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Money Journal Prompts

money journal prompts

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Explore our selection of money journal prompts to improve your financial mindfulness. Our creative and practical ideas will help you track spending, set savings goals, and cultivate a healthier relationship with money.

Starting a money journaling habit can be an enlightening endeavor. It’s a reflective time to sort out your financial thoughts, align your fiscal objectives, and foster a mindful approach towards financial wellness.

In this article, we’ll be sharing a plethora of money journal prompts to jumpstart your writing journey. Whether you’re looking to understand your spending habits, set financial goals, or simply enjoy the cathartic process of putting pen to paper, our carefully compiled list of prompts will guide you.

So, get your journal, find a comfortable spot, and let’s embark on this journey of financial introspection and responsible money management together. 🤗

Financial Goals Journaling

Financial Goals Journaling enables us to envision, strategize, and track progress towards achieving our monetary objectives, laying the foundation for financial wellness. Here are 20 prompts to kick-start your financial goals journaling journey:

  • Define your short-term financial goals and describe the steps required for each.
  • What is one long-term financial goal you have and why is it important?
  • Reflect on a financial mistake you've made. What did you learn?
  • How can you cut down your daily expenses to save money?
  • Write a letter to your future self with the financial stability you aspire to have.
  • How can you increase your income-earning potential?
  • How do you envision your life if you achieve your current financial goals?
  • Describe the steps you plan to take to reduce debt or stay debt-free.
  • What does financial freedom mean to you?
  • Describe how achieving your financial goals will impact your lifestyle.
  • How can you make your money work for you (e.g., investments, businesses)?
  • Write about a financial fear you have. How can you overcome it?
  • How does your budget align with your financial goals?
  • Reflect on your spending habits. How can they be improved?
  • List three unnecessary expenses you can eliminate.
  • Write about a time you made a smart financial decision. How can you replicate this success?
  • What financial knowledge or skills do you need to learn or improve?
  • How can your financial goals better align with your personal values?
  • If you hit a financial jackpot tomorrow, how would you manage it?
  • What steps can you take today to take you closer to your financial goals?

Money Mindset Exploration

Exploring your money mindset through journaling allows deep introspection of your attitudes and beliefs towards finance, and aids in forming positive financial behaviors. Here are 20 prompts that can guide you in your exploration of money mindset:

  • Recall your earliest money memory. How has it shaped your current perspective?
  • Reflect on a time you made a financial decision based on fear.
  • What are your three main financial goals and why are they important to you?
  • Write about a circumstance when money made you feel secure.
  • Describe a situation where money brought stress into your life.
  • List three ways you can improve your current financial situation.
  • Think about the most significant financial mistake you've made. What lesson did you learn from it?
  • What are the three traits you admire in financially successful people?
  • Write a letter to your future self describing your ideal financial situation.
  • Consider your attitudes towards debt. How do these beliefs affect your financial decisions?
  • Reflect on your spending habits, especially impulsive purchases. What triggers these decisions?
  • In what ways does the thought of retirement savings make you feel and why?
  • Write about a moment when you felt proud of a financial decision.
  • List three habits you can develop to become more financially responsible.
  • How do your current spending habits align with your values and long-term goals?
  • Write about a time where you had to sacrifice something for a financial reason.
  • What steps would you take if you received a large amount of money unexpectedly?
  • Consider your financial upbringing. In what ways has it influenced your approach to money management?
  • What are the three most important financial lessons you would like to pass on to the next generation?

Debt-reflection Prompts

Debt-Reflection Prompts support understanding and managing your finances better by providing a guided introspection on your debt-related actions and choices. Here are 20 writing prompts to aid this self-exploration.

  • Reflect on the moment you realized you were in significant debt. What were your initial thoughts and feelings?
  • Write about the biggest challenge you face when paying off your debts.
  • Describe the changes in your lifestyle you've had to make due to your current debt.
  • What steps are you taking to ensure you don't accumulate more debt?
  • Pen down your feelings when you make a major repayment towards your debt.
  • Write about an instance where you had the opportunity to go into debt but chose not to.
  • List three habits that you believe led to your current financial standing.
  • Describe a time when you successfully paid off a debt. How did it make you feel?
  • Are there any debts that cause you particular stress? Explain why.
  • Explore how your life would look like if you were debt-free today.
  • How has having debt affected relationships in your life?
  • If you could change one financial decision that resulted in debt, what would that be and why?
  • Write a letter to your future self about the lessons you have learned from being in debt.
  • Record any recurrent thoughts you have about your debt.
  • Expound on any fears you may have about paying off your debt.
  • What sacrifices have been forced upon you in your journey towards being debt-free?
  • Reflect on any debt you have recently cleared. List down your learnings from it.
  • Describe your progress towards being debt-free from a year ago.
  • Write about your key takeaways from your financial struggles.
  • Finally, envision and describe your life post being debt-free. What steps are you willing to take to make it a reality?

Budgeting Thoughts

Budgeting thoughts through journaling can help you better appreciate your income, expenses, and financial goals, creating more awareness and control over your money. Below are 20 writing prompts about Budgeting Thoughts:

  • How would you describe your current financial situation in three words?
  • Write about your biggest financial worry. Why does it trouble you?
  • Describe your perfect financial picture five years from now.
  • List three things you can cut back on to save money.
  • Write about a time when you had to stretch your budget. How did it feel?
  • Reflect on your last major purchase. Was it worth the investment?
  • Think about a financial goal you achieved recently. How did you make it happen?
  • Jot down five ways you can increase your income.
  • Write a letter to your future self about your current financial hopes.
  • Reflect on a time when you experienced financial hardship. What lessons did you learn?
  • List three financial habits you want to change. Why are they important?
  • Define what financial freedom means to you.
  • Recall a memorable experience that didn't cost you anything.
  • Write about your financial role models and what you have learned from them.
  • If money was not an issue, what would you do differently today?
  • Reflect on how your upbringing influences your attitude towards money.
  • If you had an extra $1000, how would you budget it?
  • Describe a time when you felt satisfied with your financial situation.
  • Identify three things you are saving up for and why they matter.
  • Write down your top three strategies for sticking to your budget.

Saving Inspiration

Saving Inspiration through journaling allows us to generate effective money-saving strategies and encourages financial discipline. Here are 20 writing prompts aimed at sparking your Saving Inspiration:

  • Recollect a situation where you saved money effectively. What strategies did you use?
  • Write about a financial goal you wish to achieve. How much do you need to save for it?
  • Imagine a situation where your savings bailed you out. What happened and how did it make you feel?
  • List three money-saving methods you can implement this week.
  • Think about an unnecessary expense you can reduce or eliminate. Write a plan for how you'll achieve this.
  • Reflect on your most satisfying saving accomplishment. What made it so rewarding?
  • Recall a moment where you resisted an impulsive purchase. What helped you stay disciplined?
  • Write about a cost-efficient alternative you found for a typically expensive item or activity.
  • Detail a financial mistake you made, and how you can avoid it in the future.
  • Imagine an ideal financial situation. What saving habits contributed to this?
  • Identify an area of spending where you can work on saving more money.
  • Write about a person who inspires your saving habits. What can you learn from them?
  • Detail five things you can do to cut costs in your daily life.
  • Write about a financial risk that you avoided. What potential savings did that decision protect?
  • Reflect on your long-term financial goals. How does saving help you achieve these?
  • Identify a saving habit you want to develop. What are the benefits of this habit?
  • Remember a time when you effectively used a budget. What made it successful?
  • Write about how saving money makes you feel. Does it give you a sense of security or achievement?
  • Come up with a fun and creative saving challenge for the next month.
  • Reflect on your most important reason for saving money. How does it drive your behavior?

Spending Habits Reflection

Spending Habits Reflection through journaling prompts can spark valuable insights about our relationship with money, guiding us to make more mindful financial decisions. Here are 20 prompts to help you dive deep into the inner workings of your spending habits:

  • Consider the last non-essential item you purchased. What was your motivation behind buying it?
  • Reflect on a time when you consciously decided not to buy something. What influenced your decision?
  • Write about a purchase that brought you lasting joy. Why do you think it had this effect?
  • Describe an instance where you regretted making a purchase. What lessons did you learn?
  • Identify three unnecessary expenses you could cut from your budget today.
  • Think about a time where impulse buying got the best of you. What triggered this behavior?
  • Write about the emotions that arise when you think about spending money.
  • Evaluate the role of social influence in your spending habits. How can you manage this?
  • Consider how your childhood experiences around money affect your current spending habits.
  • Reflect on your last big-ticket purchase. Do you feel it was worth the price?
  • Write about a time when you made a purchase under pressure.
  • Describe a scenario where you deferred a purchase, and it turned out to be the right decision.
  • List ways you could improve your purchasing decisions.
  • Think about a time you prioritized saving over spending. How did it make you feel?
  • Reflect on how your values align (or mismatch) with your spending habits.
  • Write about your beliefs around money and spending.
  • Consider the role of stress in your spending habits.
  • Think about how your spending habits have changed over time.
  • Reflect on the impact of your spending habits on your longer-term financial goals.
  • Write about how curbing unnecessary spending could improve your overall wellbeing.

Investment Journaling

Investment journaling can open doors to personal financial growth by documenting, analyzing and reflecting upon your decision-making process and investment outcomes. Here are 20 prompts to help kick-start your investment journaling habit:

  • Write about the reasons behind your most recent investment. What led you to make this decision?
  • List five lessons you've learned from your worst investment so far.
  • Describe an investment that performed better than you expected. What surprised you?
  • Record the steps you took to research a recent investment. Was it worth the time and effort?
  • Document your investment goals for the coming year.
  • Think of an investor you admire. What qualities of theirs would you like to emulate?
  • Reflect on a time you allowed fear or greed to influence an investment decision. What happened?
  • Write about your long-term investment strategy.
  • If you could go back in time, what investment decision would you change and why?
  • How have your investment strategies evolved over time?
  • Diagram the risk and reward balance of your current investment portfolio. Are you happy with it?
  • Write a short piece on how the latest news might impact your investments.
  • Track your emotional state during a period of market volatility. How did your emotions affect your decisions?
  • Imagine teaching someone about investing. What are the three most important points you would discuss?
  • Analyze a successful investment decision. What made it a success?
  • Document an investment you decided against. Explain your reasons.
  • List the strengths and weaknesses of your current investment portfolio.
  • Reflect on a time when external advice influenced your investment decision. Was the outcome positive or negative?
  • Describe a situation where you took a large investment risk. Was it worth it?
  • Think about diversification in your portfolio. How can you improve it?

Income Planning

Income planning through journaling is a powerful way to gain perspective on your earnings and create a roadmap for financial stability and growth. Below are 20 prompts to help guide your reflections on income planning:

  • Document your current income streams and provide an assessment for each.
  • Explore what new income streams you would like to create in the future.
  • List the steps you need to take to create new income streams.
  • Reflect on a time when your income exceeded your expectations. How did it make you feel and how can you repeat this success?
  • Write about how the stability of your income impacts your overall life and well-being.
  • Evaluate your reliance on your primary source of income. How can you diversify your income streams?
  • Write about the highest-paying job you’ve ever had. Will you strive to find similar positions?
  • List five things you could do this week to increase your income.
  • Describe your ideal income status in five years.
  • Study your spending habits. How does this impact your current income planning?
  • Write about your financial goals and how they map to your income.
  • Explore any fears about income planning that you may have. Why do they exist and how can you address them?
  • Identify 3 habits that may be negatively impacting your income.
  • Reflect on a time when you had low or no income. How did it influence your current income planning strategies?
  • Document your biggest income win so far this year.
  • Imagine you got a raise today. What would you do with the extra income?
  • Analyze the role of passive income in your overall financial plan.
  • Write about what financial independence means to you and how income planning plays a role.
  • Reflect on how your upbringing has shaped your attitude towards income planning.
  • Think about what financial stability looks like for you. What income level would you need to feel stable and secure?

Retirement Future

Regulating your finances concerning your Retirement Future through journaling not only provides clarity and focus, but also encourages effective planning and preparation. Here are some writing prompts to guide you in meditating on your Retirement Future:

  • Write down your vision of a perfect retirement. What does it involve?
  • How much money do you think you'll need when you retire?
  • What financial habits are you practicing currently towards achieving your retirement goals?
  • Pen down three steps you're going to take this year to help you prepare for your retirement.
  • How is your current lifestyle influencing your retirement savings?
  • Consider a recent financial decision you made that impacts your retirement. What would you do differently?
  • Enumerate potential sources of retirement income and how you can augment them.
  • What are the challenges you foresee in maintaining your desired lifestyle post retirement?
  • How are you planning to factor in medical expenses into your retirement funds?
  • Describe the learning resources or tools you're using towards understanding retirement planning better.
  • Write about how you will deal with the financial risks that might occur during your retirement.
  • How are your retirement savings isolated from your daily life expenses?
  • If planning your retirement was a journey, what milestones have you achieved so far?
  • What plans do you have to reduce or eliminate your debt before retirement?
  • Pen down how you foresee inflation affecting your retirement funds.
  • How confident are you with your current retirement planning strategies?
  • Reflect on the financial changes you are willing to make to ensure a comfortable retirement.
  • Elucidate on the role of your family in your retirement planning.
  • Draft a letter to your future retired self about your financial hopes.
  • Identify three things you would want to leave behind as inheritance and how you plan to achieve that.

Financial Anxiety Conquering

Conquering financial anxiety involves understanding and managing your emotional response to money; journaling is a perfect tool for this. Below are 20 prompts that may guide you in tackling your financial worries:

  • Write about a financial decision that you are proud of making. What led to this decision?
  • Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed financially. How did you cope?
  • List three habits that you believe contribute to your financial stress. How can you change them?
  • Reflect on your biggest fear about money. Why do you think you have this fear?
  • Envision your life without financial worries. What does it look like?
  • Describe a situation where you overspent. How did it make you feel and what have you learned?
  • Write a letter to your future self outlining your current financial goals.
  • What is a financial habit you admire in someone else? Why and how can you adopt this habit?
  • Reflect on a past financial mistake. What did you learn from it?
  • Plan a budget for the next month. What are you allocating for necessary expenses, savings, and leisure?
  • List 5 things that you can do today to ease your financial anxiety.
  • What would financial freedom look like for you? How would you feel?
  • Write about how your life would change if you reached your financial goals.
  • Think about a thing or situation that makes you feel financially insecure. What steps can you take to feel more confident?
  • Reflect on the relationships in your life and how they are affected by your financial situation.
  • List three financial successes you had in the last month. Big or small, how did they make you feel?
  • Think about unexpected expenses. How can you better prepare for them in the future?
  • Envision yourself five years from now, financially. What do you want to achieve?
  • Detail a plan on how you intend to conquer your financial anxiety.
  • Close your eyes and think about your stressors, financial and otherwise. Write a letter of encouragement to yourself.

Charitable Giving

Exploring Charitable Giving through journaling can foster a greater understanding of our financial choices and their potential for helping others. Here are 20 journaling prompts to help you dive deeper into your thoughts and feelings about charitable giving:

  • Recall the first time you gave to a charitable cause. What inspired you to donate?
  • Write about a time when you felt compelled to give, but couldn't. Why was that?
  • Reflect on the most rewarding donation you've ever made. What made it so special?
  • Think about a cause that's close to your heart. How could you contribute financially?
  • Imagine you've won a substantial amount of money. How much would you donate and to whom?
  • Explore any resistance you feel around giving charity. What might be the source of this?
  • Describe a person or organization that you admire for its charitable work.
  • How would your life be different if you committed to a regular donation schedule?
  • Write a letter to a future you who is more giving. What advice or encouragement would you give?
  • Consider your budget. What are some ways you could adjust it to allow for more charitable giving?
  • Journal about a time when you regretted a charitable contribution. Why was that?
  • If you could start a charitable organization, what cause would it serve?
  • Do you prefer to give money, time, or talents to charity? Why is that?
  • Reflect on a time when you were on the receiving end of charity. How did that experience influence your view on giving?
  • How does your family's attitude towards charitable giving affect your own?
  • Imagine you could convince a friend to donate to a charity. How would you persuade them?
  • Write about a charitable cause you feel does not get enough attention or funding.
  • Consider the influence of your work on your charitable giving. Does it motivate or limit you?
  • How does it make you feel when you see others giving generously to causes you care about?
  • Reflect on your overall feelings about charitable giving. Are you mostly positive, negative or neutral? Why is this so?

Financial Independence Journey

Exploring your journey to financial independence through journaling can help you understand your spending habits, savings aspirations, and overall financial goals more deeply. Here are 20 money journal prompts about your financial independence journey:

  • Write about what financial independence means to you personally.
  • Reflect on a time when your financial decision led to a positive outcome.
  • Outline your long-term financial goals and explain why you have chosen them.
  • Describe a financial mistake you have made, and what you learned from it.
  • Detail three changes that you can make today for a better financial future.
  • Write a letter to your future self, discussing your financial aspirations.
  • Analyze your current spending habits and how they align with your financial goals.
  • Narrate a moment when you felt financially independent and confident.
  • Expound on a financial habit you wish to change and plan how to do it.
  • Write about a personal finance book, course, or seminar that influenced your financial thinking.
  • Describe your ideal lifestyle when you achieve financial independence.
  • List down five steps to lower your expenses and increase your savings.
  • Write about a time when you had to prioritize your spending. How did you decide what was more important?
  • Reflect on how your upbringing influenced your perspectives on money and wealth.
  • Narrate a scenario where you saw the impact of financial planning in real life.
  • Define what a financially secure future looks like for you.
  • Come up with a milestone reward system for each of your financial goals achieved.
  • Describe how you felt when you made your biggest financial investment.
  • Outline how you plan to increase your income to expedite your financial independence.
  • Write about how financial independence can improve your overall quality of life.

