A year’s worth of journal writing prompts
Never face down a blank page again—download our free guide with a life writing prompt for every week of the year, then tuck it in your journal or pin it near your computer for inspiration at your fingertips!
Keeping a journaling or family history practice alive through the entire year can feel daunting—until you realize you don’t have to come up with ideas on the spot. Having a set of weekly prompts at your fingertips gives you structure and inspiration, while still leaving room for your stories to flow in their own unique direction.
To make it easy, I’ve gathered 52 prompts—one for every week of the year—that weave together themes of reflection, memory, family history, traditions, and everyday moments. Each month offers four prompts tied to the seasons and natural rhythms of life.
Whether you use these life writing prompts to spark daily journaling, guide family conversations, or record stories for future generations, these questions will help you capture the richness of your life and legacy.
TIP: Our free download includes one page of writing prompts per month, so you can print them out and paste into your daily planner or tuck into your journal for easy reference! Get yours here.
Click below to jump to any month’s writing prompts:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January – New Beginnings
week 1 Reflection:
What were your greatest accomplishments, biggest challenges, surprises, joys, and losses last year? Keep things simple with a list if that’s all you can handle as the new year begins, or dive deep and probe for meaning!
week 2 Setting intentions:
How do you want to shape the coming year? What do you hope will happen? What habits, relationships, or parts of yourself would you like to nurture? Dream big or be practical—whatever approach suits you right now!
week 3 Memory:
What childhood home do you remember best? Describe its sights, smells, sounds, people. Can you draw a map of its layout? Why do you think you remember what you do (or don’t)?
week 4 Life list—fun:
What was your favorite toy, game, or pastime as a child?
February — Love & Connection
week 1 Love Letter:
Write a letter to someone who influenced your life deeply (friend, partner, ancestor). What have they taught you?
week 2 Lasting bonds:
Think about a meaningful friendship. What made it special? What lessons or memories does it carry?
week 3 Memory:
What meals remind you most of your childhood? Describe the smells, flavors, and people around you. Could you cook up these dishes if you tried?
week 4 Life list—food:
Was there a dish you hated as a kid but now love (or vice versa)? What changed?
March — Women’s History Month
week 1 Female influences:
In honor of Women’s History Month, write about a woman who shaped your life. What qualities of hers live in you? Does (or did) she know her impact on you?
week 2 Unsung stories:
What story of a mother, grandmother, or other woman in your family deserves to be remembered? It needn’t be a drama-filled story—it just might be a small moment that held major impact.
week 3 Identity:
Tell about a time when someone asked you, “Who are you?” How did you respond? How has your answer changed?
week 4 Silenced stories:
Do you have any stories you once hesitated to tell but now feel are important? Why did you hold back? Remember—no one needs to see what you write in the privacy of your journal, even now.
April – Renewal & Growth
week 1 Spring awakening:
Describe a time you started over, intentionally or by chance. What changed inside you?
week 2 Nature as metaphor:
Choose a flower, tree, or garden from your past. What did it symbolize in that season of life?
week 3 Lost recipe:
Recall a family recipe that has been lost or half-forgotten. What do you remember and what do you wish you knew?
week 4 A letter you never sent:
Write the letter—to someone living or gone—that you wish you’d sent.
week 5 Turning point:
What was the moment when you felt you were no longer a child?
May – Heritage & Traditions
week 1 Family gatherings:
Describe a family celebration or tradition that left a strong impression.
week 2 Keepsakes:
Write about an object you’ve inherited (jewelry, recipe, letter). What story does it carry? If nothing comes to mind, consider writing about an object that holds meaning to you now that you hope a child or other family member will one day cherish.
week 3 Memory:
Who in your family was the storyteller? Capture a tale you remember hearing from them.
week 4 Life list—values:
What values do you see passed through your family (kindness, humor, hard work)? Where did they come from?
June – Journeys
week 1 Travel:
Recall a trip (near or far) that shaped you. What moments do you still see vividly?
week 2 Going forth:
Write about a time when you “set out”—to college, a job, a new city, an adventure.
week 3 First job:
What was your first job, or a formative work experience? How did it shape you?
week 4 Failure and growth:
Write about a time you failed at something important. What did you learn from it? How did you handle it?
week 5 Mid-year check-in:
Look back on the first half of the year. What have you done, and what are you proud of? What do you still want to finish?
