100 Journal Prompts from a Storyteller
Do you ever feel daunted by the empty page of your journal?
You’ve opened the beautiful notebook.
Clicked the perfect pen tip.
Written the date and then...
… crickets.
You’re just not sure what to write in your journal.
Or even why you want to write?
If it feels like you just can’t find your stride, this article is going to:
a) give you a brief introduction to the use of storytelling concepts and then
b) give you a huge dose of ideas to get you started. (100 journal prompts to be precise.)
What is storytelling?
Our lives are constructed stories.
From childhood to the present day we’ve woven the threads of our experiences into a narrative construct. Past, present and projected future.
“Our experience of the world is shaped by our interpretation of it, the stories we tell ourselves can often become so distorted and destructive that they completely hinder our ability to live balanced, purposeful, happy lives. So the key to personal transformation is story transformation.”
Storytelling is one of the most ancient forms of moral instruction. From before writing, we have used the power of stories to understand our place in the world, to reflect on lessons and morals, and to instruct the generations we raise.
Our social structures are built on narratives of power, inclusion, morality and justice.
Our sense of self-identity is a constructed narrative. From the early chapters written for us, through the chapters we write ourselves. Because the power of storytelling is so essential to our understanding of our social and personal existence, they can wield extraordinary power over our self-belief.
Tapping into the structures of storytelling can allow us to view our own stories from a distanced perspective, see connections and barriers, and decide to write a different next chapter.
Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D. and former Executive Director of the C.G. Jung Centre for Research and Education, says. ‘Stories are medicine… embedded with instructions which guide us about the complexities of life.’ She likens the collecting of stories to digging for bones and has dedicated over three decades to this ‘constant paleontologic endeavour’ of healing.
But how does the use of storytelling help us to understand ourselves?
We have a tendency to think or ourselves only as the hero of our own story.
Reality check… you’re not.
(Hero is used here in a non-gendered way. As are all the archetypes I’m going to discuss. This is an important distinction, because all the archetypes are available to any character, regardless of your age, gender, form or intent.)
Examining our life events from the perspective of other storytelling archetypes can help us to understand what motivated us, what or who hindered us, or how we contributed to a situation.
It can help us to identify if we are stuck playing a certain role in life, and not exploring the full gamut of our possibilities.
It can show us how we hide our scars and evade the full exploration of life.
But what is an archetype?
Common archetypes are universally recognized symbols, patterns, or motifs that recur across cultures and throughout history. They represent fundamental aspects of our common human experiences.
You’ll know many a clichéd archetype. A good hero, an evil villain, a self-sacrificing lover. But archetypes are more complex that Disney likes to market.
All true archetypes have strengths and weaknesses and any character, minor or major, in the role of protagonist or villain, can embody the base archetypes.
Before you click the link and download your 100 storytelling prompts, read through the following descriptions of story archetypes and use these to inform your journaling. As you try out the storytelling prompts, try to identify which archetypal role you may be performing, which you’re evading, and which you feel inclined to explore further.
1. The Hero:
Symbolizing courage, resilience, and the journey of self-discovery, the Hero archetype represents the quest for growth and transformation. On the downside they can be over-confident and suffer from an inability to see their own flaws or take advice. Normally it takes a few major setbacks for the Hero to learn balance.
2. The Lover:
Representing passion, desire, and emotional conviction, the Lover archetype embodies the search for intimacy and fulfilment. It encourages individuals to explore their emotions, express vulnerability, and cultivate meaningful relationships. Conversely, it can demonstrate naivete and irrational faith.
3. The Innocent:
A morally pure character, often a child, or simple character, whose only intentions are good. They demonstrate the need for simplicity, kindness and moral virtue. The Innocent is always vulnerable, lacks skill and invokes response from other characters. In terms of journaling, the Innocent is often our Inner Child. The archetype of wounds and lack of care.
4. The Rebel:
Symbolizing independence, nonconformity, and defiance, the Rebel archetype challenges authority and tradition. Rebels encourage individuals to question norms, advocate for change, and assert their autonomy. They have a habit to think rather a lot of themselves and to feel ‘above’ every law, so can end up skirting the criminal line of life. Often leading a solitary life, or one lacking in multiple deep connections, while rich in many shallow associates.
5. The Explorer:
This archetype symbolizes curiosity, adventure, and the pursuit of new experiences. They can be highly resourceful and creative, shifting the course of the narrative. They also tend to be rather frustratingly single-minded, infuriatingly unreliable and are perpetually unsatisfied.