Wealth Distribution

Diving deep into the topic of Wealth Distribution through journaling can lead us to gain a clearer understanding of our financial attitudes, perceptions, and strategic planning for future wealth. Here are 20 journal prompts to inspire your reflections on Wealth Distribution:

  • Reflect on your current understanding of wealth distribution. How does it influence your financial decisions?
  • Write about the most significant income shift you've experienced. How did that change your lifestyle or financial habits?
  • Describe your ideal wealth distribution. How is it different from your current financial situation?
  • List three actions you could take in the next month to work toward a more balanced wealth distribution.
  • Imagine you've received an unexpected windfall. How would you distribute this wealth?
  • Consider times when you've felt financially secure. Did wealth distribution play a role in your sense of security?
  • Reflect on the way wealth was distributed in your family growing up. How has that influenced your financial habits?
  • How would you distribute your wealth if you had no financial constraints whatsoever?
  • Write a letter to your future self, expressing your hopes and plans for wealth distribution.
  • Jot down your feelings about wealth disparity on a global scale. How does it impact your personal views on wealth?
  • Write about a moment when you felt the impact of uneven wealth distribution.
  • List three changes that could improve wealth distribution in your community.
  • How does your wealth distribution align with your personal values?
  • Explain the role of charity or philanthropy in your approach to wealth distribution.
  • How would you educate a child about the concept of wealth distribution?
  • Consider any fears or anxieties surrounding wealth distribution – how could you address them?
  • Explore your beliefs on the balance between wealth accumulation and distribution.
  • Are there any areas in your life you think are excessively or insufficiently funded? How would you adjust this?
  • Journal about how your perception or understanding of wealth distribution has changed over the years.
  • What are your hopes for wealth distribution in the future? How can you turn these hopes into an action plan?

Entrepreneurial Venture Reflections

Entrepreneurial Venture Reflections enables us to understand and process the financial aspects of our business ventures, providing insights for growth and improvement. Here are 20 prompts you can use to facilitate this reflection process in your money journal:

  • Write about your most successful entrepreneurial venture. What was the key to its success?
  • Reflect on a venture that didn't go as planned. What lessons did you learn from the experience?
  • Think about a risk you took in your business. What was the outcome?
  • Imagine your business five years from now. What financial accomplishments do you see?
  • Journal about the most difficult financial decision you had to make for your business and its impact.
  • Describe an idea you have for a new venture. What are the potential financial outcomes?
  • List three financial goals for your business for the coming year.
  • Write about a time when you had to pivot your business strategy for financial reasons.
  • Reflect on a financial mistake you made in your entrepreneurial journey. How did you rectify it?
  • Think about your pricing strategy. Is there anything you would like to change?
  • Describe a situation where you had to negotiate a business deal. What was the result?
  • Consider three different ways you could increase your income through your business.
  • Reflect on your biggest financial worry related to your business right now.
  • Journal about your financial expectations when you started the venture versus the reality now.
  • Write about a financial victory that made you proud.
  • Think about an entrepreneur you admire. What financial decisions they made that you can learn from?
  • Describe the worst financial advise you've received regarding your entrepreneurship journey.
  • Reflect on the biggest financial challenge in maintaining a sustainable business.
  • Consider a time when you had to make a difficult budgeting decision in your business.
  • Write about any financial aspect of your business that you would like to improve or change.

Cost Of Living Assessment

Assessing your cost of living through journaling can provide valuable insights into your spending habits and living standards, allowing for thoughtful consideration and potential adjustments to your lifestyle. Here are 20 prompts to help you to reflect on your cost of living:

  • Break down your monthly expenses. What are your biggest costs?
  • Reflect on your last significant purchase. Was it a want or a need?
  • Write about a time you had to adjust your lifestyle due to financial constraints.
  • Describe a recent situation when you made a decision based on cost, rather than desire or need.
  • Reflect on one way you could decrease your monthly utility bills.
  • Imagine lifestyle changes you could make if you moved to a place with lower cost of living.
  • Identify three non-essential items you regularly spend money on.
  • Write about how you can reduce your grocery bills without compromising nutrition.
  • Reflect on how the cost of living affects your ability to save money.
  • Assess the financial impact of daily habits, like buying coffee or lunches out.
  • Write about a lifestyle change you could make to reduce transportation costs.
  • Reflect on what quality of life means to you and how it relates to your living costs.
  • Write about how your current housing costs align with your income.
  • Identify one area where you could cut costs to invest in something meaningful to you.
  • Reflect on how changes in your income would impact your living standards.
  • Write about an area in your spending habits where you'd like to improve.
  • Identify one cost you don’t mind splurging on and why it’s worth it.
  • Reflect on how you budget for unexpected experiences and emergencies.
  • Write about how financial stress impacts your overall well-being.
  • Reflect on the balance between your income, cost of living and desired lifestyle.

Manifesting Abundance

Manifesting abundance through journaling encourages an optimistic perspective towards wealth and prosperity, instilling the belief that financial success is reachable. Here are 20 prompts to assist you in manifesting financial abundance in your daily journal routine:

  • Visualize your perfect day if money was not a factor. Describe it in as much detail as possible.
  • Recall a past financial win – a high-paying job, a profitable investment. What did that moment feel like?
  • List five things you'll do once you've manifested the financial abundance you desire.
  • Write down five ways you can give back to the community once you achieve financial success.
  • Envision having unlimited resources. What would you change about your lifestyle?
  • List three traits you admire about individuals who've achieved financial success. How can you embody these traits?
  • Reflect on a time when you faced financial struggle. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn?
  • Imagine being financially secure – how does that security make you feel?
  • Write a letter to money, express your feelings towards it and your plans for it in your life.
  • Note down five habits you aim to develop to attract financial success.
  • Write an affirmation for wealth that you can look at daily.
  • Describe a financial mistake you made – what did it teach you?
  • Create a vivid description of your dream home, car, or vacation, keeping no financial limitations in mind.
  • Describe an experience where you felt truly abundant – it doesn't have to be finance-related.
  • Craft your 'money mantra' that you can repeat daily for attracting wealth.
  • List five ways you can create multiple income streams.
  • Write about how you will feel when you achieve your financial goal.
  • Reflect on a financial decision that positively impacted your life and why.
  • Write a thank you letter for all the abundance already present in your life.
  • Document a step-by-step action plan for achieving a specific financial goal.

Money Management Skills

Fostering money management skills through journaling can empower people to gain control over their financial situations and create the monetary future they desire. Here are 20 prompts focused on enhancing your money management skills:

  • Reflect on your current financial status. How do you feel about it?
  • Describe your ultimate financial goal. How will your life change when you achieve it?
  • Write a list of all your income sources. Are there any opportunities to increase your income?
  • Identify your essential and non-essential expenses. In what areas can you reduce expenditure?
  • Think about a big purchase you made in the past. Do you regret it or do you believe it was a good investment?
  • Write about your dream holiday. How much would it cost and how can you afford it?
  • Examine your relationship with money. Has it changed over the years?
  • Note down your biggest financial fear. What steps can you take to conquer this fear?
  • Write down your most successful financial decision. What encouraged you to make this decision?
  • Think about a time you gave money to a cause you believe in. How did that make you feel?
  • Visualize and describe your life five years from now. How does your financial scenario look?
  • Considering your current spending habits, where do you foresee your finances in one year?
  • List three financial habits you wish to develop this year.
  • Write about a financial advice that had a significant impact on you. Why did it resonate with you?
  • Discuss a financial mistake you made. What did you learn from it?
  • Envision paying off a significant debt. How does that make you feel?
  • Consider your lifestyle. Are there any changes you can make to better manage your money?
  • Jot down your financial priorities for the next month. How will you achieve them?
  • Reflect on your saving habits. How can you improve them?
  • Write about your ideal retirement. How are you financially preparing for it?

Emergency Fund Planning

Emergency Fund Planning via money journal prompts allow us to become more intentional about saving for unforeseen costs and achieving financial stability. Here are 20 prompts to guide you in building, maintaining, and utilizing your emergency fund:

  • Enumerate the reasons why you believe having an emergency fund is necessary.
  • Write down three situations where an emergency fund could help you.
  • In the event of a financial crisis, how much do you think you will need in your emergency fund?
  • List down five sacrifices or adjustments you can make to contribute to your emergency fund.
  • Reflect on what your current saving habits are and how you can improve them for your emergency fund.
  • Write about any fears or concerns you may have about starting an emergency fund.
  • Set a realistic goal for your emergency fund for the next six months.
  • Describe how you feel about using your emergency fund when necessary.
  • Track your progress over the past month towards your emergency fund goal.
  • Write about any setbacks in your emergency fund planning and how you can overcome them.
  • Envision how your life would be different with a fully funded emergency savings.
  • List three habits that hinder your capacity to save and how you can change them.
  • Reflect on any past experiences where an emergency fund would have helped.
  • How do you intend to keep yourself motivated in reaching your emergency fund goal?
  • Write a letter to your future self describing the peace of mind having an emergency fund brings.
  • Describe the steps you took this week to move closer to your emergency fund goal.
  • Reflect on how your feelings towards emergency fund planning have evolved over time.
  • Note any helpful resources or tools you've found useful in your emergency fund planning.
  • List down any personal rules you have about when to use the emergency fund.
  • Write about how you plan to replenish the fund if you ever needed to use it.

Financial Success Visualization

Through visualization of financial success within journaling, we are able to manifest our goals and ambitions more concretely, providing a clear path towards achieving them. Here are 20 prompts to guide you in this technique within your money journaling journey:

  • List three financial goals that you'd like to achieve within the next few years.
  • Describe how achieving these goals would improve your life.
  • Visualize how you'll celebrate once you reach your primary financial goal.
  • Describe how you feel now and compare it to how you'll feel when you achieve financial stability.
  • Visualize where you'll be living once you've obtained financial success. Describe it in detail.
  • Write about who you could help or what philanthropic efforts you could support once you achieve your financial goals.
  • Describe your ideal working condition after achieving your financial goals.
  • Reflect on what habits or routines you might need to change to reach your financial goals.
  • Imagine you're budgeting your future successful financial life. What does it look like?
  • Picture your stress levels regarding finances five years from now after achieving success. Write about what has changed.
  • Reflect on your financial education journey so far and how its leading towards success.
  • Outline the steps you plan to take in the next six months to reach your financial goals.
  • Describe how your regular day would look like after achieving financial success.
  • Imagine a conversation with a close friend or family member after you have achieved your financial goals. What would you say?
  • Visualize your dream vacation that you'd take after financial success.
  • Write a letter to your future self, the one who has achieved all the financial goals.
  • Reflect on how achieving your financial goals is going to influence your overall happiness and lifestyle.
  • Picture yourself retiring comfortably because of your financial success.
  • Visualize your life without any debt. How does this change your daily routine?
  • Describe how you would feel knowing that you have a secure financial future for yourself and your family.

Impulse Spending Control

Managing impulse spending through journaling empowers us to critically assess our spending habits, find areas to improve, and rectify them. Below are 20 writing prompts to aid you in mastering impulse spending control:

  • Recall a recent purchase that was made impulsively, why do you think it happened?
  • Write about the feelings you experience before making an impulse purchase, and how you feel afterwards.
  • Describe the ideal relationship you wish to have with money.
  • List out three strategies you can use to control your impulse spending.
  • Reflect on the consequences of your impulse purchases. How has it affected your overall financial situation?
  • Think about a time when you resisted an impulse buy. How did you manage to do so?
  • Write a letter to yourself explaining the importance of disciplined spending.
  • Document your most frequently purchased impulse items.
  • Think about the triggers that lead to impulse purchases. Are there patterns?
  • List five ways you can use your money instead of making an impulse purchase.
  • Write a scenario of a successful shopping trip without any impulse purchases.
  • Reflect on your values and goals. How does impulse buying affect them?
  • Review your last month’s expenses and identify any impulse purchases.
  • Imagine your life in a year if you continue making impulse purchases. What do you see?
  • Dedicate one entry to describing the worst impulse buy you've ever made.
  • Consider your budget. What could you afford if you reduced your impulse spending by half?
  • Create a list of “questions to ask yourself” before every purchase to avoid impulse buying.
  • Reflect on the connection between your emotions and your impulse purchases.
  • Write about how your life would change if you had total control over your impulse spending.
  • Set achievable financial goals for yourself for the next month, keeping in mind the need to control impulse spending.

Deconstructing Money Myths

Deconstructing Money Myths through journaling allows us to challenge and reevaluate our inherent beliefs about money that may inhibit us from achieving financial success. Here are 20 prompts to guide you in dispelling common misconceptions about money:

  • Write about a money myth that you were taught growing up. How has it affected your financial decisions?
  • Reflect on whether you believe that "Money can't buy happiness." Why or why not?
  • Do you think "Money is the root of all evil?" Journal about instances that support or negate this perspective.
  • Discuss your thoughts on "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." Is this always the case?
  • List down five common misconceptions about investing and challenge them with knowledge you've gained.
  • Write about your belief in the saying "You need money to make money." How does this impact your financial choices?
  • Explore the myth "Once I have X amount of money, I'll be happy."
  • Reflect on the idea "Time is money." Is time always equivalent to money for you?
  • Discuss the belief "There is not enough money to go around." How has it influenced your perception of wealth?
  • Write about "More money, More problems." Are these problems inevitable with wealth accumulation?
  • Evaluate your agreement with "Money changes people." Does it always happen?
  • Journal about how the belief "Money can't purchase love" affects your relationships.
  • Reflect on how much truth you think there is in "Poverty is a virtue."
  • Write about the story that "Middle-class people can't become millionaires." Is it accurate?
  • Elaborate on the belief "Wealthy people are greedy." Give examples to support or refute this.
  • Reflect on "It takes a lot of risk to earn a lot of money." Is it always true?
  • Does "Hard work equals more money" resonate with you? Why or why not?
  • Write about "Money brings security." Is it the only foundation for safety?
  • Journal about the phrase "Money talks." How does it influence your connections or dealings with others?
  • Explore the belief "Money can ruin relationships." Is money the real culprit or the handling of it?

Financial Mistakes Analysis

Analyzing financial mistakes in your money journal can provide essential insights into your spending habits and aid you in making informed decisions regarding money management. Here are 20 prompts to aid you in analyzing financial mistakes:

  • Reflect on a financial decision you regret making. Why do you think it was a mistake?
  • Write about an investment that didn't pan out as expected. What lessons did you learn?
  • Describe a situation when you overspent. What were the consequences?
  • Identify three ways you could have avoided a financial mistake you made in the past.
  • Consider a time when you failed to save for an important goal. What could you have done differently?
  • Write about a moment you purchased something on impulse. What triggered this decision?
  • Examine a time when you did not track your expenses. What were the ramifications?
  • Reflect on a financial risk you took that didn't pay off. What can you learn from this?
  • Think about a budget you failed to follow. What led to this failure?
  • Describe a time when you ignored financial advice. How did it impact you financially?
  • Analyze a habit that leads to frequent financial blunders. What solutions can you think of?
  • Discuss a time when you didn't plan for financial emergencies. What were the outcomes?
  • Record a financial mistake that led to significant debt. How can you prevent this in the future?
  • Think about a time when you chose a quick money-making scheme. Was it beneficial in the end?
  • Reflect on a moment when you took on unnecessary financial responsibilities.
  • Write about a time when you didn't diversify your investment portfolio. What was the effect?
  • Discuss a point in your life when you lived beyond your means. What steps can you make to avoid this?
  • Recall a financial mistake you repeated. Why did this recur and how can you rectify it?
  • Reflect on a time when you didn't prioritize paying off high-interest debt. What can you do differently?
  • Write about a time when you ignored long-term financial planning. How can you improve on this?

Financial Gratitude Exercise

Financial Gratitude Exercise is a nurturing act of acknowledging and appreciating the financial aspects of your life through journaling. Below are 20 prompts to guide you in practicing financial thankfulness in your money journaling routine:

  • Write about a recent financial victory, no matter how small.
  • List three things you were able to purchase this month that you are grateful for.
  • Reflect on a time when you were financially challenged and overcame it.
  • How does financial stability make you feel and why?
  • Reflect on the work you do and how it contributes to your financial well-being.
  • Describe a purchase that significantly improved your quality of life.
  • Write a thank-you letter to yourself for making smart financial decisions.
  • Recall a moment when you felt truly satisfied with what you have.
  • Write about a time when you generously helped someone with your own money.
  • Look around you and list five objects that exist in your life because of your financial capacity.
  • Think about your financial journey. What are you most proud of?
  • Describe a financial decision that led to unexpected joy or benefit.
  • Write about a money-related fear you overcame.
  • List three financial habits you are grateful for developing.
  • Reflect on the biggest financial lesson you’ve learnt and how it has improved your life.
  • Describe a financial goal you achieved and how it made you feel.
  • Write about an instance where you were grateful for a financial safety net or backup plan.
  • List things you could afford this week that contributed to your happiness or well-being.
  • Think about a gift you bought for someone which brought you joy.
  • Lastly, write a note of financial gratitude to yourself for where you stand today and what you aim for tomorrow.

