You’re reading Soft Hobbies, a weekly newsletter for creatives in all mediums, with a special focus on writers. I’m Auzin, a Seattle-based writer in the fiction, poetry, and tech spheres. To see more of my work, visit my author website or check out my socials.
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Hi softies,
Dashing in this week with a very quick post! My car got stolen last week (it’s back now) and I had to revise a story for publication, so writing for Soft Hobbies has sadly been on the backburner. But we’re going to come back strong again, I know it. I have some good stuff cooking up for you.
My eyes are bloodshot as hell because I spent the last five hours uploading photos and tweaking descriptions for my Etsy store, which is also called Soft Hobbies. I sell silly stickers and my poetry chapbooks on there, it’s pretty cute. I’m almost at 200 sales! Super excited about that.
I’ve just made some digital download PDFs with lots of writing prompts in multiple genres. They’re all $5 USD or under and are fully human-crafted and collated. Go here to check them out. I’m also giving you one for free, because I appreciate you!
100 journal prompts for reflection + introspection
These prompts are designed to jumpstart your journaling and pave the way for deeper introspection. Use them whenever you want to delve into self-discovery through your writing practice.
Tip: Try thinking of a number between 1 and 100, or using a random number generator online. The number you choose is the number of the prompt you’ll write to!
What circumstances and relationships do I feel I’ve outgrown? Why am I still holding on?
Who in my life am I trying to fix? Who am I trying to heal?
Who am I most critical with? What traits do they have that I am critical of within myself?
Who am I kindest to? What traits do they have that I share?
What do I try hard not to think about? Why?
How often do I feel grateful?
When was the last time I felt pure joy?
How does technology impact or affect my creativity?
If I’m lucky enough to feel secure, how can I look out for others who might not? How can I extend or share safety with others in my community?
What is my relationship to feeling and expressing vulnerability?
What are the books / movies / music that make me feel safe?
“I forgive myself for…”
What’s more important to me: honesty or loyalty?
What's something that most people don't know about me (and would be surprised to learn)?
What do I enjoy doing in my free time that I don't consider myself an "expert" at? What have I learned from engaging in that activity or pastime?
When was the last time I felt jealous?
Describe my ideal friend.
Define my view of success.
If I had to live in a new city, where would I choose and why?
Who is the most unique person I’ve met? What have I learned from them?
Am I a subject matter expert in something?
What makes me feel excited to get up in the morning?
If I had all the money and time in the world, what would I be doing?
Am I holding onto something that is hurting me more than helping?
When someone gives me a compliment, do I say “thank you” or refuse it? If I refuse it, where did I learn that from?
Who or what is stopping me from doing what I want to do? Do I need them in my life? How can I change my environment or my mindset to move past them and their influence?
What do I want my life to look like in five or ten years?
What am I currently learning? What am I currently un-learning?
Think of the people I love and my favorite qualities about them. How am I a similar light for others?
What does it mean to live authentically? What are the most authentic parts of my current life?
What are 3 of my pet peeves? Do they say anything about me as a person?
How do I hope someone would describe me? Why?
What is currently bringing me joy? How can I experience more of this thing?
Is there anyone that I need to let go of? What’s stopping me from letting go?
If I could ask my future self anything, what would it be? Do I think they’d have a good answer?
What beliefs or messages about my body do I need to let go of in order to cultivate more self-love and acceptance?
What activities or practices help me feel connected to and in tune with my body?
What would it feel like to let go of the need to compare my body to others, and instead focus on my own unique strengths and beauty?
How can I cultivate a sense of appreciation and love for my body, even if it doesn’t conform to societal ideals?
What are some ways I can celebrate and care for my body, regardless of its shape or size?
How do I get to use my creativity on a daily basis?
What is one thing that I have always wanted to create, and what steps can I take to make it a reality?
What is one place or environment that inspires my creativity, and how can I create more opportunities to be in that space?
What is one fear or obstacle that is holding me back creatively, and what can I do to overcome it?
