The Blog Market

Happy June! I took the train down to see Jenn a few weeks ago and with no wi-fi or service, I took the opportunity to draft some journal prompts for any of you feeling stuck in your creative routine. I used to use journal prompts for creative writing back in college, but now I love them for personal growth and creative exploration, two of our favorite things around here. Write a response or two next time you’re feeling stuck, and let us know if you’d like to see more posts like this!

1. Think back on the last six months. What was your fave client/project/collaboration? What made it so good? How can you build off of this to create an even better experience in the future? If you haven’t yet had your ideal client/project, envision what that would look like. List three tangible ways you could start working toward it.

Example. I knew my ideal client was a small business or sustainable lifestyle brand, but it took awhile to figure out how to attract them. One of the three things I did was change the language on my website to spell out exactly who I was looking for. Within just a few months I had worked with three clients that fit the description! A second thing I did was invest in a creative directory, which proved to be extremely helpful! So, going through this, picture that ideal situation, and keep a running list of what you can do to put the dream into action.

2. Envision your ideal space. I first did this exercise in college too and I always go back to it! If you’re a visual person, getting inspired by your ideal workspace, studio, craft room, or even home in general, will immediately motivate you to dive into the work to get there.

3. List three ways you could make progress on a side project. If you’re lost, you could even start with setting a timer and making a giant list (don’t worry if they seem ridiculous), to get the ideas flowing. Then zero in on what makes most sense and feels attainable.

4. How have your passions + interests in life led you to where you are now? It can be fun, and sometimes inspiring, to think back on the quirky little things, like games you played, crafts you made, or whatever, you did as a kid and how that actually set you on a certain path. Try it!

5. What are three ways you could put yourself out there more when it comes to talking about your creative projects? This might mean looking up local events to see how you can get inspired and find community.

6. In what ways could you tweak your morning routine to better set you up for success? What’s not working for you right now? What is? Do you have time set aside to set yourself up for a more inspiring day?

Example. I start my day by journaling. Sometimes I fall off for long periods of time, and eventually realize that’s the reason my days feel so rushed and chaotic. I need that time to get lost in my thoughts, otherwise I’ll be stuck in my head all day! I also realized recently that since moving from LA to Seattle, I’ve stopped going on morning walks. I tend to go out during the day when it’s warmer. But now that it’s summer, I think starting my day off with a walk is another good way find peace with whatever the day brings.

7. Think back to your favorite creative project when you were a child. (I’ll always remember a certain reflections project!). Describe it in as much detail as you remember. What were you doing or making? Did you complete it solo, or with the help of a teacher, parent, or friend? Now think of how projects like that may have influenced your creative work, years later. Do you still love working in groups or alone? What’s your process like? This reflection could help you see what you should be doing more of.

8. Create a response to a compelling blog post you just read. This is just for you. Do you agree with the author? What do you want to add to the conversation? Set a timer for 10 minutes. Then, look back and see if there’s a tidbit there that could inspire your own original blog post, or even an Instagram post.

9. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write a list of all the ways you could dive deeper into your creative practice.

Example. I tend to work on multiple similar projects, so things can start to fall flat (both in my interest in them and in my work!). I like to enroll in online courses every now and then that have nothing to do with what I’m working on, such as more creative types of writing. I never regret doing something like that. It helps me come back to my work with fresh eyes. You could take a class, do a 100-day project or some type of challenge, there are a lot of ways to exercise your creativity.

10. Take the Creative Types by Adobe quiz (it’s super quick), and reflect on your results. Were you surprised? Why or why not? Does this give you insight on how you work, and how others around you work? Did it illuminate any struggles you have and how can you use this information to improve?

Example. When Jenn and I took the test, we both got “dreamers”. We were not surprised, and we honestly do like the label. It seemed like a way of explaining all those new ideas we’re always having! At the same time, it reminded us that sometimes we have trouble taking action and getting our ideas off the ground, and that it could be worth it to team up with someone opposite of us. And it’s all so true. So interesting to hear this perspective!

Were you intrigued by any of the questions above? Let us know if you journal with any of these prompts, and we can start a discussion on Instagram!