Frugal Living Thoughts

Frugal Living Thoughts through journaling allows us to explore ways we can better save and manage our finances, enhancing our understanding of our spending patterns and potential savings. Below are 20 journal prompts focused on Frugal Living Thoughts:

  • Identify a recent purchase that you could have avoided. How could you prevent such spending next time?
  • Write about an instance when you felt proud of your frugal decision. What made it successful?
  • Consider a habit that leads you to overspend. How can you modify it to save money?
  • List three cost-saving alternatives to your biggest regular expense.
  • Visualize your financial state one year from now if you live more frugally. What changes do you see?
  • Detail a self-care activity that is inexpensive yet effective.
  • Write about someone who lives frugally and inspires you. What can you learn from them?
  • Think of a service or subscription you can do without. Why is it unnecessary?
  • Describe ways you can make your favorite meal cheaper.
  • Imagine a no-spend day. What activities would you do?
  • Identify a thrifty swap for a luxury you enjoy.
  • Consider an area in your life where sporadic spending occurs. How can you change it to a planned expense?
  • Write about a resource you can use to learn more about frugal living.
  • Picture your life with fewer material possessions. How does it look and feel?
  • Identify a regular purchase. How can you DIY it to save money?
  • Think about an upcoming event or holiday. How can you celebrate it frugally?
  • Describe a technique you can use to curb impulse buying.
  • Write about a purchase you regretted. What frugal alternative could have been used instead?
  • Identify three small, daily changes you can implement for a more frugal lifestyle.
  • Write a letter to your future self highlighting your commitment to frugal living and the benefits you hope to reap.

Money And Happiness Correlation

Understanding the correlation between money and happiness can inform us about how wealth impacts our mental and emotional well-being. Here are 20 journal prompts to instigate thought and discussion on this correlation:

  • How does your current financial situation contribute to your overall happiness?
  • Write about a time when you felt financially secure. How did that impact your happiness?
  • Has there ever been a moment where an increase in money led to a decrease in happiness? Describe it.
  • In what ways does money bring happiness into your life?
  • Think about a time when you had less money. Did this deficit affect your joy and contentment?
  • Write a letter to your future self, narrating your current thoughts about the relationship between money and happiness.
  • Describe a situation where you chose happiness over money. Have you ever regretted this decision?
  • Can you envision a form of happiness that cannot be purchased with money?
  • Has money ever created stress or unhappiness in your life? How did you cope with it?
  • Debate whether money can buy happiness in your opinion. Support your stance with personal experiences.
  • Write about someone you know who seems happy without a lot of money. What could you learn from them?
  • How would you invest money to increase your happiness?
  • Has your perception of the correlation between money and happiness evolved over time? If so, how?
  • What changes can you make now to improve your financial situation and happiness simultaneously?
  • Recall a moment when you felt happiest. Was this moment financed or free?
  • Are there any negative experiences or fears you associate with having more money?
  • If you had unlimited wealth, what activities or things would you buy to increase your happiness?
  • Has there been a situation where you had to sacrifice your happiness for money? Describe it.
  • In what ways might your life change unexpectedly if you suddenly inherited a large sum of money?
  • Reflecting on your past, how has money influenced your life decisions and overall happiness?

Couples Finance Communication Prompts

Couples finance communication prompts serve as a catalyst in sparking constructive conversations and facilitating openness about money matters in relationships. Here are 20 prompts to guide you through this aspect of your money journaling journey:

  • Discuss your first memory of using money. How has it shaped your spending habits?
  • Write about a financial goal you both want to achieve together.
  • Reflect on a financial disagreement you had and how you resolved it.
  • Write down your individual attitudes towards saving. Where do you see similarities and differences?
  • Discuss how your upbringing has influenced your present attitude towards money.
  • List five mutual financial fears and discuss strategies to tackle them.
  • Write about each other's spending habits and discuss how they affect your joint finances.
  • Describe how you feel when you need to discuss important financial matters with your partner.
  • Visualize where you both want to be financially in 5 years and jot down the steps to get there.
  • List three aspects you admire about your partner’s approach to money.
  • Write about a financial blunder you made and what you learned from it.
  • Discuss your perspectives on financial independence within the relationship.
  • Share one financial secret you’ve never discussed before.
  • Discuss your budgeting methodologies and how you can incorporate the best of both.
  • Reflect on a time when money created stress in your relationship and how you managed it.
  • Write about how you feel after making a major joint purchase.
  • Share a financial success story from your relationship.
  • Discuss the role of financial education in your relationship’s growth.
  • Write about a regular expense that you can eliminate or reduce to save more.
  • Share your views on investing for the future and retirement planning.

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Lauraconteuse | Personal growth, self-love & self-care

75 Powerful Journal Prompts for Money Mindset

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Table of Contents

75 money mindset journal prompts you must try

In this post, I’ll be sharing some powerful journal prompts for money mindset that will help you develop a positive and prosperous money mindset.

These money journaling prompts are designed to encourage deep reflection, self-discovery, and personal growth.

By putting pen to paper and honestly exploring your relationship with money, you can uncover hidden beliefs, release limiting thoughts, and make way for a more abundant future.

Our mindset plays a crucial role in how we approach and attract wealth, and by exploring our thoughts and beliefs around money, we can unlock a whole new level of financial abundance.

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This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

15 journal prompts for financial freedom

  • What does it mean to be financially free?
  • How can I save money and reach my financial goals?
  • What are some ways I can earn extra money?
  • How can I make smart choices with my money?
  • How can I create a budget to help me achieve my goals?
  • What steps can I take to spend less and save more?
  • How can I invest my money wisely for the future?
  • What strategies can I use to pay off debt and become financially secure?
  • How can I balance my current needs with my long-term financial goals?
  • What resources or tools can help me learn more about managing my money?
  • How can I develop good habits to support my financial goals?
  • How can I increase my income and explore new opportunities?
  • How can I overcome financial challenges and setbacks?
  • What are some effective strategies for managing my money?
  • How can I align my spending with my values and priorities?

a woman holding coins

15 positive money journal prompts for abundance

  • What are three things I appreciate about my finances right now?
  • How can I cultivate a mindset of gratitude and abundance?
  • How does money contribute to my overall well-being and happiness?
  • How can I use money to create positive experiences and make a difference?
  • How can I celebrate my financial achievements, no matter how small?
  • What opportunities for abundance do I see in my life?
  • How can I give back and support causes I care about , even with limited resources?
  • How does abundance show up in other aspects of my life beyond money?
  • What positive stories or examples of financial success inspire me?
  • How can I attract more opportunities for financial abundance into my life?
  • What affirmations or positive statements can I use to manifest abundance ?
  • How can I surround myself with people who have a positive money mindset?
  • In what ways can I share my financial blessings and make a positive impact?
  • How can I cultivate a sense of abundance even in challenging times?
  • How does having a positive relationship with money enhance my overall well-being?

a woman holding cash

15 shadow work prompts for money manifestation

  • What fears or concerns do I have about money and financial success?
  • How have my past experiences influenced my beliefs and behaviors around money?
  • What limiting beliefs or negative thoughts do I need to let go of to manifest financial abundance?
  • How can I change my perspective from scarcity to abundance when it comes to money?
  • What lessons have I learned from past financial mistakes or setbacks?
  • How can I heal any emotional wounds or traumas related to money?
  • How have my childhood experiences or family beliefs shaped my money mindset?
  • What steps can I take to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors that hinder my financial growth?
  • How can I address any feelings of unworthiness or guilt around money?
  • How can I cultivate trust in my ability to create and manage wealth?
  • What strategies or practices can help me break free from the cycle of scarcity and attract abundance?
  • How can I rewrite my money story and create new positive narratives about wealth and success?
  • What support or resources can I seek to help me in my journey of money manifestation and shadow work?
  • How can I shift from a place of fear to a place of empowerment with money?
  • What actions can I take to embrace a more abundant mindset and align my energy with financial prosperity?

creative writing ideas about money

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15 money mindset questions

  • How do my thoughts about money affect my financial situation?
  • Am I open to receiving and attracting abundance in my life?
  • How can I cultivate a positive and empowering mindset about money?
  • What beliefs or attitudes do I have that may be limiting my financial success?
  • How can gratitude play a role in improving my money mindset?
  • Do I believe that I deserve financial abundance? Why or why not?
  • What positive thoughts and affirmations can I incorporate to enhance my money mindset?
  • How can I develop trust in the universe or a higher power for my financial well-being?
  • What steps can I take to educate myself about personal finance and money management?
  • How can I strike a balance between enjoying money and planning for the future?
  • What are some ways I can expand my wealth consciousness and attract more opportunities?
  • How can I embrace a growth mindset when it comes to my financial journey?
  • What actions can I take to overcome any money-related fears or anxieties ?
  • How can I surround myself with positive influences and role models in terms of my money mindset?
  • What habits or practices can I develop to consistently nurture and improve my money mindset?

guided journals trio

15 personal finance writing prompts for journaling for financial success

  • What are my financial goals for the next year? What steps can I take to achieve them?
  • How can I create a budget that aligns with my goals and helps me manage my money effectively?
  • What are some strategies I can implement to save and invest money for future financial security?
  • How can I expand my knowledge and understanding of personal finance?
  • What are some ways I can analyze my spending habits and identify areas where I can save more?
  • How can I track my expenses and financial progress to stay on top of my money management?
  • What actions can I take to reduce debt and improve my overall financial well-being?
  • How can I plan for long-term financial success and create a roadmap for achieving it?
  • What are some ways I can increase my income and explore new opportunities for financial growth?
  • How can I make informed and confident financial decisions that support my goals?
  • What steps can I take to protect and grow my assets, such as through insurance or investment strategies?
  • How can I develop a healthy relationship with money and align my spending with my values?
  • What are some financial habits I can cultivate to ensure long-term financial success?
  • How can I stay motivated and disciplined while sticking to my financial plans and goals?
  • What financial milestones or achievements am I proud of? How can I build upon them?

a pin that says in a large font journal prompts for money mindset

FAQ: What is a money journal?

So, picture this: your money journal is like a trusty sidekick on your journey to financial growth and self-discovery.

It’s a special notebook that you reserve just for your thoughts, dreams, fears, and desires when it comes to money.

Now, I know you might be wondering, “Why bother with a separate journal for money?” Well, here’s the deal. Your money journal serves a powerful purpose .

It gives you a designated spot to dig deep and explore your relationship with money in a focused way.

It’s your safe space to challenge those pesky limiting beliefs and keep track of how you’re evolving your money mindset.

Writing things down is like having a heart-to-heart chat with yourself. It brings your thoughts and emotions to the surface.

And when it comes to money, journaling lets you question those old beliefs and reframe how you see wealth.

It helps you spot patterns, set goals, and stay accountable on your journey to financial abundance.

Now, listen up! Your money journal doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated. It can be a simple notebook, a decorated journal you’ve been saving, or even a digital document if you prefer that.

The important thing is to have a dedicated space where you can spill your thoughts, reflect on your money mindset, and see how you grow over time.

a bunch of cash

FAQ: How can these journal prompts for money mindset help me?

These prompts are like little treasures that can help you in so many ways. First, they encourage you to reflect on yourself .

You know, those thoughts and beliefs you have about money that shape how you see and attract wealth. By jotting them down, you’ll uncover new things about yourself.

Now, let’s talk about those pesky limiting beliefs. We all have them, right? Those thoughts that hold us back from reaching our full financial potential.

Well, these journal prompts for money mindset help you find and challenge them head-on .

They make you question if they’re really true and help you replace them with empowering thoughts that support your journey to abundance.

Also, these journal prompts for money mindset also help you set goals . They make you think about what financial success means to you personally.

You’ll explore your desires, dreams, and aspirations when it comes to money.

And let me tell you, when you have a clear vision of what you want, it becomes easier to take the steps to make it happen.

And here’s the best part: These prompts keep you on track.

By using them regularly, you can see how your money mindset evolves, how you overcome challenges , and how you celebrate your victories.

It’s like having a personal growth journal that tracks your financial transformation.

a woman holding cash

FAQ: How do I get started with journaling for wealth and financial abundance?

First, find a cozy spot where you can relax and have some quiet time. It could be your favorite chair by the window or a corner in a coffee shop.

Create an inviting environment that sparks your creativity.

Now, grab your journal and a pen. Take a deep breath and let go of any worries or distractions. This is your special time to focus on your financial well-being.

To start, set an intention. Ask yourself why you want to cultivate wealth and financial abundance .

Is it to create a secure future for yourself and your loved ones? Or maybe it’s to pursue your passions without worrying about money.

Having a clear intention will keep you motivated throughout your journaling journey.

Next, let’s explore your current money mindset. Reflect on your beliefs about money and abundance.

What thoughts come to mind? Are there any limiting beliefs holding you back? Write them down honestly.

Then let’s shift gears and focus on gratitude. Take a moment to write down three things you’re grateful for in your current financial situation.

It could be as simple as having a job, supportive friends, or being able to meet your needs.

Practicing gratitude helps shift your focus towards abundance and attracts more blessings into your life .

To improve your journaling practice, try visualization exercises . Close your eyes and imagine your ideal financial future. How does it look? How does it feel?

Capture those details in your journal. Visualization helps create a clear vision of what you’re working towards and boosts your motivation.

Lastly, track your progress. Regularly review your journal entries and reflect on the insights and changes you’ve experienced.

Celebrate your victories, no matter how small, and learn from your challenges. Your journal becomes a personal record of growth, reminding you of how far you’ve come.

Have you used journal prompts for money mindset before?

blog author Laura

I’m a personal growth and self-care expert, as well as an avid motorcycle enthusiast and coffee and sweets lover. Through Lauraconteuse, I provide insightful and practical advice on topics such as self-care, self-love, personal growth, and productivity, drawing from my very own extensive experience and knowledge in the field. My blog has helped countless people achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives, and my goal is to continue to inspire and empower others.

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The Write Practice

Money [writing prompt]

by Joe Bunting | 37 comments

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Write a story or scene involving money.

Write for fifteen minutes . When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section, and if you post, please be sure to leave feedback for a few fellow practitioners.

Happy writing!

Money

Photo by epSos.de (Creative Commons)

Here's my practice:

Who uses cash anymore? For the last five years of my life, money has been numbers on my computer screen that I check occasionally through internet apps which tell me how much is coming in and, more often lately, going out. I can't tell you the last time I had more than $40 in my wallet, except in those unfortunate incidents when some troglodyte business or government agency only accepts cash and I have to make a feverish run to the bank.

And yet, as I sat in that uncomfortable Jersey hotel room chair, staring at the heaping pile of twenty-dollar bills on the stained bedspread, I had to admit, there was something magical about cash money. Perhaps it was the smell, like linen sheets after sex, like a magazine bought off the rack at the airport before your flight to Barbados, like long fields of white cotton spotted with the flannel shirts and grey sweatshirts of laborers and the dirt and the sweat. Or the way it drew all attention to itself, as if two million dollars had a gravity like a planet and could pull objects into elliptical orbit, try to extract your attention and be drawn back around.

creative writing ideas about money

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The 7 Components of a Fail Proof Book Plan

37 Comments

Shelley DuPont

It was Friday. I was in a rush to get home from work, a 30 minute drive. First, I had to go to the bank before it closed, to cash my check. Debit cards weren’t even invented back then. After the cashier handed me the white envelope, I counted my cash and placed it on the seat next to some bills that needed mailing.

Then, I drove to the nearest mailbox. I reached over, grabbed the stack of envelopes, and dumped them into the mailbox chute, and headed home.

I don’t remember when I realized the white envelope was missing, but I do remember the terrible feeling that crept up inside of me. I looked everywhere. Then, I remembered. I must have picked it up with the mail and put it in the mailbox. I was sick. There was really nothing I could do about it. The cash was gone.

I began to pray. Dear Lord, All I can ask is that whoever finds the money really needs it. Amen.

Over the next few days, I repeated this prayer. I found that it calmed me. Soon I forgot about it.

Then, one day, I received an unusual package in the mail. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was my cash, still in the original envelope. I realize the post workers are held to high standards about tampering with anything that comes through the system, but it would have been so easy for anyone to pocket that cash.

To this day, I’ll never forget how God took care of a situation that I had no control of. He loves me enough to take care of me even in my carelessness. What a great Father he is.

Karl Tobar

It’s always great to be reminded that there are good people still out there who will do the right thing.

debra elramey

Shelley, a true story?

Jayce Van Der Linden

My first writing prompt, I never really enjoyed writing in high school, so I never tried and recieved horrible marks.

Here is my attempt at trying.

He handles the money with care as Stephen stacks his $100 bills into piles of $100,000 into his military issue duffle bag.

Stephan a tall dark lanky 24 year old just recieved news that his boss, Murcuio, had been arrested.

“Dammit” Stephan mumbles as he locks his duffle bag at the zipper. “Things were going so well, pulling in $500 gs a week.

Stephen had been running errands for Murcuio.

“Bang” “Bang” there were a series of loud knocks at the door.

Katie Hamer

I like the dialogue, but it’s very difficult to understand the context. I hope you post more of this story. It would be interesting to see how this idea develops.

Jayce, now that you’re not in school, you’re FREE TO WRITE whatever you want. I had a few teachers that made us write for punishment. Little wonder we still want to write at all 😉 Must be a call.

Doron Meir

“Money is no object”, said the tall man. That was redundant. Jim smiled at him, which was in direct contradiction to his growing sense of loathing.