July – Independence
week 1 Independence:
Write about the first time you made a big decision on your own.
week 2 Reflection:
What does freedom mean to you personally? Reflect on a moment when you felt free.
week 3 Memory:
When was the last time you felt awe? What brought it on?
week 4 Life list—home:
What place(s) feel most like home to you? What makes it feel that way?
August – Everyday Moments
week 1 Summer snapshot:
Capture a vivid childhood summer memory—sights, smells, sounds.
week 2 Daily life:
Write about an ordinary routine that reveals something bigger about who you are.
week 3 Life list—soundtrack:
What song takes you back instantly to a time in your life? What story is tied to it?
week 4 Memory:
Tell a story from your teen years—a friendship, conflict, turning point, or just a funny, sad, beautiful, or poignant memory.
September – Growth
week 1 Back to school:
Recall a memorable teacher, mentor, or lesson.
week 2 Lifelong learning:
What skill or habit did you learn later in life that changed you?
week 3 History made personal:
What historical event shaped your family (war, migration, economic change)? How?
week 4 Life list—school supplies:
Do you remember back-to-school shopping when you were a kid? What items did you love…or wish for?
week 5 Memory:
Describe a small, ordinary moment that brought you unexpected joy. What made it stand out?
October – Family History Month
week 1 Roots:
In honor of Family History Month, write about the earliest ancestor you know by name.
week 2 Family lore:
Capture a funny or legendary family tale. What truths lie beneath it? Has the telling of the tale changed over time?
week 3 Life list—ancestors:
If you could ask a grandparent three questions, what would they be? Write what you know and what you wish you knew.
week 4 Heirlooms:
Pick a family heirloom. What is its story and how did it come to you?
week 5 Memory:
Write about one of the following (and save the others for another day!): your earliest memory, your most elusive memory, your favorite memory.
November – Gratitude
week 1 Life list—gratitude:
Write about five things you’re grateful for this year. Choose one and go deeper.
week 2 Reflection:
Reflect on a hardship that later became something you were thankful for.
week 3 Memory:
What kindnesses have you witnessed or experienced this year? Elaborate on one that moved you (or that you hope moved someone else), or take the prompt in an entirely different direction that resonates for you right now.
week 4 Absence:
Think of someone you miss. Write about what you learned from them and what you carry forward, what you would tell them if they were here, or how you honor their memory.
December – Holidays & Reflection
week 1 Traditions:
Describe your favorite holiday ritual and why it matters.
week 2 Reflection:
As the year winds down, reflect on how you’ve changed since January. What do you want to carry forward?
week 3 Surprises:
What was the biggest surprise of the year? How did it make you feel? Change you?
week 4 Dream on:
Write about one wish or dream you have for the coming year, small or large. What will you do to make it come true?
Stories live best when they’re shared. My hope is that these prompts not only inspire your own journaling, but also spark conversations with the people you love. Imagine what your children or grandchildren might discover if even a few of these questions were answered and preserved.
If you’d like to keep this list handy, I’ve created a printable version with all 52 prompts—perfect for tucking into your journal!
P.S. This list is formatted for the year 2026, with five prompts for the months of April, June, September, and October—but it can be used any year (52 weeks is 52 prompts, no matter when the weeks fall 😉).
Free Printable Guide!
Download all 52 life writing prompts in a beautifully designed guide that you can tuck into your journal or pin up near your computer—inspiration always at your fingertips!
Want even more prompts—and writing guidance along the way?
Our email subscription, Write Your Life, offers 52 weeks of life writing prompts geared specifically for building towards a memoir or personal history. How are they different?, you must be wondering! Well:
With Write Your Life, each week you’ll receive a thoughtful prompt with follow-up questions, examples of directions you might take, guidance for accessing memories and developing them into stories, and inspirational quotes and resources—PLUS subscribers get a companion e-book overflowing with even more pro tips.
While this free journaling guide is tied to the seasons, the Write Your Life subscription is intentionally crafted to start with easy-to-access memories that lead to deeper life reflection as you go. It’s designed to lead you towards a finished memoir, and prompts from one week build upon others you have written about previously.
The Write Your Life prompts are delivered to your email inbox each week to help keep you accountable and spur you to write—really write!! (If you’ve got a loved one who’s been thinking about writing about their life, this makes a wonderfully original and thoughtful gift, too 😉).
Stay inspired with 52 weekly writing prompts for journaling and family history. Capture memories, dreams, and stories big and small. Bonus: Downloadable guide!