Midyear reflections: 8 creative journaling prompts for poets and writers

Jun 17
5 min read

8 creative journaling prompts for midyear reflection as a poet or writer

June brings us to the midway mark of this year. A moment to stand still and reflect on what has passed and the way we move forward. The winter hibernation has faded, and spring has brought us all back to life. Now we stand here, eagerly awaiting summer and perhaps feeling a bit lost about which direction to go next. The midway point of the year offers us another blank page to write down our directions.

Perhaps some of your writing goals set for this year have already been achieved, or you feel you are on the right path, or you might feel stuck on your journey. All three are completely fine. We adjust the tension when we stop pressuring ourselves on deadlines that aren’t even there. I write for enjoyment, and even if I do have writing goals, I have learned there is nothing wrong with changing or even removing deadlines.

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” -Friedrich Nietzsche.

I hope when you look at the blank page this month, you will let it gather some light and warmth from this new season. Let your goals become a little wild and fluid so they can help you expand your path. Your creativity will find its direction once you remove the focus of one and broaden the options in how you move forward.

To help you find your direction, I am sharing 8 journaling ideas to help you fill that blank page and see where and how you can broaden your options for the next half of this year.

8 Creative journaling ideas for midyear reflection

Chapters.

If your year so far was a novel, what would be the theme of the first half, and how would you want it to continue? Perhaps you can plan a big plot twist and make the story come around. Plan out some of the chapters you want to walk towards and see how we regain some control over our journey.

Grounding.

If you feel rooted in one place and unable to move. Then maybe add some creative grounding sessions to your planning this summer. Grab a notebook, go on a walk outside, or to a creative space where inspiration has previously found you. Don’t think about the road ahead and just observe what surrounds you. Where are you at this moment, and what is calling to you? Fill that page with what comes to mind. After a few sessions, see how you find a common thread in your notes and try to follow where it leads next.

Soaking up the sun.

June brings the longest days of the year. That light changes throughout the day from scorching at midday to softening when the sun descends. The light in summer has its own mood, just like us poets. Write at different times of the day, soak up all the different moods and see how they affect your creativity. Just like the light, our journey gets affected by our moods. Dive deep and check in with yourself. Align your directions with how you are feeling at the moment.

Nostalgia.

We can’t move forward without looking back once or twice. And poetry often asks us to return to memories, past experiences, lost wishes, childhood sorrows or joys. We shouldn’t just dump it on the side of the road. We carry it forward with us. Take this midway point as a moment to pause and try to see what still feels heavy for you to carry. Write it all down, fold it into something you can carry, and see if the weight has shifted. This helps even more if you actually carry it with you. The power you feel knowing you can carry these moments with you is life-changing.

summer notebook and golden glitter pen for creative journaling — Photo source: Unsplash

Revisit.

What creative ideas or projects did you put on hold earlier this year? Maybe the timing felt off, or the inspiration stopped flowing. Take this time to revisit these projects and see if you can bring any back from their hibernation. Place them with you in the summer sun and see which one calls out to you. Not only does working on previous projects remind you of the joy that started them in the first place, but it also offers you a starting point when nothing else comes to mind.

Rest.

A midway point can simply be a resting stop for your creative mind. Slow down for a moment. Never forget that we are writers/ poets, not content machines pumping out poems every day for growth and algorithms. That never works in the long run and can even lead to burnout. Slow down and breathe. Reflect on how you can slow down from the pressure of writing and let your creativity just breathe for a moment.

Flow.

Creating brings clarity. Journal about what comes easily and what hits a creative wall. Is there a way to still keep moving, or does it come to a full stop? Readjusting our directions requires us to flow, as inspiration does. If the flow stops, let it rest like a pond. If it flows, let it rage like a restless river. If you find you are stuck at the pond, then fish for new ideas and let the pond be what it needs to be at this moment.

Joy.

It is not about the destination but the journey itself. A goal is only a landmark; the way towards it is where we find our sense of accomplishment. Consider your path a vacation. The goal becomes the destination (for example, the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, Grand Canyon). You know you will never forget that moment when you finally see it. But there is more to a vacation than that one landmark. The people we meet, the precious moments shared, the sunsets, the food, the sun kissing our skin, the songs along the way… A vacation exists out of more things than only the one landmark. Reflect on how you want this creative vacation to be the best vacation you ever had. Make a travel journal and gather trinkets, photos, and playlists. Your directions become clear when you are having fun along the way.

(You’ll read more on how to make a travel journal for your writing journey in my next post!)

Ultimately, June is a gentle reminder that the creative journey does not have to be a constant grind. It can be slowing down with the sun, resting in the park, keeping track of the summer in a journal, and unfiltered joy while writing what you love.

So pour yourself some lemonade, find a patch of grass in the shade, lift the pressure from your goals, and rest assured that you will get there while having fun on the way.

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