It started with a mild abstracted resentment with the black Maserati that had parked a little too smoothly just outside the shop. The door opened, and a tall, expensively dressed and ridiculously handsome man stepped out. He stood there for a second, looking around as if considering whether he felt like buying the entire street this morning. Then he walked right into the shop.

It was then that Jim started to dislike him in earnest. Something about this person made it look like he owned everything around him; so much so, that Jim suddenly felt like a guest in his own shop. He had always considered himself a successful and even conveniently influential person in his own circles, but now the full scope of his insignificance struck him like a blow. He was reduced to being a faceless stand in his customer’s show. The fact that he had made Jim feel this way without uttering a single word, made it far worse.

katie swann

that really does make the reader wish to hear more of the story!

Thanks! That’s just about the best compliment a writer can get 😉

Emily

I like how you capture the sinister nature of the ‘tall man character’ right from the very beginning of your scene. It feels like something dangerous will happen next. Definitely keeps the reader interested!

Carol

I felt the arrogance in this tall, handsome, rich man. I’m rooting for the underdog, Jim, to throw this guy out on his rear.

The clock was a pleasing shade of blue but looked incongruous next to the badly painted bright orange walls of the room. It looked almost like a character from a Disney fairytale, you could imagine it sprouting spindly legs and arms, and jauntily walking across the room speaking aloud in a high-pitched voice. The clock had a hinged door and once opened, there was a shelf inside where all the money was kept.

Money! You’re wondering why anyone would keep money inside a clock. It had to be kept somewhere and the housemates decided that the comical clock was as good a place as any. So the door of the clock opened and closed, keeping rhythm with the lives of the inhabitants of the house. When Andrew got paid at the end of the month, his subscription would be added to the pile. That’s if there was anything left to call it a pile. Quite often there were only IOU notes, scribbled, messy, full of good intent to pay back what was owed to the clock. The clock knew better. It had seen it all before. As soon as Andrew’s money was added, Ed would be a bit short that month. He’d just take a pound. Or two. It was all he needed for a filling spicy samosa from Sheerkhan’s take-away at the end of the road. He thought better of borrowing from the clock than raiding the fridge or someone else’s food shelf in the communal kitchen. His art installation for the local council was coming along, surely he’d receive payment soon. The samosas would be on him.

The clock’s door opened and closed, transactions coming and going with a steady beat. Scatter-brained Rosie shoved a tenner in. She was sure that’s how much she owed for the TV licence. The fact that John flatly refused to pay anything towards the BBC, meaning that all other occupants of the house would have to pay more, was lost on Rosie. Vet bills, cat food & litter, TV, video shop, milk – at some point or other all these items were under the jurisdiction of the clock. “Have you paid yet?”, you’d ask in an accusatory manner. “Yes!” they’d confidently reply, “the money is in the clock”.

I can totally relate to this, having lived in student digs myself. I’m very intrigued by the clock. Could it turn out to have magic properties? Just a suggestion 😉

hi katie that is a excellent suggestion about the clock, thank you! could try some magical realism 🙂

eva rose

My earliest memory of money was a silver dollar my mother gavve me when I was six years old. I had performed on stage in a holiday play, and the silver dollar was her gift of reward. I remember looking at the disk in my hand like a priceless treasure or a piece of jewelry, admiring its shine and engraving. I kept it for years in a box in my bedroom and never dreamed of spending it. Some years later I recall a visiting uncle passing out dimes to all my brothers and sisters and me. He carried a small leather coin purse shaped like a half moon. When he flipped open the top he could shake out the coins into the empty half of the purse. A dime was just what we needed to meet the Ice Cream Man. One day I received money from a full time job in the form of a paper paycheck. My first check was spent on a dress, something I had not owned for years, and a dozen roses for mother purchased from a street vendor in New york City. I felt rich. But over the years I’ve wondered if the old-fashioned method of paying for necessities wasn’t more simple and less stressful. Suppose we could still exchange home-grown vegetables for medical services and a chicken we raised for clothing. No monthly budget, no checkbook, no taxes. Wish I had back a dime for every moment of worry over money!

Having worked in retail, I don’t value paper money highly. The value of a piece of paper fluctuates on a daily basis. There are things of more solid value, such as land, gold, oil and diamonds, and these are at the route of much conflict. I’m fascinated by markets, and have therefore submitted the following piece:

“Keep your money concealed at all times!” I remember the tour guide saying, “and watch out for people getting too close or brushing past!”

Tall order, I muse, as I enter the bustling market hall, leaving the glare of the midday sun behind me. There’s a buzz of activity, but no one seems particularly interested in me, absorbed as they are in their own business.

Everywhere, merchants are setting up tented enclosures, promoting their wares with gusto. There are dusty Persian carpets draped over walls and spread chaotically on the floor. They are hand made using vegetable dyes, some from wool, and others from silk. The silk carpets, which are pinned to walls, seem to light up optically even in the shaded sun. They are the finest of all rugs, and are jealously guarded, so I’m not allowed anywhere near them.

There are whole walls covered in embroidered table cloths. Most are white or cream, embroidered with gold thread. A contrasting one catches my eye. It is made from linen dyed red using the blood of cochineal spiders. It is embroidered with appliquéd snow capped Christmas trees, to appeal to a seasonal market.

A pungent aroma fills the air. Everywhere there are stores selling spices piled high into mountains of red and gold. There are abundant supplies of pitted olives, and a huge variety of exotic fruit including pomegranates and mangos. Further along there are stalls flaunting the catch of the day: huge salmon, swordfish and octopus.

I return to the store selling the unusual table cloth. Nervously, I think about bartering with the merchant over the price. I speak little of their language, which makes me more nervous still.

In the end, I just point and say “How much?”

The merchant points at the price ticket, which I had overlooked, and says “You must pay. You cannot barter. Goods as priced.”

I feel a little embarrassed. You’re not meant to barter when goods are priced. I reach into my pocket for my purse. It’s not there. I feel a rising sense of panic. All my cards are in there too. No money. No means of getting money.

The merchant gestures towards my feet. I look down. Astonished, I see by purse down there. I feel in my pocket. There’s a hole. It wasn’t there earlier, I’m sure. Difficult to prove. I wouldn’t normally put it in a pocket. Did it, for security reasons.

Gratefully, I hand over the money to the merchant, and take the table cloth. That was a close one, I thought upon leaving. It really is scary to find you’re without money or ID, especially in a foreign country.

True story? Great description.

Anna S. R.

Shining through the frost on the window, the lights hugged a faded halo tight to their bright bodies. They twinkled red, green and white as they hung in the early darkness, little suspended constellations outside the lonely house.

Jeremy checked his bank accounts again: everything balanced well into the green. The clock read 8:05. It would be past eleven o’clock in the uniquely cold city of Montreal, where his family was this Christmas Eve night. Tom and Jean would be fast asleep; Christine would be deep into her Santa work. He had been on the phone with his family two hours ago to tuck in his children and kiss his wife goodnight, but on this cold, cold night in Anchorage, only his wallet hugged him close, warming his hips. It was a different sort of cold, in Anchorage than in Montreal, and it kept him awake at night.

He had never thought he’d be one of those who sold his family for a higher paycheck, and at the time it hadn’t seemed like he had. He thought of the brick house his wife could proudly entertain in, the prep schools his children would attend – he thought of the 3,000 cold, empty miles that separated them. The lights sang out sadly the only cheer for miles. They reminded him that he wasn’t being paid for the new title, the promotion; his raise was worker’s comp for the pains of loneliness. He’d always been three hours behind, though, so he only just realized it.

With his head full of his family, Jeremy let his elbow clumsily knock his glass. It spilt whisky all over the bottom half of his shirt and lap, soaking through his pocket and into his wallet. He took the bills out of the fold and laid them flat before the small fire in the fireplace before changing his shirt and pants. The cash was dried out before Montreal Christmas.

No telling who the black man with the hole in his throat really is. My husband only knows that when he can’t start his car today after buying gas, the stranger approaches him and offers a helping hand.

He lifts the hood and takes a look, fiddles around and voila! The jeep is resurrected. My husband opens his wallet and offers a $20 bill to the man – the last of the cash he has on hand after purchasing a tank of gas.

“Much obliged,” the stranger says. “I’ve only got half of my rent together for this month, and this will help me pay the rest.”

Interesting what $20 can mean to each individual, how it smoothes the way we communicate. Thanks for sharing one slice of life!

Carla wiped her sweaty palms on her navy skirt. Her financial advisor, Robert, had agreed to meet with her that afternoon to discuss her inheritance account. Normally her husband, Joe, would attend–but not today. Today was different. Joe was different. Lately, he’d been in one of those moods–the kind of mood that moved him to go on drinking benders for weeks. The kind of mood that led him to withdraw over 100,000 dollars from their joint bank account. This wasn’t the first time Joe had made reckless decisions. Now he was after her Social Security checks. She was worried about paying the mortgage–worried about life in general.

“Come on back,” Robert said.

Carla walked into his office.

“Have a seat.”

She sat on a cushy leather chair. Her knees shook. Her eyes watered. Everything about her life started to change.

Very intriguing. Will Joe have spent every last dime? Had Robert squirled it away in time to save it? Is there more going on between Carla and Robert? I would love to read more.

edward hackemer

Annie looked back into the satchel and gingerly began to open the canvas bags. Packed inside the two bank sacks were several tightly bundled rolls of hundred dollar bills. Annie took a deep breath, pushed the rolls of money around inside the canvas bags, and looked for any hidden contents. She found a single roll of brightly colored Chinese Yuan, and again she gasped. She caught her breath and grabbed the bottle of Jim Beam from the glove box one more time. She put the bottle to her lips, took another drink, shut her eyes tight, and swallowed. This time she did not shudder. She held the leather bag tight against her thighs, looked over to Alex and offered him the bottle of Beam. He took two swallows and continued to look straight down the road as he handed it back to Annie. She took one more swallow before she slid it back into the glove box on top of the road map. She gazed out the windshield to the road ahead. Her thoughts were racing at full throttle.

Alex turned the Patrician left on Ecorse and right onto Telegraph Road. They were leaving Detroit and heading south. Countless thoughts rushed into, and swirled all around, inside his head. He was particularly excited about beginning a brand new life with the chestnut haired beauty beside him. Two bank bags full of money, a good-looking woman as his new bride, and a fast car. He did not know exactly why, but he seemed in a hurry. Driving down the road above the posted limits, he had the big engine throbbing and knew the Packard could easily muscle away from any Michigan State Police black and white Ford. Alex reached across the seat and put a hand on Annie’s leg, just above the knee, and gave her nylon covered lower thigh a gentle touch. His fingers caressed her leg and played with the garter snap. He kept his gaze straight ahead and his left hand on the wheel. Alex moved his right arm up and around his bride’s shoulders. The sobering thought of a police cruiser chasing him down the road persuaded him to lighten up on the accelerator pedal. He remembered there was a 38-caliber pistol packed inside the satchel.

AL

Financial security. Money always meant safety. A home, food, clothes, car, etc. But did it really? I have those but I’m scared to death to spend it. Helen struggled with balancing her checkbook. Today was one of those days. When I retired I thought I was set for a simple but comfortable life.

She ripped open the bank notice. An overdraft! How did that happen? I’m always so careful. She looked at the purchases. I didn’t buy that, or that, or that. Had someone gotten her debit card info? I have to stop this right now. But it’s 8 o’clock at night. Who do I call? Why didn’t I pay attention to those instructions about fraud?

Helen picked up the phone. Then put it down as she searched her purse for the card. Yes, she had it. On the back was a number to call. She started to sweat. The phone shook in her hand.

“Hello, hello”, she gasped. “There’s a problem,” ah, ah,ah. “My card–I can’t breath. I..” The phone clattered to the floor.

I sat up tall to the kitchen table and dumped the coins and dollar bills from my stocking cap. I smiled hopefully at Dad as he counted my paper route money. I had worked for two days to collect the money from my customers. Some I even over charged to make up for the ones who told me to come back tomorrow, but who I knew still wouldn’t pay.

I swiped my finger under my nose, wiping the snot that dripped all winter long. “So will I have any left over to put away to buy Christmas presents with?” I asked Dad.

Dad sat across the table from me, reaching and pulling the coins into neat little piles. Quarters stacked in fours, dimes in tens, nickels in 20s. The few pennies he just dragged off to the side. I got up on one knee and reached for the dollar bills and smoothed out the wrinkles, making sure they all faced the same way.

Mike

Okay, so now I’m sweating profusely. She’s staring at me, waiting for me to say something, to keep this horrible, long-dead conversation alive, but I’ve got nothing. I sit there, slack-jawed, staring at her from across the checkerboard table.

I look gross. I know I look gross. I feel a bead of sweat dripping down from my right eyebrow, sliding down my cheek now. Do I wipe it away? Or just pretend it’s not there? She’s gotta notice this river rolling down the side of my face, right? I look away and wipe my face with the back of my hand. She definitely notices.

“So, um, I had a great time,” I say. Too enthusiastic, too eager to please. Like always. She smiles and nods but says nothing.

The check comes. She reaches for her purse.

“No, I’ve got it, don’t worry about it!” I nearly shout. She looks up at me. “You can take care of it next time,” I say. She cocks her head a little sideways, raises her eyebrows, and puts her purse away.

Strange: spending forty-five dollars for the privilege of embarrassing myself in front of a beautiful woman.

sally

There was a long silent pause after my purse fell and all the money and changed scattered across the floor at the local java shop. Shit, shit, shit!!! I scrambled to start picking it up before any grubby hands started reaching for twenties and fifties. How will I ever explain this to my boss, that money was supposed to be at the bank by two, and here I am trying to get another iced coffee. Well, serves me right. I better grab up this money and start counting. I wonder if they have a broom I could use.

448, 449, 450…..Ok I think I’ll make it. There was 450 dollars all together in that bag. Now I’ll head for the bank.

As I approached the counter, I noticed the very handsome man in a suit at the counter window next to me. As I stood there waiting for the teller to finish on the phone, I listened to his voice. Deep and a little husky, he said, “Read the note, do not show any surprise and keep your hands above the counter.” Why would he say that I thought. Then I saw the tip of a gun on the top edge of the counter pointed to the teller. Damn, Damn, Damn, will I ever be able to deposit this money!

I haven’t written anything in several years. I know I need practice. But thought I would give this a whirl.

I liked it! The topic of money enters our lives from many directions. You held my attention. I like the visual of a broom sweeping up money!

AlexBrantham

Continuing from: https://thewritepractice.com/all-around/

Thomas had just stepped onto the street when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. “Not so fast, mate. You’ve not paid for that.”

He turned, and saw that it was the shopkeeper, a burly man who didn’t look like he was about to take any prisoners. Thomas felt that he ought to know his name – after all, he came into the shop almost every day – but nothing came to mind.

“I’m very sorry,” Thomas said. “I didn’t mean to leave without paying, but I forget sometimes…”

“That’s OK, just come inside and we’ll get sorted out, shall we?” The man ushered Thomas back into the cool of the shop, and up to the counter at the back. “Seventy-five pence, please.”

Thomas reached for his purse, which was always in the right pocket of his jacket. His daughter always teased him when she saw him wearing a jacket and tie even on a hot day like today, but he had certain standards to maintain and he wasn’t going to let them drop now. Besides, he would feel naked if he were to walk down the street without his tie on, and a tie without a jacket just looks silly, like some office junior who’s been sent out to buy lunch.

Now, where was he? His hand was in an empty pocket, and for a moment he didn’t know why. Then he saw the expectant face of the shopkeeper, and the hand reaching out for something. Oh, yes, money. There was none in his right pocket, how about the left? No, nothing there either. He started to tap all of his pockets in turn, even the ones that couldn’t possibly contain anything useful.

The shopkeeper withdrew his outreached hand.

“Could I possibly bring the money tomorrow?” Thomas asked.

“Sorry, store policy, no credit. Not that I don’t trust you personally, but if I let you then I’d have to let everyone out without paying, and then there would I be? Perhaps you could pop home and come back later? I’ll set this aside for you, if you like.”

Thomas’ head dropped. There was no way he was going to manage the journey twice in one day, but he couldn’t argue. He put the paper down on the counter, and shuffled back to the door. No paper today, then.

Elise White

I enjoyed reading this. Sounds like Thomas is suffering a bit of short term memory loss.

This is how the story ended… http://alexbrantham.com/fiction/thomas-and-the-newspaper/

Joy Collado

Too bad for Thomas! nice one.

Oli

I thought I would treat Joe’s exercise response as part of the prompt. 🙂

Here it goes:

“The end justifies the means,” she said, her face partially framed by the wad of bills in my hand. I held them up as one would the marker directing a shot gun’s nozzle, seeing how the frame improved her auburn hair and blue eyes. Not much.

She continued, “The water fund for Cambodia may have taken longer to set up than our website claimed, but at least now—”

She spoke with an excited, breathless smile, like those of young children proud to show a parent something stupid.

“Now we are rich, and those kids in Cambodia can live as they have always lived—impoverished,” I said, tossing the wad of cash into the pile at the foot of the bed. I was near the headboard, leaning on one arm against the pillows as I smoked my cigar. She was still ladylike, with her legs folded under like a sculpture of some mermaid famous in Denmark. I continued, “Hey, it’s not like they know any difference, right? They walk a couple miles to the well, boil the water at home. . . it’s closer to man’s raw state, you know? Closer to nature.”

