Writing & Creativity

9 Creative Writing Prompts for Self-Care

May 3, 2022

Hi! I'm Marie

You have gifts to share with the world and my job is to help you get them out there.

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“Writing is the most accessible, portable, and affordable form of self-expression.” @talkingshrimpnyc

What do you need to express right now?

Whether you need to rage, vent, celebrate, weep, brag, or something else…

The blank page can take it.

Writing has been my go-to tool for self-care for so long, and I truly believe in the power of writing to help you heal, connect with your inner wisdom, and find answers to your stickiest problems.

Back in May of 2020, Laura Belgray — writer, co-creator of The Copy Cure, and my dear friend — joined my Self-Care Saturday series on Instagram Live. We talked about everything from “First Book Syndrome” and how to find your voice to our favorite 3-word writing technique.

Plus, Laura shared 9 powerful writing prompts to help you unlock your inner voice.

Folks loved these prompts SO much, we did what we do best — pulled together our team, edited the video, and turned each and every prompt into a beautiful, fill-in-the-blank Fun Sheet for our Copy Cure students.

Today, in honor of the doors being open for this game-changing writing program, we’re opening up the vault and giving it to you, too!

If you want to harness the power of creative writing in your life, click PLAY now.

Then keep reading below to get:

  • Your FREE creative writing prompts download!
  • The method I swear by to create a daily writing habit that sticks.
  • 3 ways to find your voice and unleash your best work.

9 Creative Writing Prompts for Self-Care + Your Free Download!

After watching the MarieTV above, find a quiet spot and use one of these prompts to get your writing flowing.

We even turned them into a beautiful, editable PDF you can download for free right now! Simply click the image or link below to get it instantly.

9 Creative Writing Prompts Fun Sheet

9 Creative Writing Prompts to Find Your Voice, Kickstart Your Writing & Create New Connections in Your Brain

  • 3 things that made life better this week.
  • Fill in the blank: This time last year ____________.
  • Describe one thing that’s changed about you during the pandemic.
  • Describe one thing that *hasn’t* changed about you.
  • If you could wave a magic wand over your life, what would you do?
  • What’s one thing you’d like to say that you haven’t?
  • Fill in the blank: I’m nervous to admit this, but ____________.
  • Describe a room or area of your home growing up in detail.
  • Open a book or magazine and pick the first word that jumps out. Write about whatever comes to mind.

BONUS! If you want to tap into your creative flow and improve your memory, this next prompt is for you. Dani Shapiro — one of the greatest memoirists of our time — shares her favorite 2-word prompt that instantly triggers a flood of writing.

Dani Shapiro shares wisdom on the creative writing process

Whether you use these prompts, or something else, daily journaling can do wonders for your mental, emotional, and creative wellbeing.

Plus, writing is one of the most accessible tools for self-expression ever. It’s portable, affordable, and can help you get the to-do list out of your head so you can hear your inner voice.

How to Create a Daily Writing Habit (The Method Laura & I Swear By!)

The key to creativity — and self-care — is showing up for yourself consistently.

One way to do that is with a daily writing practice Laura and I both swear by. We wouldn’t call it our little secret — because over 5 million creatives (and counting) use it, too!

The practice is called Morning Pages. This miraculous tool was invented by Julia Cameron — bestselling author of 40+ books including her breakthrough work on creative unblocking, The Artist’s Way.

In this MarieTV interview, Julia explains Morning Pages in depth. Plus, three other core tools to unlock your creativity and unleash your most important, magnificent ideas.

Julia Cameron talks with Marie Forleo about the practice of morning pages and guided writing

No matter how “advanced” you get in any area of your life, you’ll have to overcome resistance every time you start a new practice — including Morning Pages. I say this not to discourage you, but to encourage you to have grace with yourself. It’s not easy to make a habit stick. But once it has, the rewards are beyond worth it!

3 Ways to Find Your Voice & Unleash Your Best Work

No one has — or ever will have — your unique perspective, personality, and life-experience. So even if you worry, “It’s all been done before,” who cares!? There’s still room for YOU.

These three tips will help you discover and develop your own authentic voice. Because you’re a one-time mega-event in the universe. And the world needs your message.

#1 Write for Yourself

Your voice is about what you have to say. Not anyone else. But so often we filter our message through what everyone around us thinks. Or how they might react.

“Write for yourself” means writing without the intention of anyone else reading or hearing it. Writing for an audience of one — you.

Write the things you WISH you could say to the rest of the world. Write about what you like. What you want to say to your friends. What you want to say to yourself. Pretty quickly, you’ll see patterns emerge in your language, rhythm, and message. That is your voice.

#2 Write it Rude

This is one of my favorite techniques Laura and I created for The Copy Cure.

When you’re working on a draft — whether it's a journal entry, article, book manuscript, or copy for your website — let yourself be rude. Write exactly what you’d say (no editing or bleeping allowed!) if you were venting to your best friend.

Now, to be clear, you won’t leave it rude. But writing it rude will help you get your authentic ideas and feelings out onto the page. If you’re an empath like me, pre-feeling what others might think or say will constrict your voice. Compassion is a superpower. But unchecked, it waters down your writing and dulls your message.

Get it all out on the page first. Then edit with compassion and care.

#3 Answer These 3 “Authenticity Questions”

Todd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative and Louder Than Words, says that to develop your authentic voice you must have clear answers to these three questions:

  1. What do I care about?
  2. What do they (my audience) care about?
  3. What ideas already have momentum?

Watch my MarieTV interview with Todd to learn how to answer these questions, discover your compelling message, and create work that stands out in the world:

Todd Henry and Marie Forleo talk about having a compelling message

IMPORTANT: Don’t skip this one if you’re not “technically” an entrepreneur. In the modern workplace, it’s important to use your voice, speak up for what matters and take responsibility to create meaning through your work.

Now, I’d love to hear from you.

  • What’s the one insight or writing prompt that meant the most to you?
  • How can you turn that insight into action today?

Leave a comment below and let us know.

Most importantly…

I hope you give yourself the time to write today. Even if it’s just five or ten minutes.

Use one of the prompts from today’s episode, or simply grab a blank piece of paper and let your pen move across it until you feel complete. Don’t hold back. Don’t censor yourself. Give yourself FULL permission to write anything and everything that bubbles up and wants to be expressed.

Writing is a powerful form of self-care. And YOU are worth taking time for.

XO

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