Journal-Style Writing Prompts
Start on this page if you're ready to get started writing, but not ready to jump into the writing a GED Essay.
Ideas to get you started writing . . .
Can't think of what to write about? Grab some paper. Here's a huge list of ideas to get you going. You can tackle this one of two ways:
1) Scan through the ideas and choose one that inspires your thoughts.
2) Scroll down without looking, point to one and go with it. On the GED exam you won't have a choice of writing topics.
1) Scan through the ideas and choose one that inspires your thoughts.
2) Scroll down without looking, point to one and go with it. On the GED exam you won't have a choice of writing topics.
- One very important person in my life is ...
- Finish this thought: "If I could change one thing about myself..." (If you can't think of anything, you might consider telling how you got to be perfect!)
- The season I like best is ____ because ...
- If you were to completely stop watching television for a year, what would you most likely do with the extra time? What would you miss on TV? Why?
- One habit I find disgusting is ...
- When making decisions, do you put more trust in facts or feelings? Are you pleased with most of your decisions? Why or why not?
- What object of possession that you own has the greatest amount of meaning to you personally? Why?
- The sport I really like to play or watch is ...
- Tell about a dream you've had. What does this dream mean?
- What is the best book you have ever read? Why did you like it? Did reading the book change you in any way? What way?
- My ideal weekend would be spent ...
- What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? Is there anything you hope to do that is even better?
- My favorite time of day is ...
- One skill I learned at my first job was ...
- One law I would really like to change or institute would be ...
- My favorite television show is ___ because ...
- "Patience is a virtue." Comment on this saying and give examples from your own life or the lives of others.
- How much of an influence do you have on your friends and family? Do you wish you had more influence than you do now? What changes do you think you would have to make to have greater influence?
- List as many reasons as you can for putting "people" on the endangered species list.
- Write about what you didn't do this past weekend.
- My ethnic heritage is important to me because ...
- What is your hobby? Why do you enjoy it?
- Write a list of at least 50 things that make you feel good.
- Compile a list of words that describe you as a child. Compile a second list that describes you as you are now. How are these lists the same? How are they different?
- Imagine someone gave you $100. You can't keep it; it has to be given to another person or charity. What would you do with it? What would you want them to do with it?
- My family ...
- Compile a list of inanimate or animate objects to which you might compare yourself metaphorically. (I am a windmill. I change directions or my thoughts whenever someone talks to me...)
- When you make choices about right and wrong, what do you consider most: present consequences or future consequences? Why?
- Have you ever gone back on an agreement with someone? If so, why? Has anyone ever done this to you? If so, how did you handle it?
- You're late. Give your excuses.
- If I were the teacher, I would...
- Is there a machine you feel you can't live without? Explain.
- Who is the person from history that you would most like to meet and to talk to? Why? What would you like to ask?
- Who is the person alive today that you would most like to meet and talk to? Why? What would you like to ask?
- Who is the person from literature that you would most like to meet and talk to? Why? What would you like to ask?
- Describe a "dream" day. How is it different from a possible day?
- Respond to this ancient proverb: "Give me a fish, and I will eat for today; teach me to fish, and I will eat for the rest of my life."
- When are you most likely to use laughter to cover up your true feelings? What masks other than laughter do you most often use?
- Invent a monster and describe it. Tell where it lives, what it eats, and what it does.
- Who in your life do you find easiest to tell your deepest darkest secrets? What is it about this person that makes it easy for you to trust them?
- Explain a family tradition.
- Make a list of true "I used to...but now..." statements. They need not be in any particular order or on any specific topic.
- Make a list of imaginative "I used to...but now..." statements. They need not to be in any particular order or on any specific topic.
- What do you wish you would never have to worry about again? Why?
- Respond to this quote: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas Alva Edison
- What are three barriers that keep you from reaching your full potential? What would most help you overcome these barriers?
- Write about something that you wanted very much and perhaps worked long and hard for, but were unable to get. What were your feelings then? What are your feelings about it now?
- What are the three most important things in your daily schedule? Why? What happens if you don't get to do one of these things each day?
- Describe your house from the perspective of your dishes/broom/living room rug/front door.
- My favorite birthday celebration was ...
- When was the last time you said "I'm sorry." to another person? How difficult is it for you to say you're sorry?
- My earliest memories are ...
- If you had the power to read people's minds, how would you use it? Whose mind would you most like to read right now?
- Are you the same person with your family as with your friends? Why or why not? If not, what are the differences?
- My favorite Halloween costume was ...
- What kind of people bring out the best in you? What two or three people in particular? Why?
- Stress and my life ...
- What do you wish others knew or understood about you that you think they usually don't? Why do you think people don't know this about you?
- How can people tell if you are angry? Is it easy or hard to tell?
- If you were an ant, what would small mean to you? What would large mean to you?
- As I look back over this past year, I realize I've learned some important things ...
- I felt pride in myself when ...
- What is the most embarassing thing that has ever happened to you? What is the most embarassing thing you can imagine happening to you?
- What would be the best thing that could happen to you? ... your family? ... the people in your city? ... to our country?
- What most people don't realize or know about me is ...
- Is there a particular fear in your life that you have overcome? How did you overcome it? What is the one fear you most wish you could overcome now?
- How do you show (not tell) someone you love them?
- Thanksgiving with my family is ...
- What do you consider one of your greatest personal failures to date? What was the most important lesson you gained from this failure?
- I really wish I had the nerve to ...
- It's [month] and I feel ...
- If you could spend on night in any city in the world, which would you choose? Why? What would you do?
- How does it feel to be a weed in a lovely garden?
- What hard lessons have you learned in your life?
- Would you take $1,000,000 to never talk to your best friend again?
- The funniest thing that ever happened to me was ...
- If you had the opportunity to take a one-week space shuttle trip, would you do it? Why/Why not? Explain.
I've always wanted to ...
Would you rather ...
Explain how to:
Define:
What if ...
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Describe...
Did you ever...
I never would ...
I wish I could trade places with:
Write a short story about what happens to ...
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