“What are you saying?” she asked. Her face jerked my way, emotionless – the excitement from a moment earlier was a rare, rare state – but I knew her. It took everything in her to keep from recoiling back. But she didn’t, although we both knew that was her wish. Yet that is how it should be. How I want it, in fact.

I extinguished the half-used cigar against the ash tray on my bedside table, almost feeling the thrum of the gun in the scratched drawer below. It was there, separated from my fingers by a thin veil of wood, beside the blood red Bible…

It was settled. Rick was going to pick me and my best friend, Fiona, up Friday night around 7 and we’d hop in his BMW with him and his side kick, Thomas. I had knots in my stomach. It wasn’t like we hadn’t hung out before. It was just now, Rick and I both knew that we liked each other. It was one of those unspoken understandings. The other thing was he had chosen an expensive European style brasserie for our dinner date.

Money had always been a source of anxiety for me. I was a bit miserly about money because I hated getting close to being broke.

“I wonder why Rick chose such an expensive restaurant. He has to know I don’t have very much money.” I said.

“He’ll probably pay for your food, Lisa. He’s got money.” Fiona tried to reassure me. “He probably wants to show that he can provide for you.”

I could imagine that was the reason. He’d already bought me a good amount of alcohol after my 21st birthday.

“Maybe, but what will I wear?”

Since I never went to fancy restaurants I didn’t really have anything that seemed appropriate for the occassion. A new outfit would cost money, too.

After hours of searching and taking myself out of purchases, I spent $60 at the mall on a new outfit for the dinner date. It was a short white and black dress to wear over leggings and a maroon cardigan to throw on in case it got cold. I also bought some jewelry and shades. It was cute, but I hoped that it was worth it. Dating Rick could end up being pretty an expensive adventure.

Minecraft

Glad to visit your blog. Thanks for this great post that you share to us

PATRICK

The look on the man’s face was forlorn. He neither noticed the loud hooting of the car as he crossed the road, nor did he seem to care about the explicit swearing of the driver behind the wheel. This was definitely not one of his best days; and why would it? The landlord had just given Patrick and his family the final eviction notice. They owed 4 months in rent arrears. The man was truly down. Wild thoughts raced through his head. ”Where do i get money? Where will we go? Who will give me a job?”. The scene of 6 months earlier occupied his mind for a moment again. His company had just been taken over by new management. They felt that they could do better with less staff. He was one of the staff that were laid off due to poor technical skills. ”When did i get to this point?”, he wondered again. A slight pat on his shoulder finally got his attention. He wheeled around defensively, perhaps expecting a mugger. ”What would a mugger get from this poor soul?”, he wondered. Then a wide smile spread across his face, as he came face-face with his elder sister, Cindy. They had not seen each other for nearly a year. She screamed loudly, as she jumped into his arms. ”Look at you, kiddo!”, he grinned. Fifteen minutes later, as they settled down to receive their order of coffee and croissants, at a local cafe, she finally spoke. How was he? Why did he disappear? How was his family? Tears welled up in his eyes. ”Sweet Cindy” ,….”my dear sweet Cindy”… He explained how fortunes had turned for his family in the last few months. She cried with him, and put her arms round him. ”It will be fine. You’ll see. It’ll be fine. I promise”, she reassured him. Then he inquired how she had been the last one year…. Cindy had made a good name for herself in the Real Estate Industry. She had started small barely 2 years earlier. She now owned a relatively medium-sized company. She was doing well. As it is, she was in need for a Field Supervisor for some of her properties. Her brother would just be the perfect man for the job. Later that evening, as he shared supper with his family, Patrick wondered again how elusive, yet so accessible, money could be. Now you had it, with all the happiness alongside it; then you lose it, with all the frustrations….and then you had it again. He finally had a source of income. He felt reborn again, as he smiled, and drifted off into sleep.

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50 Creative Writing Ideas to Combat Writer’s Block

creative writing ideas about money

A lack of creative writing ideas often leads to a writer’s worst fear: writer’s block.

It’s so easy to fall into its clutches, spending hours at your laptop (or notebook or typewriter) writing sentence after sentence only to cross every one out. Or even worse—to sit an an empty page and write nothing at all. Sometimes it takes time and hard thinking to get out of the rut once you become stuck. Sometimes, however, it takes a little more than that. Sometimes it just might take some outside help.

It can be exceedingly difficult to find solid, mature creative writing ideas on the internet. If you Google “creative writing ideas,” most of what comes up is directed at children or casual writers looking to practice a hobby. But what about creative writing ideas for adults? What about when you have the dedication, passion, and experience with writing, but you just don’t have the  ideas ?

And if these don’t work, check out my other two posts on Writer’s Block (and second Writer’s Block article ).

The next time you’re at a loss for what to write about, try using these creative writing ideas and prompts below. Maybe you’ll be inspired enough to propel you straight out of your writer’s block, or maybe it’ll just be enough to get the gears turning in your head again.

50 Creative Writing Ideas (with Prompts) to Boost Your Inspiration

1. Try Writing Magical Realism

Write a story from a universe similar to this one but possessing one specific magical quality.

1. Write about two people who grow up together, eventually part ways, move to different sides of the country, and somehow still end up unintentionally running into each other very frequently for the rest of their lives.

2. Write about someone who is reincarnated over and over again and remembers all of his/her past lives, but no one else on earth remembers theirs.

3. Write about two people who are physically unable to be awake at the same time.

4. Write about a contract killer literally haunted by his first hit.

5. Write about a prophet who knows the exact day, time, and occurrence of his death years in advance.

6. Write about a character who can taste people’s emotions through the food they prepare.

7. Write about two people who dream about each other before they actually meet.

8. Write a post-apocalyptic story and explain only your main character’s coping mechanism: creating a fantasy world in his/her head and living there.

9. Write about a person who goes to the theater with friends multiple times but always sees a different movie than his/her friends see on the same screen.

10. Write about a person who grows a new finger every time he/she acts cruelly to someone.

If you want help writing your novel, I’ve got the best novel-writing guide in the universe:

12 Steps to Write a Bestselling Novel.

That link will give you advice on characters, plotting, point of view, and more.

2. Write from a Different Perspective

Use a voice and background different from your own to write something unfamiliar and fresh.

1. Write from the perspective of an advanced AI.

2. Write from the perspective of a person in the year 2550.

3. Write from perspective of a mythological siren stuck on the rocky shore of an ocean, trying to lure sailors to their deaths.

4. Write from the perspective of an “inside guy” (jury member, lawyer, judge, etc) during an important court case.

5. Write from the perspective of a family pet whose fate is decided when its owners split up.

6. Write from the perspective of a different gender when subjected to explicit sexual objectification.

7. Write from the perspective of an inanimate object in nature, like a rock or the wind.

8. Write from the perspective of someone with a chronic but not fatal illness (diabetes, OCD, Lyme disease, etc).

9. Write from the perspective of a blind person who comes home to find all the furniture in his/her apartment rearranged.

10. Write from the perspective of a fed-up guardian angel whose designated human is prone to self-sacrificial acts.

3. Write About What’s Around You

Get inspired by ordinary objects in your home.

1. Find a small object in your junk drawer (stapler remover, chewed-up pen cap, paperweight, etc) and write about how it could be used as a weapon to kill.

2. Imagine you have to hide documents essential to national security somewhere in your office or bedroom and write a story about wherever you think is the best place.

3. If the room you’re in has windows, write a story in which the room is exactly the same but with no windows, and vice versa.

4. Imagine you’re cleaning out your desk and find a secret message carved or written on the bottom of one drawer.

5. Open a book in your office, turn to a random page, blindly point to a word, and use it as the very first word of your story.

6. Find a photo of yourself and write a narrative about the photographer in that moment.

7. Pick a room in your house and recount a story, real or fictional, about how a particular object in that room came to be there.

8. Mentally (or physically, if you want to) rearrange all the furniture in your office or bedroom and write about how that changes the overall mood of the room.

9. Search your coat pockets for old recipes, notes, or trinkets and write a story centered around something you find. (If you find nothing, write about why you empty your pockets so frequently.)

10. Pick a small item from your desk drawer and write about a character who carries it around as a talisman.

4. Let Your Reading Inspire Your Writing

Use your favorite books as a launching pad to create something original.

1. Write a scene borrowing the protagonist of a book you’ve read, but cast as a different gender.

2. Research an author you enjoy, then combine his/her life with the life of a character from one of his/her books to create a new character.

3. Take a familiar scene from a book and rewrite it, adding yourself in as a character (spectator, narrator, background figure, etc).

4. Reset a scene from a book in a drastically different time period.

5. Write a different story using the same title as a familiar book.

6. If the book you’re using has a first person narrator, rewrite a scene either from the perspective of another character or in the third person.

7. Write about a fictional person who has an intense reaction (either positive or negative) to a book you’ve read.

8. Write a story using only words found in the first and last sentences of each chapter of a book.

9. Take a book you know well and write an alternate ending that is the exact opposite of the real ending (whatever you think “opposite” means).

10. If the book you’re using has a third person narrator, rewrite a scene in the first person (as one of the author’s characters or a new character).

5. Take a Plot and Write It Multiple Ways

Take a well-defined prompt and write it multiple times, each with a different ending.

1. Write about a Japanese steakhouse chef who accidentally cuts him/herself while cooking in front of a family.

2. Write about a painter who is commissioned by a family member to paint a dead man/woman using no pictures, only descriptions from other people.

3. Write about a group of truckers who all frequent the same truck stops and form a book club for when they see each other again.

4. Write about a seasoned model who shows up to her agency one day with inexplicable cuts all over her legs.

5. Write about two strangers who each grab one end of extremely rare record at the same time in a secondhand vinyl shop.

6. Write about a manic-depressive linguist who conveys his/her emotions to friends using words from other languages that aren’t translatable into English.

7. Write about a group of whalers who accidentally discover mermaids the size of blue whales.

8. Write about someone who mistakenly picks the lock to the wrong apartment at two in the morning when trying to get into a friend’s apartment.

9. Write about a strictly Shakespearian actor who loses all of his/her money and has to take modern comedic roles to stay afloat.

10. And finally: Write about a writer struggling with long-term writer’s block who desperately searches the internet for ideas and prompts.

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76 comments

oh my gosh this was really helpful – thank you! :))

SAME WITH ME. EVEN THOUGH I AM JUST 13 YEARS OLD, I AM CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR NEW IDEAS TO WRITE. THANKS SO MUCH.

YES THIS IS ALSO VERY HELPFUL WHICH IS WHY I AM WRITING IN CAPITAL LETTERS

Really helpful and cool, thank you!!!

YESSSSS!!!!!!

so helpful I really needed this

Super helpful

These were soooooooooooooooo random prompts! They didn’t help me at all! 🙁

well maybe you shouldn’t become a writter then because if you look it was helpful to the other writters boom .

i dont think this means they shouldnt be a writer, writers block can be really difficult to get over and maybe these ideas didnt help them get over it, i know they didnt help me yet ive been writing for nearly 5 years constantly. each author is different, so its great if it helped others but that doesnt guarantee itll help everyone

That’s really rude becoming a writer means working towards your goal. Some ideas don’t inspire some people. Progress takes work and the ability to write doesn’t come easy to some people. Who knows he/she could become a great writer. We just don’t know it. We choose are destiny.

what a geek

wow look at that. you are telling people off but you can’t spell the word writer! look into a dictionary.

Maybe you guys should be nice. It’s hard to be a writer, and putting other people down because they didn’t find anything helpful isn’t right. Please remember we all want to change the world.

I think random prompts are good prompts.

I agree. If they’re random that means that there’ more variety

keep looking, I’m sure there’s something there.

I think that it was the point tp be random ideas. I personally think that these were amazing ideas and I think you might need to try to be a bit more creative.

the point is to just getting you to write something versus nothing. So if you start getting your creativity flowing it will help you with your personal work.

Same I agree

I hope you come up with even better ones!

Same . It was like you have to find something and it takes ages

Honestly, I’ve been to 3 different sites before this one looking for some decent writing prompts. Don’t be fazed if they don’t help you 🙂

That’s fine, they might not help everyone! It also might not be what you’re used to, try writing with one of the prompts, if you don’t end up liking it, it’s still an exercise for your mind. Good luck!

Good fodder for insight, topics . Curious what other readers used these to for ??

Good ideas and it helped me!

Thank you so much for these! I usually see such generic prompts on other sites, but these were very original and inspiring! I would love more if possible 😉

love these ideas I would like more if possible!

This helped me with school a lot!!

I feel personally attacked by that last one.

“and finally…” LOL. Agreed

Ha- me too!

Thank You! Your ideas are really quite wonderful. 🙂

If these don’t help you, then try procrastination. You subconscious is working on your story, so when you sit down, it is so much easier to continue writing. (Works for me!)

Someone that has used one of these prompts should be super nice and let me read what they came up with. I’m super curious as to how some of you are using them.

I’ve only managed to use one so far, there are some very great prompts here.

I am 12 years old and I am confused on where my life is going… either a vet actor, or a book writer. I need advice from some adults.

dear ADVICE PLEASE [or anyone really] you should get to be whatever your heart desires. I think that you could be a vet or actor as well as an author. The world needs writers, so get out there and spread some joy! Oh btw, I’m sure we’re all on this site for the same reasons, but don’t give up on your writing dreams

I am using it for a random report I wanted to write about something. It was just kind of boring until I realized… there IS a positive side to COVID 19! I mean c’mon guys there is a positive side to everything so search for the positive sides not the negative ones. So the positive side was… WE COULD IMPROVE OURSELVES!!! Literally just by working on something we like during COVID 19 will make it seem better and BE better!! Some people had no time to improve because they were too busy with some other job but NOW.. We could spend our whole day on something we like and trust me it will benefit each and every one of you!!! ( And your day won’t be AS boring and sad because there WILL be something to do. There is always something to do!!! )

These are some helpful ideas but I don’t agree with a few but that doesn’t matter because some of them helped me. Anyway thank you for them!

Thanks this really helped as I had something set to write to so randomness helped!

These were helpful! ( And by the way…One of your probmpts scared me, I often dream about people sometimes and then meet them later. It’s very complicated about how and why. )

I want to read what other people wrote now

That last one had me cracking up.

i second that eva

Really good ones! the last one got me smiling!

Spider girl – why not all of them? You have a long life ahead of you and to only focus one career your entire life is dreary for some people such as myself. I have been a firefighter, preschool teacher, sales person, and am currently a writer and a music teacher.

they’re really good ideas, none of them really appealed to me specifically, but it seems like someone could still make a good story out of them! 🙂

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was exactly what I needed thanks so much

These have really have been a good use for me. I have been in a writer’s block for at least two weeks now and just by looking at some of these creative writing ideas, it has helped a lot. I know some of them may not appeal to all of you specifically, but it does give more confidence in your writing and your stories just by looking at some. For instance, if you were to look at one of the Magical Realism writing ideas, it could open a whole door to new writing possibilities. You can take one of the ideas and turn it into your own. You may not all agree that these ideas can help you, but it can definitely give you the confidence that you may lack when writing stories or maybe just inspire you. These ideas are helpful. Thank you!

Okay Hi, I was looking for a random prompt to write about, and I didn’t find one can anyone give me some ideas for one? I would be so grateful. Just for a little info, I am 13 and in 8th grade and just felt the need to start writing. Anyway, whoever sees this I hope you have a wonderful afternoon (or morning) Be safe throughout this week okay.

You could write about your dream for when you grow up. Like Martin Luther King Jr.

Thanks so much this helped

The 2nd one in the very first idea is one I think I’m going to use. Thanks so much!

omg this is fantastic…Thank you so much. I can relate to so many of these prompts but never really thought of them…

these were so good it inspired me to write:)

Thank you for this. I’ve been working on the same project for ages and this was a wonderful break from it.

Lot of love. Thank you. This is great help.

Wow! I could never have thought of these ideas even if I was given a million years. Thanks.

This took YEARS of me

This was so much help the thing is can you add some easy and fun ones?

This is very helpful thank you 🙂

These have been very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing these. The last one was hilarious and made me realize in many cases I was blocking myself, lol. It was great!

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most of these really did help me. I put them on to a word doc and kept going back on them and then went to different webs. now if I have writer’s block I have 64 pages of things to try.

I needed this

Some were a bit sus but ok

SOOOOOOOOOO HELPFUL!!!!!

creative writing ideas about money

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Best Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 381 contests that match your search.

The Reedsy Prompts Contest

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.

Additional prizes:

$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Cricket Magazine Contest

Cricket Magazine

Genres: Children's

Will you write about a hidden talent or secret superpower? A secret identity or a hidden message? Whatever you decide, all the bugs in Cricket Country just can’t hide their excitement to read your wonderful words. They’ll be sticking close to the mailbox in hopes that you don’t hide your poetic talent. Proudly share your best poem—of 24 lines or fewer, please—about hiding.

Publication in Cricket Magazine

📅 Deadline: May 30, 2024

2025 Book Prize

Unleash Press

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, and Short Story

Details: $1,000 advance and standard contract from Unleash Press for one winning manuscript. Novels, poetry collections, short story collections, and creative nonfiction manuscripts are accepted. We'll reopen for our 2025 competition in July.