6. The Caregiver:
Reflecting nurturing, compassion, and selflessness, the Caregiver archetype embodies the instinct to protect and nurture others. Caregivers provide support, empathy and comfort, fostering a sense of belonging and security. They tend to lack personal ambition and often allow themselves to be wrung out by life’s quests.
7. The Everyman:
An archetype for readers to relate to. Evidencing an aspect of predictability and routine, they are often resistant to change and the unknown. Slipping into the Everyman archetype can be evidence that you are resistant to exploring some of your more unique qualities or desires.
8. The Mentor:
This archetype embodies wisdom, guidance, and support. Mentors help protagonists navigate challenges and obstacles, offering insights and lessons that facilitate personal development. The Mentor can often be detached, and reluctant to enter the endless fray of human emotions, though normally they will end up being pulled into the course of action. At some point, overdependence on the Mentor can cause stagnation for the other characters. Ultimately, the Mentor must be left behind. For an individual insisting on staying in the role of Mentor, it can be because they are reluctant to return to a learning state.
9. The Sage/Oracle:
Similar to the Mentor but retaining a determined aloofness. The Sage/Oracle will often have powerful insights to give the protagonists but rarely allow themselves to engage in the struggle. Mysterious and elusive, they are powerful but confusing figures who lead us to seek deeper meaning. Adopting the Mage stance as you respond to a prompt can give you unexpected insight into an area of difficulty.
10. The Magician:
Opposite to the Mentor, this is a powerful figure who has learned to control the ways of the world to their own ends. Often omniscient and elusive, the Magician is testament to the power of discipline and learning the ways of power through failure and personal loss. They can also be personally damaged, corruptible and often arrogant in their power. A Magician doesn’t like to be toppled from their great tower.
11. The Fool:
Often associated with mischief and unpredictability, the Fool archetype challenges societal norms and conventions. It encourages individuals to question assumptions, embrace spontaneity, and think outside the box. The Fool can also be obnoxious, derailing and end up stuck in a place of mockery.
12. The Creator:
Representing innovation, imagination, and artistic expression, the Creator archetype embodies the urge to bring ideas into reality. Creators inspire individuals to embrace their creativity, pursue their passions, and manifest their visions. The Creator can often be single-minded, lack common sense and be somewhat detached from the world around them. Often this can lead to a failure of duty of care to others but, conversely, lead to the formation of an independent and self-reliant character.
13. The Ruler:
This archetype signifies status and resources. Someone with a strong level of control, either legal, practical or emotional, over others. They can use their resources for good or bad. They can be aloof, demanding, unpredictable and unreasonable, and are often isolated in their status and out of touch with the world.
14. The Echo:
The Echo archetype is one of the most profound. It represents repressed aspects of the self. It embodies fears, insecurities, and unresolved emotions. The Echo is insidious, provocative and often the instigator to change. Unresolved Echo selves can lead to stagnation, avoidance and corruption, and hence are often portrayed as Villains. Resolved Echo selves invoke courage, bring about change, and lead to wholeness, and will often arise during the moment of greatest need.
(The Echo is more often known as the Shadow. Because language is powerful and harnessed for purpose, it is easy to connect the word Shadow to ideas of darkness, evil, and blackness. All too often we will see the Shadow in literature or media as a menacing, to-be-feared, darkly-portrayed Villain with ill intent. For this reason, I choose to use the term Echo.)
You go further as a team.
Be more than the hero. Be the whole team.
Understanding more of the archetypes and how your own story needs various aspects of them can lead to growth and personal transformation. It can help you get out of one gear and into the full range.
A little further down you’ll find the link to access the prompts. But to make the most of them, here are a few suggestions for how to incorporate them with your newfound knowledge of archetypes:
How to use the storytelling prompts:
Go through the entire 100 prompts as a full expedition into your life story. Identify which archetype you are channelling as you respond to the prompts.
Do sprints of 10 prompts at a time and ask yourself which external archetype (someone else) was influencing you during the moment you recalled.
Dip in and out of the prompts as you feel the need for some fresh inspiration in your journaling.
If you are blocked in some aspect of your life, (the prompts are split into ten areas) assume the role of an archetype that is outside of your normal identity and write in response to a storytelling prompt AS THAT archetype. What does this reveal to you?
Now that you have considered the archetypes of story, click the link below to access your 100 Storytelling prompts.