What is one thing that I can learn or experiment with in order to expand my creative skills and knowledge?
What are some hobbies or activities I can pursue to tap into my creativity and imagination?
How can I incorporate more play and fun into my life to foster creativity and inspiration?
What was the most memorable dream I had last night? Write down as many details as possible.
What recurring themes or symbols appear in my dreams? Are there any patterns I can identify?
What is a book or movie that always puts me in a good mood, and why?
What is something I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? How might I make that happen?
What is one thing I can’t live without?
What is one funny story about my life that I don’t mind sharing with other people?
If I could be any fictional character, who would I choose and why?
What is the most outrageous outfit or costume I’ve ever worn? Where did I wear it, and how did I feel?
What are three skills or areas of knowledge I would like to develop in the next year?
What resources or support can I seek out to help me achieve my goals?
What are three things I am grateful for today?
Who are three people in my life that I am grateful for, and why?
What is something in my life that I feel “lucky” to have?
What is a simple delight I have been enjoying lately?
What is something I am grateful to have learned recently?
In what ways have I grown as a person over the last year?
How can I reframe my mindset to view failure as a natural part of the learning process, and use it as an opportunity for growth?
What are some of my limiting beliefs and self-talk that may be holding me back?
How can I strive for progress, rather than perfection, in my personal and professional life?
How did I spend my free time as a child? What games did I play? What books did I read?
What did I enjoy most about school? Did I have a favorite subject or teacher?
Where do I usually find inspiration?
Who is someone that inspires me, and what qualities do they possess that I admire?
What is one book or movie that has inspired me, and why?
What is one creative project that I’ve been wanting to work on, and what steps can I take to get started?
When was the last time I felt completely in awe of something, and what was it that inspired that feeling?
What are my intentions for the day?
What is my biggest “why” (the deeper purpose or motivation behind my intentions)?
What are some external factors that could impact my ability to focus on my intentions, and how can I plan ahead to address them?
What does happiness mean to me? What can I do to cultivate more happiness and contentment in my life?
What decisions am I facing right now?
What are the most important relationships in my life? How can I strengthen them?
In general, how do I feel about how my life is going right now?
What are some areas of my life where I am currently stuck or feeling stagnant? What steps can I take to move forward and make progress in those areas?
What themes, patterns, or symbols have I noticed in my life lately?
How do I usually handle my emotions and feelings? Are there any emotions that I tend to avoid or suppress?
What is one of my earliest childhood memories?
What were some of the major milestones or accomplishments I achieved in my life? How did they make me feel?
What were some of the most challenging or transformative experiences I’ve had in my life? How have they shaped my perspective or values?
How can I reframe my fear? Is there a way to look at the situation or issue differently?
If my mind is like the ocean right now, what is the water like? What thoughts are running through my mind right now, and how can I acknowledge them without getting caught up in them?
What are three things I’m looking forward to in the next hour, and how can I stay present and open to experiencing them fully?
Who can I reach out to for support today?
What is one thing I can do today to help someone else?
Who do I trust most? Why?
How do I show compassion to others? How can I extend that same compassion to myself?
What do I appreciate most about my personality? What aspects do I find harder to accept?
Explore an opinion or two that you held in the past but have since questioned or changed. What led you to change that opinion?
Describe one or two significant life events that helped shape you into who you are today.
What is your relationship with social media? Does it impact you in a positive way, or does it leave you feeling drained?
What is one area of my life that could use more organization? How can I improve it?
What is one relationship in my life that could use more attention or nurturing? How can I improve it?
What is one thing I can do to step outside of your comfort zone today/this week/month/year?
Again, check out the rest of the prompts here. There’s sci-fi, horror, poetry, romance, and more! Thanks for your time.
Softly yours,
Auzin
I had to go back and retroactively comment now that I made a substack account but I want you to know that I have been using these prompts, so thank you!!!!!
So sorry to hear your car was stolen, Auzin 😞