Publication with Unleash Press

📅 Deadline: December 02, 2024

Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio

Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Tusculum Review Nonfiction Chapbook Prize

The Tusculum Review

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

A prize of $1,000, publication of the essay in The Tusculum Review’s 20th Anniversary Issue (2024), and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook with original art is awarded. Editors of The Tusculum Review and contest judge Mary Cappello will determine the winner of the 2024 prize.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024

The Iowa Review Awards

The Iowa Review

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Each January since 2003, The Iowa Review has invited submissions to The Iowa Review Awards, a writing contest in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Winners receive $1,500; first runners-up receive $750. Winners and runners-up are published in each December issue.

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

The Elmbridge Literary Competition 2023-24

The R C Sherriff Trust

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

"Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving." - William Shakespeare For some, it is a lifetime’s pursuit, often slipping through their grasp while others see it fall into their hands by mere chance. However achieved, through talent or luck, Fame can be an ill-fated prize. The 19th Elmbridge Literary Competition, run in partnership by The R C Sherriff Trust and Elmbridge Borough Council, is looking for short stories and poems on the theme of the double-edged sword that is ‘FAME’.

Published chapbook

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: February 23, 2024 (Expired)

Indiana Review Poetry Prize

Indiana Review

Genres: Poetry

For our Poetry Prize, send no more than three poems in a single document. The winner will be awarded $1000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Indiana Review. This year's contest will be judged by Oliver Baez Bendorf.

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Chapter One Prize

Gutsy Great Novelist

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Young Adult, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Thriller

The Gutsy Great Novelist Chapter One Prize is awarded for an outstanding first chapter of an unpublished novel. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre for adult or YA readers. Winners will be announced March 29, 2024.

2nd: $500 |3rd: $250

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

2024 Passager Poetry Contest

Passager, a nonprofit literary press for writers over 50, is interested in new, diverse voices for its annual poetry contest. The winning poet receives $1000, publication of several poems and a featured interview in the upcoming issue of Passager journal. Honorable mentions are published. The reading fee includes a 1-year subscription to Passager.

Publication of multiple poems and featured interview

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Tom Howard / Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

Winning Writers

Welcome to the 20th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,000 for a poem in any style or genre. $3,000 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style.

$200 for 10 honorable mentions

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024

Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers

Lambda Literary

Genres: LGBTQ

Lambda Literary has played a pivotal role in nurturing the development of exceptional new LGBTQ writers through the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, internships, and writing and performance opportunities. The Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers recognizes LGBTQ-identified writers whose work demonstrates their strong potential for promising careers.

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Kurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction Prize

North American Review

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Suspense

The Vonnegut Prize is an annual fiction competition intended to recognize the finest speculative fiction, which can include, but is not limited to, work influenced by the postmodern science-fiction of Kurt Vonnegut. We love Vonnegut’s dark humor, but please avoid mere imitation. We are enthusiastic about all work painted with speculative fiction’s broad brush: fairy tale, magical realism, fabulism, the fantastic, horror, Afro-futurism, science fiction hard and soft, and everything in between. The winning entry will appear in the North American Review's annual summer issue, and all finalists will be considered for publication.

💰 Entry fee: $23

📅 Deadline: November 02, 2024

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Lazuli Literary Group

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing

We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: March 24, 2024 (Expired)

Global Experience Travel Writing Contest

Genres: Travel

Have you been marked by travel? If so, tell us how. Engaging with the genre of creative nonfiction, seize upon memorable incidents from your travel history — study abroad, domestic travels, even your discovery of Northfield. Entertain us. Make us laugh. Move us. Help us travel with you.

📅 Deadline: April 07, 2024 (Expired)

Fanstory Writing Contests

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Subscribe to Fanstory for $9.95 a month and enter as many contests as you like from their list of writing and poetry contests, updated daily. All participants receive feedback from a community of writers, and the winner of each contest receives a cash prize of up to $100.

Cash prizes of up to $100

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)

Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, and Short Story

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work.

💰 Entry fee: $22

Flash Fiction Award

Bath Flash Fiction Award

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections. Our books are published by the award-winning small press Ad Hoc Fiction, and are available to buy from their own independent bookshop as well as worldwide from Amazon. 300 word limit.

£300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024

The Paul Cave Prize for Literature

Tim Saunders Publications

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Paul Cave Prize for Literature, established in 2023 by Tim Saunders Publications, is in memory of Paul Astley Cave-Browne-Cave (1917 to 2010), a hugely inspirational magazine and book publisher. What we are looking for All forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, elegy, flash fiction, short stories and novellas. Work must be new and unpublished. International submissions welcome.

Best Short Story: £50 | Best Flash Fiction: £25 | Best Poem: £25

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry

Lynx House Press

The annual Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry awards $2000 plus publication for a full-length poetry collection. The Prize is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad. Lynx House Press has been publishing fine poetry and prose since 1975. Our titles are distributed by the University of Washington Press.

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: June 16, 2024

Ethos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest

Ethos Literacy

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

The challenge: write a story using 100 words on one of four topics. Open to all ages with a special prize for authors 14 years or younger. The contest supports nonprofit literacy programs.

6 cash prizes of $100 each; publication in digital magazine, inclusion in webcast

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: February 01, 2024 (Expired)

Hastings Book Festival - Short Story

Hastings Book Festival

Genres: Short Story

Hastings Book Festival writing competition is open to writers from anywhere in the world writing in English on any theme. We invite short stories up to 2,500 words. We have additional prizes for LGBT+ writers and writers resident in Sussex.

2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50

📅 Deadline: July 07, 2024

To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Contest

Christopher Fielden

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, and Short Story

July 2022 saw the launch of the 8th To Hull And Back Short Story Competition, a biennial short story contest with a humorous twist that celebrates the most imaginative and amazing short stories from writers all over the world.

2nd Prize: £600 | 3rd Prize: £300 | 3 x Highly Commended: £150 | 14 x Shortlisted: £75

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025

Nimrod Literary Awards

Nimrold International Journal of Prose and Poetry

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Novel

All finalists in fiction and poetry will be published and paid at our standard publication rate. Semi-finalists in poetry will also be published and paid at our standard publication rate.

$2000 + Publication

2nd: $1000 + Publication

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition

The Ghost Story

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, and Thriller

We’re interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words. We’re seeking the finest work we can find that incorporates an uncanny element. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is superb writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises.

print and online publication

The 2022 First Chapter Book Contest

TheNextBigWriter, LLC

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

Have a book or a novel idea you've been noodling? Enter your first chapter into the Booksie First Chapter Contest and see how it does. You don't need to have finished the book. You don't even need more than the first chapter. We're looking for a start that will grab our attention, that is original, that is well written, and that makes us want to beg you to see what comes next. And for those we find, we'll provide some awards to inspire you to finish writing the book or, if finished, to help get it published.

Gold contest badge.

📅 Deadline: May 14, 2022 (Expired)

National Poetry Series

The National Poetry Series seeks book-length manuscripts of poetry written by American residents or American citizens living abroad.

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

Vocal Challenges

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.

$1,000 — $5,000

📅 Deadline: March 07, 2024 (Expired)

Spring Flash Fiction Contest

The Berlin Literary Review

Genres: Flash Fiction

The Berlin Literary Review is looking forward to receiving submissions from around the world (in English), for our Spring Flash Fiction Contest. Up to 1,500 words, and up to 660€ in awards.

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024

Passionate Plume

Passionate Ink

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, and Short Story

The 2024 Passionate Plume celebrates the best in erotic fiction, both long and short, and features a special category for emerging authors.

Engraved award

Publication in the Passionate Ink Charity Anthology

💰 Entry fee: $40

📅 Deadline: March 21, 2024 (Expired)

Witcraft Monthly Humour Competition

Genres: Flash Fiction and Humor

Send us your skillfully written stories that are brief, humorous and engaging, with the emphasis on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. Whether your story is designed to raise a smile or a belly laugh, we want stories that are a refuge from the relentless barrage of negativity, angst, war and climate catastrophe that dominates the web.

2nd: AUD $20 | 3rd: AUD $10

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)

Four Line Poem

FanStory.com Inc.

Write a four line poem that has a specific syllable count. The first line has 1 syllable, the second line has 5 syllables, the third line has 5 syllables, and the last line has 9 syllables. The subject can be anything.

📅 Deadline: May 16, 2024 (Expired)

True Story Contest

Genres: Non-fiction and Short Story

Share a true story about your life. Write about any event that happened in your life that you would like to share. Cash prize to the winner.

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2024

Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition

Manitoba Writers' Guild

Genres: Fiction

Open to writers across Canada. Short prose in English, 2,500-5,000 words in any fiction genre. We actively encourage submissions from all writers who are 18 years of age or older.

2nd: $600 CAD | 3rd: $400 CAD

📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)

Jane Martin Poetry Prize

Girton College

The Jane Martin Poetry Prize is a national poetry competition, established in 2010, in memory of Girton alumna, Jane Elizabeth Martin (1978 Classics) through the generous support of Professor Sir Laurence Martin. Now in its 14th year, this national prize for young poets is a key part of the College’s support for poetry and will be of interest to all those who are serious about literary excellence. The competition is judged by experts drawn from across the literary world and academia. We are thrilled that this year the panel will be led by two judges – Abigail Parry and Bohdan Piasecki.

Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize

Marsh Hawk Press

Beginning December 1, 2023, Marsh Hawk Press is accepting submissions of poetry manuscripts to the annual Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prizes. Deadline is April 30, 2024. We welcome submissions from emerging as well as established poets. The winner of the Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize receives $1,000.00, book publication and promotion. Winners of the Robert Creeley and Rochelle Ratner prizes, selected from finalists, receive $250.00 each.

$1000 + publication

💰 Entry fee: $25

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

Reedsy's guide to novel writing

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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ThinkWritten

How Writers Make Money: 5 Income Sources For Writers

Wondering how you can make money writing? Here’s 5 legit ways writers make money.

How Writers Make Money

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If you like to write, there are tons of ways for you to make money as a writer. Today we will look at 5 ways writers can earn an income and the most popular methods of making money writing.

Whether you are in search of a side hustle or exploring your long-term career options, here are the main five ways to make a living as a writer:  

1. Freelance Writing and Writing for Hire

This is perhaps the first thing that most writers think of doing when considering this career path. Freelance writing or writing-for-hire essentially involves writing text according to your client’s specifications. This could include any of the following: 

  • Website copy 
  • Marketing copy 
  • Articles 
  • Blog posts 
  • Product or service reviews 
  • Instructional material 
  • Product manuals 
  • Company or individual profiles 
  • Transcriptions 

Freelance writing is pretty much the ‘catch-all’ segment of the writing world. You can be called upon to write in any of the above and sometimes, even more than one of those.

Depending on your client, you may be expected to write in a specific style and have a wide range of different topics assigned to you. 

If you are looking for freelance writing gig ideas, check out our post on 62 Types of Writing Jobs for Writers – lots of inspiration there for ways to make money as a freelance writer!

How Much Can You Make Freelance Writing?

With freelance writing, you get paid by the job. Sometimes you can find freelance writing gigs that pay by the hour, but it is more common to find jobs that pay by the word.

Freelance writing typically pays based on your experience level or your expertise. New writers may only make between 5-6 cents a word, where an expert may be able to charge between 50 cents to $1 per word.

Hourly rates typically range between $12-$16/hour, which isn’t great but freelance writing does provide flexibility most other careers don’t offer!

Pros and cons of freelance writing 

  • There is typically a wide range of subjects to write about
  • There are always plenty of jobs available
  • Flexible – Write to fit your schedule
  • Copywriting gigs can pay quite well 
  • You may have to conform to rigid writing and SEO guidelines 
  • You probably won’t be credited for your work 
  • You may have to write about topics that don’t interest you 
  • The work can get tedious and repetitive 

2. Book Sales and Royalties

Another popular way for writers to make money is from book sales and earning royalties from sales.

Books have traditionally been the domain of formally-trained writers, but not anymore. Nowadays, almost anyone can write a book, have it published (or publish it themselves), and make money off its sales. 

One interesting thing about book sales is they don’t need to be traditional types of books! You can explore publishing low-content books or even consider other book formats such as digital guides and audiobooks.

In fact, one of the best ways to increase your revenue as a book writer is by offering your titles in several different formats, including: 

Doing so enables you to reach a much wider audience than if you’d only stuck with print or digital.

How can you get started selling books? 

There are many ways to become a published author, but most involve one of three methods: 

  • Signing up with a traditional publisher 
  • Hiring a publishing firm
  • Self-publishing 

Traditional publishers typically offer book contracts to prospective writers. The terms and conditions may vary, but the contract typically stipulates that the publisher will pay the author a sum of money in exchange for the rights to publish the book. 

With the second model, you will hire a publishing firm to publish your book for you. Many companies offer such services, for which the author is expected to pay a fee. 

Self-publishing involves acting as your own publisher. It is pretty much like running your own publishing business, with you hiring the necessary personnel to publish and sell the book.

See our post on Publishing Your Book for more details on how it all works!

Pros and Cons of Selling Books to Make Money as a Writer

  • It can be a lucrative money-earner 
  • Established writers can look forward to a lengthy career 
  • It is possible to become a respected figure in your niche 
  • Considerable business and marketing savvy is essential
  • The competition is quite fierce 
  • It can be difficult to break into the industry 
  • You may not have enough book sales to earn a full-time income

3. Blogging

Blogging has quickly become one of the most popular writing-centered careers around today. Writers make money blogging by choosing a particular topic or niche, writing posts about it, and engaging with the audiences that read it. 

Blogging can be very lucrative for a writer as there is a huge market for blog content. Consider these statistics from WordPress.com :

  • Over 409 million people visit over 20 billion pages each month 
  • WordPress users publish 70 million posts monthly 

How Do Bloggers Make Money Writing?

Bloggers can make money writing through many different ways, including sponsorships and advertisements. Monetizing a blog generally involves the following: 

  • Affiliate marketing: This involves recommending products to readers and bloggers get paid a commission on sales.
  • Advertising: Bloggers can easily sign up with many ad networks to get paid either by impression or by click on ads displayed on their website.
  • Sponsorships: Companies will pay bloggers to write about them and recommend their services.
  • Other Monetization Methods: There are many other ways to monetize a blog, whether through coaching, online courses, custom merchandise or brand licensing. 

Pros and Cons of Blogging as an Income Source

  • It is possible to build a career based on something you are passionate about 
  • You can become a recognized authority figure in your niche 
  • You can be totally independent and autonomous 
  • The competition for audiences is intense 
  • You will need to have a considerable degree of technical knowledge 
  • Managing a blog can leave little time for actual writing 
  • It can be hard to get traffic to your site
  • Tech skills required!

4. Subscription Based Writing Services

A relatively newer online model for writers to make money, subscription services give writers an opportunity to earn an income directly from their readers.

The best way to understand subscription based writing services is to think of it like how traditional magazine publishing works – readers pay a monthly amount to access the exclusive content.

You can either offer a subscription by setting up your own blog and charging readers for premium content, or you can sign up with one of the many popular online subscription platforms such as Medium, Ghost, Substack, or Patreon.

With the subscription service model of making money as a writer, your readers can pay you directly to access your content.

Publishing content on such a site is similar to blogging in many ways. You write your article and make it available to online readers through one of the platforms. Instead of being paid by advertisers, you get paid by your readers directly, who subscribe for your premium content.

Although you aren’t likely to build a substantial reader base by publishing on these sites, the readers you will attract are a captive audience. Most will appreciate the convenience of having access to exclusive content from an authoritative source, and will gladly pay for the privilege. 

How Much Can You Make as a Writer By Charging a Subscription Rate?

While you may have fewer subscribers and readers, it’s also possible to see an even bigger return from a subscription model than advertising.

For example, if you had 50,000 readers to a blog, you might earn $2000/month from display ads. If you had just 1000 readers pay $5/month to read your exclusive content, you might make $5000/month!

That’s a huge difference which makes this a very lucrative business model indeed.

The downfall of course is it can take a very long time to start seeing subscribers and meaningful income from it on one of these subscription model sites.

Pros and cons of writing for a subscription service: 

  • Many major subscription services allow you to post content for free 
  • You have near total freedom to write whatever you want 
  • You get to keep most of the revenue you generate 
  • You don’t have to worry about creating links or going viral 

Cons: 

  • There is little incentive for people to subscribe 
  • There is absolutely no editorial support or oversight 
  • You have to put in a lot of work to build a following 

5. Merchandising and Licensing Your Writing

This method differs from all the others in that you will be making money from products you sell rather than anything associated with your writing.

A good example of writers who earn well with merchandising would be those who make money writing poetry . These entrepreneurial writers can often sell their poetry in the form of physical products, such as greeting cards, posters, t-shirts and more!

If you are a fiction writer, there are also many merchandising opportunities to generate additional income and revenue sources for your books. Consider the Harry Potter Franchise for example – you buy nearly anything with a Harry Potter character on it, from T-Shirts to even licensed Lego sets.

Bloggers can also tap into this lucrative income source. The Pioneer Woman started as a blog – now you can find her licensed branded goods in retail stores across America to buy all kinds of housewares and kitchen products.

The merchandise that you sell will still be associated with your brand, of course. But they can encompass such a wide variety of products that it is almost an entirely different line of work. 

What kind of merch are we talking about here? Almost anything goes, including:

  • Craft items
  • Character models or images 
  • Household Goods
  • Greeting Cards

…and on and on and on. The sky is truly the limit, and you have carte blanche to decide what items to create and offer your audiences. 

