You open your journal to a fresh blank page and think, “OK, here I go!” But
nothing happens. Suddenly, the white surface staring back at you seems to mock you,
almost telling you that you won’t be able to fill the page and make a worthwhile mark.
Relax. It’s easy to get hung up when beginning a page. Even journal artists who have
been journaling for a while hit snags. Sometimes you just need a little nudge. Some of
the journal artists who contributed pages to this book offer starting suggestions and
prompts a-plenty. Consider this a list of recipes to get you cooking in your journal:
Ways to Start a Page:
• Write down one thing you can do today to
make a difference.
• Open a dictionary or a book, point at a
word or phrase, and use it to launch a page.
• Ponder an inspiring quote.
• Find a magazine photograph of a person
you don’t know, and conjure up a story
about his or her life.
• Use kids art supplies such as crayons, gold
stars, ruled paper.
• Start writing or sketching a fantasy of
something you would like to see happen
in your life.
• Make a diagram of the house you grew
up in.
• Be inspired by dreams from the night before.
• Describe your mood.
• List some things that inspire you.
• Describe your dream art studio.
Try Collage:
• Have you got pages in your journal you’re
not crazy about? Why not glue bits of
different papers on top of them, and let
what is underneath peek through here and
there, adding visual intrigue. Add paint to
create more layers.
Try Lists:
• Write a list of creative tasks that need to be
done, an artist’s to-do list.
• List books you want to read.
• List people you saw today.
• List your top ten “desert island” songs.
