Ideas to Spark Writings
Here are a few ideas that will spark some thoughts about what to write in your journal. Not all of these deal with a journal entry for the current day, although what happens today is important. Most of these ideas deal with reconstructing the past, writing about the things you remember, whether or not they significantly influenced your life. They are still memorable, and need to be told.
When writing the first draft (you will write several), don't worry about punctuation, run-on sentences, grammar, etc. Just get thoughts down on paper! Even when your mind wanders, follow your wandering thoughts. Write! Editing will come later.
Day 1
Write about your earliest memory, even if it's vague. Be sure to include sensory perceptions, since these often make up most early memories.
Day 2
Older siblings and parents, if they're still alive, can add detail and reflections about the events of your life. Call them, and ask about what they remember about your memory, or what they remember about where it took place. They may not be able to remember, in exact detail, the event that made an impact on you, but they could provide related details.
Day 3
What do you remember about the house and neighborhood in which you grew up? Take a mental tour through the house, writing down (or drawing) the layout of the house.
Day 4
Write about the sensory perceptions you had while remembering the home or neighborhood. The smell of coffee brewing, sounds of bacon sizzling in a pan, the feel of the sheets on your bed. Use all five senses, if possible. Seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling. Don't write long descriptions; just capture the impressions in a few words.
Day 5
What is one of your favorite childhood memories about the home or neighborhood in which you grew up? Sometimes this can be a vague emotional impression ("a feeling of warmth and safety"). Is there a story from your childhood that illustrates that impression?
Day 6
Create a brief timeline of your life. Draw a line across a piece of paper with your birthdate on the left side. Date the right side of the line with today's date. Then mark approximate lines when significant things happened in your life. Exact dates are unimportant at this point.