Pros and cons of merchandising 

  • You can build your following substantially 
  • It can be a profitable income stream 
  • It helps enhance your brand identify and reputation 
  • It can take a lot of time away from writing 
  • It requires considerable financial investment 
  • Managing the business can become overwhelming 

Should you become a writer?  Can you make any money as a writer?

It’s a common misconception that writers don’t make any money. While it’s possible to not make very much in any career path, the reality is writers don’t have to be starving artists. Many writers can do well, especially once you know about the many streams of revenue available to writers!

As you can see, there are many ways to make money and get paid as a writer. We’ve covered some of the most popular and profitable income streams, but there are many other avenues to explore. 

Like anything else, writing for a living requires hard work‒and lots of it. It isn’t for everyone, and even if you have the requisite writing skills, you may not be willing to devote your time and energies into pursuing all the other tasks and responsibilities necessary to make money in this business. 

Perhaps the single most important thing you can take away from all this is: Yes, you can make money by being a writer. But if you want to sustain yourself and hopefully continue to work at your passion for many years to come, it is worth looking into developing the other essential skills. 

Good luck and here’s to a rewarding career ahead!

Eric Pangburn is a freelance writer who shares his best tips with other writers here at ThinkWritten. When not writing, he enjoys coaching basketball and spending time with his family.

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7 Websites where you can Make Money as a Creative Writer

  • by Michelle
  • June 3, 2020

7 Websites where you can Make Money as a Creative Writer

Creative writing is a super fun activity to convert your unstoppable creativity and imagination and put it in use. Not only is it a brain pleasing activity but also a rewarding job to earn money through tasks that aren’t tedious for the bursting brains of passionate writers. Whether you’re a creative writing degree holder or just a passionate writer; you can use your skills to start earning money online through a range of websites that require services of writers like you.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is any writing that involves the creativity of mind. It’s a broad term that covers different types of writing styles, all of them encompassing human emotions. Creative writing can be for used for a number of purposes including entertainment, information and education. This type of writing puts human imagination to test. Here are the most common forms:

  • Poetry writing
  • Fiction writing
  • Story writing
  • Speech writing
  • Television and Movie scripts
  • Personal essays

Earn Money as Creative Writer: List of 7 Websites

Here’s a breakdown of a few websites where you can work and get paid for creative writing:

Poets&Writers

Poets and writers is a literary magazine and a platform for writers to interact with each other and share their writing materials. The website has a database of numerous writing job opportunities on the web; ranging from writing and editing, to publishing. You can click on the link of your preferred job and you will be directed to the employer’s site.

PAYMENT DETAILS

Writing bunny.

Writing bunny offers a wide range of writing jobs for creative writers and allows them to choose different topics based on their skill set. Once you create an account on the website and pass their quality control test, Writing Bunny will deliver any available writing jobs that matches your skill set, to your email. You can set your rates in your profile and then increase them once your stats improve. You can apply as a writer, a translator and even a voice actor at writing bunny.

WeLocalize requires services of writers who can translate a language and write content in that specific language. The company offers translation jobs in languages such as Dutch, German, Japanese, Vietnamese, French, Portuguese, Hebrew, Indonesian, Swedish, Turkish and Italian.

Once you apply, you will have to complete a language test and then you can start applying for jobs.

Sports Networker

Sports Networker offers a writing internship for writers who are passionate about sports. They require writers who can research well and contribute to daily article production on the website. If you have experience in online publishing and are familiar with word press, then you can apply for this position. In addition, you are also required to have some SEO experience.

Contentor is a text translation services company. It offers job opportunities for content writers and translators. You can submit your resume through their online application system. The team at Contentor will evaluate your application and let you know if you are suitable to be a part of their writers team.

RelayPub is a book packaging and publishing company that works with freelance writers who work closely with the company to write books and stories that make their way to the market. RelayPub gives its writers a topic to brainstorm on and create a devouring story using their imagination. You can submit your application on the website along with a writing sample.

InboxDone is an email service provider for business managers, CEOs etc. The aim of this service is to manage emails for busy people who have too much on their plate managing their business and don’t have time for emails.

The company hires inbox managers who work online managing emails of different company individuals and writing appropriate replies to different emails. The company hires inbox managers on a yearly rolling basis. If this kind of job holds your interest you can apply on their website. Once you get selected, you will undergo a training period of one month in which you will learn to handle emails and work effectively.

As a writer you have a wide range of job opportunities on the web and most of these jobs don’t require you to be an acclaimed professional writer. You can use your passion and creativity for writing to earn money through a job that you enjoy. If you enjoy writing, check these websites on how to make money online through proof reading and 10 writing websites that pay upfront .

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Become a Writer Today

How To Make Money Being Creative: 12 Profitable Options

How to make money being creative? In this article, I’ll explain 12 different strategies for those working in the creator economy.

I spent much of my twenties barely earning enough money to pay our mortgage and even claimed social welfare for a while. For me, creative work meant writing, and I believed I needed permission from an employer or publisher to get paid to write.

In my thirties, I gradually discovered successful online writers take charge of their careers and don’t ask for permission from any publisher, employer, or high-profile publication. And they build a business behind their work. Of course, the same applies to content creators in other fields, too.

Years ago, it was exceptionally difficult to earn money from creative work . You had to seek permission from a gatekeeper like a publisher or an employer before even standing a chance of connecting, let alone selling to an audience.

The cost of creating and distributing meant many past creatives worked around the side of a job or even on the breadline. Worse still, society affixed a type of glamour to the  starving artist .

Today, it’s an unhelpful cliché to say artists must starve for their craft. Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals get paid for their work, so why not creatives?

Thanks to opportunities in the creator economy, it’s easier than ever to earn a living from your creative work if you’re committed to creating high-quality content and also spend time connecting with your ideal audience.

1. Build a Content Website

A good content website sells for 32 to 47 multiples of monthly profits. That’s an insane amount of money for a content creator who’s comfortable with the written word or working with freelancers. It’s also a better business model than many options online as you own this site rather than a third-party.

A while ago, I interviewed Jon Dykstra of Fat Stacks blog who earns over six figures a month from this approach. When I asked him about  building content websites , he said:

“I liken content to a widget. If you’re in manufacturing, you produce widgets. If you’re an online publisher, you produce content,” he says. “There are multiple workflows. I have a couple of in-house writers that I work with.”

2. Set Up Display Advertising

Display advertising is a proven and relatively method for monetizing a content website with traffic. Compared to options like launching a course or public speaking, it’s also a relatively stable and passive income stream.

Google AdSense has a low barrier to entry for new website publishers, but it doesn’t pay that much. If your site attracts over 50,0000 page views per month, consider applying to MediaVine. AdThrive is a popular option for bigger sites. Then, use earnings from advertising to invest in more content, thus building a content flywheel.

Some personal brands and small content publishers frown on display advertising, but it’s how many big media brands earn a return on content (or their case employees). It’s a good approach if you’re committed to creating high-quality content at scale and enjoy working with freelance writers and editors.

3. Start a Podcast

How to make money being creative: Start a podcast

A reader enjoying an article typically spends two minutes or less engaging with a piece of well-written content. A YouTube user watches several minutes of a ten-minute clip before moving on to something else in their feed. But an engaged podcast listener sticks with an episode for 30-minutes or longer. That’s a long time to hold somebody’s attention!

If your audience is engaged, you can monetize a podcast by selling promotional spots to advertisers. However, you’ll need several thousand downloads per episode for this option to work. Meanwhile, you could promote products and services (or affiliate products) to listeners.

Although podcasts are harder to monetize than other content formats, they still help you build a relationship with your audience, indirectly leading to revenue opportunities later.

4. Become an Affiliate Marketer

I stumbled into affiliate marketing several years ago (read my guide to affiliate marketing to learn more). These days I promote several products as an affiliate, including Grammarly. I’m happy to promote them as I use these products daily in my business.

Affiliate marketing is an excellent way of earning five or even six figures a year from content. Work as normal on your online projects. But also take time to recommend the products and services you use for these projects too. Create content about how you use these products via walk-throughs, guides, tutorials, and reviews.

Affiliate marketing is also a good option for creators because it enables validating an idea and promoting a product without necessarily spending a significant amount of time or resources building one. Plus, you don’t need to provide customer support.

5. Join a Partner Program

Many content platforms offer partner programs for content creators. They’ll pay you to create content for them.

I’m two minds about these programs. I’ve earned several thousand dollars from the  Medium Partner Program , and some other writers I know earn that much … a month. It represents an excellent opportunity for writers who need validation that they can get paid for their work. You don’t need to write for free anymore.

Similarly, the YouTube partner program pays top-tier creators millions of dollars. But these partner programs are a grind. And you’re still building a business for another company with your content. Unless you’re Logan Paul, it’s far better to think of them as distribution channels that you can use to connect with your ideal audience.

5. Create Digital Products

If you’ve written a non-fiction book or you write non-fiction regularly, chances are you can turn many ideas in your work into a digital course. This is because Digital products have a higher perceived value than books and retail for more. Plus, your audience consumes and learns information in different ways.

While some of your audience may enjoy written content, others may prefer taking a digital course whereby your thoughts and ideas are organized logically for them. Sure, this information is available on YouTube for free, but students often pay because of an affinity with the instructor.

If you sell 100 copies of a course for $47, that’s enough for many creators to live on in a given month. And many top-tier digital courses retail for one or two thousand dollars. Later, you can resell the same course to new audience members or create an upsell for existing students.

6. Write a Book

How to make money being creative: Write a book

Podcasting, freelance writing, and blogging are fun opportunities for creators, but a good book reaches more people. They usually have a greater impact on readers and last longer than any viral article or video.

Thanks to the availability of affordable self-publishing tools, you can easily write and self-publishing a non-fiction book in a few months … without anyone’s permission. Although you’re unlikely to earn quit your job money by writing one book, many indie authors earn on the backend. Writing a book serves as a calling card introducing readers to your other digital products and services like a course, coaching, or a public speaking gig.

7. Speak in Public

A lucrative public speaking gig, particularly in the corporate sector, can generate several thousand dollars in income. That’s more than enough to cover living expenses for a month or two. However, factor in time spent preparing for a speech and traveling. It can also take many months to build up name recognition as a public speaker.

I interviewed one Australian public speaker who earned $500 for his first gig. He told me, “I wouldn’t get out of bed for that kind of money today.” Today, he earns several thousand dollars per gig.

8. Create Subscriptions

Many creators are a reasonably good living from their fan base via donations and monthly subscriptions. The singer  Amanda Palmer  reportedly earns over $34,000 on Patron everything she creates a new ‘thing’.

I’ve also interviewed several popular writers who’ve monetized their work successfully on Substack by creating paid newsletters.

If you have an audience and they enjoy your work, why not ask them to support it in some way? Explain how much time and work it takes to create your content, and you may be surprised by the results. Several dollars from one supporter won’t pay the bills, but if you have a bigger audience, it’ll quickly add up.

9. Buy an NFT

The art world usually reveals the path for creators. Over the coming years, anyone working in the creator economy will need to embrace non-fungible tokens or NFTs.

Artists and visual content creators are beginning to earn serious money from NFTS. The most high-profile example is the visual artist Beeple  who sold an NFT  for an astonishing $69 million.

Rather than shying away from this new content format, NFTs represent a great opportunity if you’re working in the creator economy. It’s relatively easy to create an NFT… although it’s harder to sell one, at least right now.

As a creator, you earn a percentage of any future sale too. In other words, create an NFT once and continue to earn years later.

10. Build an Ecosystem of Products

Successful content creators don’t rely on a single product or service to earn a good living. Instead, they build an ecosystem of complementary products and services. For example, an author sells books introducing readers to their courses and public speaking packages. Or a visual artist sells prints on ETSY but also explores using NFTs for their art.

Rather than relying on a single income stream, protect the health of your creative business by diversifying. As Gary Vaynerchuk  said , he wants to put himself out of business … and he does it by exploring future business models.

11. Outsource

It’s hard to manage all these monetization options for creators effectively. So, as soon as you can afford it, outsource parts of your business you either hate spending time on or which fall outside your area of expertise. That’ll free you to grow a creator economy business by working on higher-value tasks … or even taking time off.

For example, new content publishers can use earnings from advertising to hire freelance writers or an editor and publish more frequently. This approach should increase their website traffic, which in turn leads and further growth in display advertising. And repeat.

I hired an editor for my podcast and also used business profits to invest in hiring other creators like book cover designers and editors.

Executives in big corporate companies have defined benefits packages, share options, and fat pensions. If you’re working in the creator economy, take control over your financial security. Once your business begins earning a good income, invest a portion of monthly profits to generate passive income streams.

Index funds tracking the performance of the S&P500 are proven relatively stable and attractive options. These funds typically generate a return of 7% per annum, which can quickly add up over several years. For example, $1000 invested in an index fund back in 1987  would be worth  over $51,000 today.

The creator economy is increasingly powered by digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the latter of which powers NFT sales.

A thousand dollars invested in Bitcoin in 2016 is worth approximately $5000 today. And if you invested the same amount in March 2020, it’d be worth over $10,0000. You can also stake digital currencies and return a 5% return each year.

I invest 30-35% of my business’s profits in commissioning new content for the various digital properties I own. However, I’m under no illusions. The value of one of these websites could be wiped out by a Google algorithm update or an affiliate program changing its terms. So, I also dollar-cost average a portion each month into index funds and digital currencies.

You might also take inspiration from our round-up of the 25 richest writers .

Make Money Being Creative: The Final Word

The creator economy offers many opportunities for earning a good living. Your biggest challenge isn’t earning; it’s picking one opportunity and focusing on it. With some hard work, you can easily turn one of these opportunities into a lucrative revenue stream for your creative or content business.

creative writing ideas about money

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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creative writing ideas about money

24 Creative Business Ideas for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

D o you want to start a business that pads your wallet and fuels your creative personality? Keep reading; we have a mega list of creative business ideas!  

Before I began my blog, my quest to earn a good living and do something I loved felt futile. I had always enjoyed helping people, traveling, and writing, but I could never figure out how to practically apply my passions to a career that would pay me a decent wage.

Many times I thought I had it figured out. But once I began the work, I slowly lost interest and started searching for my next gig. I couldn't figure out what to do professionally.

Through the process of leaving the work world to become a stay-at-home mom, I eventually realized what I wanted. Aside from my desire to be at home with my daughter, I also longed for a career that would offer me flexibility, good pay, and a creative outlet.

Fast forward to today. I'm able to spend lots of time with my family, I earn more than I ever made as a nurse, and I get to call the shots and nurture my creativity.

The good news is nowadays; it's a lot easier for individuals with creative personalities to start a business that they are passionate about.

If you're ready to be in charge of your career direction and work on passion projects, here are some creative business ideas to inspire your entrepreneurial journey.

If you love to create worksheets, planners, coloring sheets, gift card holders, or any other digital products, you can make good money with a printable business ! For this business, you don't even need any graphic design skills! You can use a free platform like Canva to create printables to sell on sites like Etsy or Teachers Pay Teachers .

One business owner who earns over $1,000 a month selling printables on Etsy is Cody Berman . On his Etsy shop, he sells digital printables. Cody has been so successful at this side hustle that he started teaching others how to start their printable business from home! 

2. T-Shirt Designer

Graphic tees have made a comeback. Whether you love to share and promote great designs from others or you're a design guru yourself, there are many companies to help make your t-shirt design dreams come true.

Companies like Spring and Spreadshirt can help you get your designs onto shirts and on the bodies of your customers, earning you a commission on every shirt sold. Most companies also offer the opportunity to print your designs on other items, like mugs , stickers, posters, and more. If you have an idea for a catchy saying, cool graphic designs, or funny drawings, designing t-shirts might be the home business you're looking for.

3. Photography Business

If you're a skilled photographer, stock photography is in high demand, and there are many buyers and platforms who will pay you a commission, give you assignments, or buy photographs you've already taken. Sites like Shutterstock and Getty are a couple that pay for stock photos.

Don't have a fancy camera? No problem. Smartphone apps like Foap will allow you to upload photos from your smartphone to their site. Each time one of your photos sells, you earn money.

Check out this article for more ways to make money selling photos .

4. Photo Book Designer

If you're more into scrapbooking than photography, you can use your creative skills to earn money by creating photo books. Using scrapbook design software, you can get creative by helping others organize their photos so they can archive them in a keepsake book rather than being lost in the digital abyss.

With smartphones and digital cameras, people snap hundreds, even thousands, of vacation photos, pictures of their kids, and holiday moments … but those images just sit there. Scrapbooking takes time and talent, so if you've got the eye for it, you can create beautiful masterpieces, earning you money while having fun.

Here's an interview with three photo book designers  so you can see how they got started. In fact, Rachel Jenkins of ScrapMyPix says she receives a large portion of her business through referrals and networking. She started scrapbooking while working on a baby book for her son. She says, "It was a perfect creative outlet for me. As I was putting those pictures to pages, I thought, 'I wish people would pay me to do this.'" If you've got a talent for organizing photos and digital scrapbooking, photo book design might be perfect for you!

5. Web Design Business

If you have experience in website development, you know it can be a very creative process. Some people cringe at the idea of learning HTML, navigating through the land of platforms, and web hosting. But if technology doesn't frighten you, this can be a lucrative and creative way to earn money from home.

If you enjoy website building , your services can be extremely valuable to bloggers, sellers, and other online business owners. Even if you have to outsource some aspects of the process (such as logo design to a resource like Fiverr or Upwork ), you can do much of the page designing and layout yourself with your creative skills.

