances
9. ice cream
10. on an island
11. no organization
12. food
13. compassion
14. lost again
15. he walked by
16. in the shed
17. envelope
18. an open magazine
19. stacks
20. a small notebook
21. timer
22. don't go there
23. aquarium
24. surprises
25. community
26. aftermath
27. raindrops
28. to be free
29. strange children
30. what you see
31. being bold
This page created by Linda, the Book Lady on YouTube
- Book Lady YouTube Channel
This channel has evolved into a reality show... just my life along with comments about books and writing, as you would expect a Book Lady to share.
Your comments are welcome!
F R A N C H E S C A on April 07, 2020:
This is very helpful. Thanks for this wonderful article! Keep writing! :)
Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on March 20, 2020:
Very interesting and useful.
Barb Johnson from Alaska's Kenai Peninsula on August 26, 2015:
Hi Linda! Thanks for the writer's block- saving prompts! I bookmarked them fast! Better to have a writer's block solution ready and on hand and not need it than to be left twiddling my fingers wasting time not getting any writing done. Appreciate it immensely.
shina james on February 04, 2015:
This was so informative. Sometimes my brain is completely fried and I can't think of anything to save my life. :)
Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on January 02, 2015:
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing...
Jacqui from New Zealand on October 26, 2014:
I've had to save this one to my bookmarks as there is too many I want to use!. Thanks for this!
Linda Jo Martin (author) from Klamath River Valley, Northern California on September 09, 2014:
I hope you'll enjoy using the prompts. They help focus my imagination.
Laddi Singh from (Punjab) India on September 09, 2014:
Wonderful overview of the list of writing prompts. And thanks for reminding me about writing challenge, which is very very important for getting rhythms.
Linda Jo Martin (author) from Klamath River Valley, Northern California on August 31, 2014:
I have more ideas than I'll ever be able to write about.... but I love a good writer's prompt to stretch my imagination. Usually I write flash fiction with these prompts. I find that to be so much fun... aiming for 500 words or less.
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 28, 2014:
That's quite a list you compiled. I'm one of the lucky ones; I don't believe I've ever had writer's block. As soon as I figure out how to stretch my days to include a few more hours, I'll be all set. :)
Leni Sands from UK on August 07, 2013:
Excellent, well worth bookmarking for future reference. A truly useful and interesting compilation of prompts - all in one place, thanks!
TJ (phunkblog) on May 15, 2013:
Hi, thanks for the great list of prompts. I can't say i'm writing daily but i'm slowly working my way through & sharing them on my blog :)
Hadley-Liz Grant on January 02, 2013:
A fantastic idea! I'll be trying this on my Wattpad account. (HadleyRocks)
Alicia on December 04, 2012:
This is great! I am definitely going to use these in my daily writing.
LaZeric Freeman from Hammond on October 04, 2012:
Fascinating.
Stacie on January 06, 2012:
I really like these writing prompts. I tend not to use them but I'm glad I did. I started in December and when I finished the month, I felt like writing original stuff again. Ideas just sparked. Thanks for such wonderful lists.
kuroneko52 from Astoria, OR on November 04, 2011:
To be honest, I've come across a lot of lists for writing prompts on the internet and in books. However, this is definitely one of the more well-compiled prompts for every day of the year. Kudos! Most of these prompts certainly seem more inspiring than others I've seen.
Laura Brown from Barrie, Ontario, Canada on November 01, 2011:
The graphic which was meant to load before your content is missing. I thought this was a dud page and almost didn't scroll down.
Ilse M. on April 21, 2011:
Thank you so much for posting this! I'm definitely going to do a writing 365 with these prompts!
Linda Jo Martin (author) from Klamath River Valley, Northern California on November 18, 2010:
You're very welcome, Anaya! I'm starting to get regular traffic to this hub. I love writing to prompts and it appears a lot of other people do too!
Anaya M. Baker from North Carolina on November 08, 2010:
Great stuff here! I will likely be coming back to this one many times...thank you for putting this together!
Linda Jo Martin (author) from Klamath River Valley, Northern California on November 07, 2010:
Thanks Kim! I love writing to prompts... this is how I get most of my flash fiction.
kimmanleyort on November 02, 2010:
This is a really cool idea for a hub. Very useful for writers.
