• Did you ever say something you regret to someone in your family? If you could restate them today how would you change the words?
• Did you ever apologize for something you didn’t do? Explain why.
• Did you ever get blamed for something you didn’t do? How did it make you feel?
• Did you ever willingly take the blame for someone else’s actions? Do you regret doing it?
• Abraham Lincoln said: "Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?" Did you ever have an enemy who later became your friend? How did this happen?
• Did you ever have a nasty rumour started about you that wasn’t true?
• Did you ever have a day when everything went wrong? Describe this day from start to finish.
• Did you ever get the giggles when you didn’t want them? Describe what happened.
• Did you ever make a gift for someone instead of buying one? If so, what did you make? How did it make you feel to give this gift?
• Have you ever won anything in a contest or a draw? What was it? Were you surprised that you won?
• Do you recall the feeling you had when you first rode a two-wheeler without training wheels? Does this experience compare to any other experiences you’ve had lately?
• Do you remember your first friend? Who was it? What are some of the things you did together?
• Do you remember the first movie you ever saw in a theatre? Did you eat popcorn or candy when you were there?
• Did a movie character or creature ever frighten you when you were little? Describe it and what you did.
• Did you ever have a dream that happened more than once? Can you describe the most powerful part of the dream?
• Do you remember anything about your first day of school as a youngster? Were you scared? What do you remember most about it?
• Do you remember the first time you felt proud of yourself? Tell why.
• Did you ever do anything heroic? If so, describe what happened. If not, did anyone you know do something heroic?
• Did you ever buy something you saw in an advertisement and feel cheated later? What was it?
• Did you ever purchase something that broke the first time you used it? Describe what happened.
• Do you remember the first time you really hurt yourself? Explain what happened.
• Describe your favourite foods when you were little. Did you have a favourite dessert? Are any of these foods still your favourite?
• Did you make any odd food concoctions when you were a child? Describe it.
• When you were small did you ever eat anything that wasn’t food?
• Did you ever do anything when you were younger that you wouldn’t think of doing now?
• Where was your favourite place to play when you were small? What did you do there?
• Tell about the first time that you fell in love.
• Think of a photograph of yourself when you were younger. Write down the thoughts that you might have been thinking at the time it was taken.
• What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? Retell the event as completely as you can.
• Write about a “first” in your life.
• What is your earliest memory? Write as many details about it as you can recall.
• What is the greatest thrill you have ever had in your life? Retell your experience in as much detail as possible.
• Make a timeline of your life listing only the most important events that have happened so far.

Senn, J.A. 325 Creative Prompts for Personal Journals. Toronto: Scholastic Professional Books, 1992.
Sweeney, Jacqueline. 350 Fabulous Writing Prompts. Toronto: Scholastic Professional Books, 1995.