6. Graphic Designer

While graphic design is competitive and working for an agency often requires a degree or extensive experience, there are still plenty of ways for you to make money from home in graphic design .

Self-taught designer Karen X. Cheng says, "I got my job as a designer without going to design school. I had hacked together my own design education in 6 months while working a full-time job … To be clear, I'm nowhere near as good as those design prodigies that come out of a 4-year education at an elite school like RISD. But I'm definitely good enough to do my job well. I'm the only designer at Exec [the startup firm where she works], so I do a pretty wide range of things – visual and interaction design, print, web, and mobile app design."

If you have design experience and think you're ready to take it to the next level, look at online design job options from sites like Dribbble , FlexJobs , and Legiit to see if you can find the right opportunity. Alternatively, you can advertise your services and showcase your portfolio through your own website and by working your network.

7. Freelance Writer

Writing from home is an excellent way to express your creative side and hone in on your talents. There are tons of platforms out there to help freelance writers connect with job opportunities. Try looking at  Freelancer  or FlexJobs to get started.

Alternatively, you can write blog posts for a variety of paid outlets. Head to BloggingPro or ProBlogger for job listings and writing opportunities. Need advice on how to build your work-at-home writing career? Make a Living Writing has your answers. You can also check out our comprehensive list of paid writing opportunities .

And don't feel you're limited to writing articles and blog posts. There are many opportunities for you to express your creative side with writing -- such as writing greeting cards, poems , recipes , resumes, ghostwriting , copywriting , e-books , and more.

8. Event Planning

I love the idea of being an event planner—and in fact, I considered it as a career option at one point. It's so much fun to plan parties, set up for guests, and think up different themes, foods, and decoration ideas . As a work-at-home event planner, you can help with major events like weddings, fundraisers, and large-scale gatherings or small events like children's birthday parties and showers. Find your area of expertise and build from there. Think of a niche before you begin, then start networking!

Word-of-mouth can be great advertising for any event planner , particularly if you want to work within a small area (like within your neighborhood, school, or church). Once you get your foot in the door with one event, reach out to others, pass out your business cards, and see where it takes you.

When it comes to making money from home, blogging has grown by leaps and bounds. If you enjoy writing and sharing your thoughts and ideas online, blogging is an excellent way to earn money. You can choose a topic you're passionate about, work on your own schedule, and make money with advertising, sponsored campaigns , affiliate marketing, course sales, freelance services , and more!

If you aren't sure how to get started, download my free e-book, Blogging Success . Consider what you would like to blog about and look for your particular niche and style. Once you have a plan, check out this post on to how to build your blog with WordPress. Don't worry; you don't need a tech background to get started.

From there, you’ll need to develop a regular writing and posting schedule. Be sure to include the best SEO techniques on your site and in your articles. Then build your network, and promote your posts using social media and  email marketing .

10. Crafter

DIY and craft mavens can use their talents to sell their wares from home. You can sell your handmade items on sites like Etsy. These sites are simple to use, increase your exposure, and help connect you with potential customers.

However, if you want to grow your brand, you'll eventually need to create your own online shop. Use an e-commerce website builder like Shopify. With these platforms, you can sell directly from your site and promote your products via social media, blogging, and email marketing.

It's important for those running a craft business from home to remember to connect with local vendors and market spaces as well. If you live in a town with a farmer's market, local festivals, and craft fairs, these events are great opportunities to get your products in front of potential customers and increase your exposure.

12. Start a YouTube Channel

Do you enjoy creating videos, slideshows, and tutorials? YouTube is one of the most popular social media platforms, and there's big money for those who can turn out entertaining and helpful videos.

Most YouTube creators make money from affiliate marketing, sponsored campaigns , and Google Adsense . To earn money through Google's ad monetization, you'll need at least 1,000 followers and 4,000 public watch hours, so it's important to post content that's engaging, well-put-together, honest, and helpful.

Wondering how much you can make as a YouTube Star? Check out Judy Travis' story ! She's earning over a million dollars a year creating YouTube videos, amazing!

12. Fashion Designer

If you're a seamstress, a fashionista , or have an excellent eye for sewing and detail, becoming an online fashion designer might be a great business idea. You can create and sell your items on your own website or set up shop via a third-party platform like Etsy.

Need help launching your fashion line?  Lisa Springsteel Dupré has some excellent tips and advice in this post.

12. Illustrator

Are you great at making ideas come to life through drawing? Book publishers, web designers, and authors are looking for your talents! If you have a passion for drawing, you can find illustration work through companies like Avatar Press and Cricket Media .

You can also submit your designs to Rubber Stamp Madness and Teacher Created Resources or join a site like 99 Designs .

Check out listings on Upwork for comic artists and illustrators as well.

Another option is to watermark your illustrations and sell them on Etsy for download. As your creative talents and connections grow, you may want to explore joining a professional illustrators organization such as the AOI .

Similar to selling crafts , sewing, or photography, your business as an artist will vary by your area of expertise. If you enjoy painting portraits or pictures of animals, you can try your hand as a portrait artist for hire. Advertise online, and talk to other local artists.

Many cities have artist networks and feature open galleries. Talk to local coffee shops, bookstores, and other small businesses about displaying your work for sale. Fairs and street festivals can also be excellent opportunities to display and sell your creations.

Remember, when selling your art, you may want to offer smaller, more affordable options (postcards, prints) rather than only large paintings, especially if you're interested in getting your work in front of people and finding new buyers.

You can also sell your artwork online using platforms like Artfinder and Aftcra . For more online platforms where you can sell your artwork for money, check out this list .

15. Podcaster

If you have the gift of gab, producing a podcast might be your calling. Find your niche and start to brainstorm topics you'd like to discuss. You will need a microphone and some basic audio editing software like  Audacity or Garage Band . Once you've recorded and edited your podcast, you're ready to publish. Just find some platforms to host your podcast and then promote it. iTunes is a popular platform, but there are many others to choose from. To make money from your podcast , you can include sponsorships or advertisements.

16. Lip Gloss Maker

Don't think you can make big money selling lip gloss from home? Kylie Jenner has made billions selling her lip gloss and cosmetics. While this is an extreme example, Kiki Quesada has made quite the name for herself on TikTok selling lip gloss through her online shop Kikiz Cosmeticz. Not only does she have fun shades and colors, but she adds glitters and yummy flavors. I'm not sure how much Kiki is earning, but with over a million TikTok followers, I'd say she's doing pretty well.

17. Content Creator

If you enjoy creating content, whether it's writing, taking photos, or filming videos, there are many ways to make money as a content creator! To get started, choose a niche market like crafting, cooking, dancing, woodworking, or something completely different, and start creating content and posting it to social media sites like Facebook, TikTok , Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or even LinkedIn. Competition is fierce between these platforms, and they all have creator funds that will pay you to create content. But creator funds are not the only way to make money; you can work with brands on sponsored content , create UGC for companies, sell your own merchandise and courses, or use affiliate marketing or ads to generate revenue. 

18. Calligrapher

When I was younger, I had a calligraphy set. And even though I spent hours trying to master my craft, I never was able to produce the gorgeous handwritten script that was shown in my book. If you have beautiful handwriting , you can make good money with a calligraphy business. You can sell your services addressing wedding invitations, selling SVGs on a marketplace like Etsy, or even creating fonts to sell online.

According to  Career Explorer , a calligrapher earns an average of $61,580 per year, with some making as much as $115,020 annually. 

19. Slime Seller

When my daughter was in elementary school, she loved making slime! She spent hours each day making slime and filming videos. Little did I know that she was selling the slime at school and making quite a fortune! The slime that is being sold today looks nothing like what my daughter was selling. Some companies make slime baking kits where you combine slime ingredients that look like real food products, such as eggs and butter. Then you combine all these slime ingredients into a finished pie or cake. It's wild how far slime has come! 

One company that makes these ingenious slime kits is Slime Community . They release new slime kits on TikTok, and they are always sold out. They recently had a Thanksgiving slime kit that sold for $39.99. If you're looking for a fun side hustle that you can do with your kids, being a slime maker might be your calling.

20. 3D Printing Business

If you have a little money to invest, starting a 3D printing business is a great way for creative entrepreneurs to express themselves. With a 3D printing business, you can create prototypes for other entrepreneurs, 3D printed parts for digital nomads who are building out their vans or can design your own products to sell, like planters, toys, puzzles, coasters, organizational products, and tools. Once you have some products, you can set up a shop on Etsy, which will only cost you $0.20 per listing. You can cross-promote your Etsy listings on your social media accounts to reach more potential clients. 

Austen Hartley is one entrepreneur who makes money using a 3D printer. In 2021, he earned over $100K from his 3D printing business! He has a helpful  YouTube video  if you're interested in pursuing this profitable business idea. 

21. Cricut Entrepreneur

Another unique business idea is becoming a Cricut entrepreneur. If you're unfamiliar with Cricut, it is an intelligent cutting device that can cut materials like vinyl, paper, leather, wood, iron-on fabric, and more. These materials can be used to create custom coffee mugs , labels, sweatshirts, cards, decor, and so much more! 

Melanie from Simple Made Pretty is one entrepreneur who used a Cricut machine to launch her own business. She started creating one-of-a-kind greeting cards and selling them on Etsy. Today, she also runs her blog, showcasing DIY and craft projects. 

If you're wondering what crafts you can make with a Cricut, check out this list of ideas .

If you have a great voice and enjoy acting, voice acting is a great way to make money and use your creative talents. As a voiceover artist, you can narrate TV and radio commercials, audiobooks , educational films, phone prompts, and more.

For this career, you'll need to invest in some equipment, such as a high-quality microphone, audio interface, pop filter, and recording and editing software like Audacity or Garage Band. And most importantly, you'll need a quiet space to record your clips. You can use acoustic sound panels, purchase a portable recording booth, or even use a closet to accomplish this.

To find voice-acting jobs , you can check out Voices.com , BunnyStudio , and Voice123 .

23. Soap Maker

Another creative small business idea is becoming a soap maker! In fact, according to  Quicken , the average US consumer spends $60 a month on personal grooming supplies, making this a potentially lucrative business venture. From all-natural soaps and shampoo bars to specialty soaps for people with skin care concerns like eczema, there are many different niches you can target with this online business idea. 

Once you have the soap-making part down, set up an e-commerce website on Shopify, or use an online marketplace like Etsy , Amazon Handmade, or eBay . You can also choose to sell locally at farmer's markets. Check out this detailed post for more info on starting a soap business from home.

24. Charcuterie Board Business

One new business idea that's become extremely popular is the charcuterie board business! This is a fun and creative way to combine your passion for food and creativity into one unique business. From doing small-scale events like birthday parties and anniversary parties to large events like weddings, you can do this business full- or part-time, depending on your financial goals. Specialize in appetizer boards or dessert boards; the sky is the limit with this creative business idea. Check out this article for more inspiration on running a  charcuterie board business from home!

Creative Business Ideas Wrap-Up

There are so many great ways for creative personalities to earn money from home. As you think about ways to make money, consider what you really love and what truly speaks to you. What talents do you have? What makes you feel the most fulfilled? After all, one of the secrets to success is to love what you do!

Are you making money from home by doing something creative? We'd love to hear what you're up to and how you've found success!

Ready to start your business? Grab our FREE Simplified Business Plan Template , which will walk you through the questions and steps you need to take to get your creative business off the ground!

Holly Reisem Hanna is the Founder and Publisher of the award-winning career website  The Work at Home Woman.

Do you have a creative personality? Are you having a hard time figuring out how to practically apply your passions to a career that will pay you a good wage? Here is a fantastic list of home business ideas for creative personalities.

DIY gift basket ideas for Father’s Day: Get inspired with these 5 fun themes

by Lisa Barnes | May 18, 2024 | Father's Day Gifts , DIY | 0 comments

DIY gift basket ideas for Father’s Day: Get inspired with these 5 fun themes

A few years ago, for a cool Father’s Day gift, I decided to create my own DIY Father’s Day gift basket. Rather than ordering a gift basket for Dad that may or may not hit the mark, DIY-ing means you can fill it with items that are meaningful and personal, and save some money too.

Get inspired with these 5 cool gift basket themes for dads and grandfathers. each of which I have personally given to the dads in our lives. I hope these ideas inspire you to create a personalized gift basket that is unique and highly-tailored to the dads in your life, their interests, and the things that will make them happy.

This way, your Father’s Day gift basket really will feel made “just for him.” Because it was.

5 creative DIY gift basket ideas for dads

Keep in mind that none of these gift baskets actually requires a “basket.” I see that as just one more thing that gets tossed in the back of a closet somewhere. Instead, get creative with a container that can actually be reused and goes with the theme — like a duffel, a storage bin, or a backpack.

This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission from certain purchases to help support our team at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting independent publishers!

DIY Father's Day gift basket ideas for outdoors-y dads | Cool Mom Picks

DIY Gift Basket Ideas for a Dad Who Loves the Outdoors

Whether heading out on a day hike or a camping trip, any dad who loves the outdoors will appreciate a thoughtfully curated selection all of things he may not buy for himself — or may actually forget to pack for himself. Think of ideas like:

  • An Osprey Day Light Backpack
  • A Stanley IceFlow Stainless Steel Bottle with Straw  (this one won’t leak in a backpack!)
  • Some electrolyte powder packets
  • A nice new pair of Altra Trail Running Shoes
  • New socks (I’m a big fan of  Bombas )
  • A reusable food storage bag full of homemade trail mix using one of these recipes
  • A subscription to the AllTrails+ app
  • A  solar phone charger
  • A US National Parks annual pass

Other Ideas for a DIY Gift Basket for an Outdoors-y Dad: Sunblock, bug spray, an on-the-go first aid kit, our favorite open-ear headphones.

DIY Gift Basket Ideas for a New Dad

New Dads are so much fun to celebrate, and you can get so creative with a DIY Father’s Day gift basket filled with all the things they don’t know they’ll need! This basket can include:

  • An affordable custom daddy and me board book or photo album from Pinhole Press
  • A stylish diaper backpack like this Herschel Baby Settlement Sprout Backpack
  • A statement-making Goorin Bros. trucker hat  (to hide the fact his hair probably hasn’t been washed in a while)
  • This brilliant men’s hoodie with a baby pouch from Seraphine
  • Very affordable aviator sunglasses that hide the dark circles — and aren’t worth crying over when he finds them broken in the bottom of that diaper bag one day. (It happens.)
  • His favorite coffee. Because coffee (PS Peet’s is offering 30% off new subscriptions!)
  • A cool travel hand sanitizer clip-on key chain  for easy access.
  • This Moments with Dad scratch-off journal for his dad-kid bucket list

Other Ideas for a Father’s Day Gift Basket for a New Dad: A pack of eco-friendly diapers and wipes , hand sanitizer, a portable wireless speaker , or a  comfy wrap Bluetooth headphones to help him “sleep when baby sleeps.” Because yeah, dads get that advice too.

DIY Gift Basket Ideas for a Dad Who Loves Ted Lasso

My entire household is in love with Ted Lasso , but the biggest fan is by far my husband. Just because the series is over doesn’t mean the love has to be. So I’m putting together a DIY Ted Lasso gift basket for him that will hopefully help fill the empty place that has been left in his AFC Richmond-loving heart.

While you can pick any show he adores for a DIY gift basket theme — Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, The Bear, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown — here’s what I included in my Ted Lasso gift basket:

  • The Nike Heritage Waist Pack like the one worn by Jaime Tartt
  • Ted Lasso candles from Etsy
  • A motivational Ted Lasso BELIEVE key chain
  • Classic Aviator Glasses , of course
  • “Futbol is Life” shirt honoring Dani Rojas, on Etsy
  • “Barbecue Sauce” sticker from Wenby-Weaselbee on Redbubble
  • Ted Lasso Little People Collector Set to play with the kids.
  • And of course, you can package up some shortbread cookies to tuck in the waist pack; this shortbread recipe minus the lavender salt is perfect if you’re going homemade.

Related: More Ted Lasso gift ideas for the super fan. 

DIY Gift Basket Ideas for a Game-Loving Dad

My kids have grown up playing games of all kinds with their dad, and this DIY gift basket idea can help you refresh his game stash for Father’s Day. You can of course fill a big plastic garage-style storage bin with any games the dad in your life likes to play from board games , to outdoor games, to video games key can play alone or with the family. The key is to make it personalized around his own loves and interests. For inspiration, check out the DIY basket I’m making:

  • For the “basket,”  I suggest a clear, heavy duty storage bin like this one from Hefty
  • The Original Spikeball Game
  • A Pickleball Starter Kit (if he hasn’t yet started)
  • A new ball pump for inflating whatever’s hanging around the garage.
  • A glow-in-the-dark soccer ball (which of course can be part of the Ted Lasso gift basket too!)
  • A new Hydroflask and some Liquid IV packets to keep him hydrated.
  • The new Do You Really Know Your Family? card game for at-home game nights with the kids.

Other Ideas for a Game-Lover’s Father’s Day Gift Basket: Dad’s favorite snacks, accessories for his favorite games and sports, a ball a comfy chair pillow for a game night around the dining room table, and some handmade cards from the kids describing their favorite family game memories with him.

DIY Gift Basket Ideas for a Dad Who Loves Music

If the dad in your life loves music, there are endless possibilities for a DIY gift basket for him! These are just a few of my ideas for the dad in my life who carries his bluetooth speaker with him wherever he goes; but of course you should customize it based on his own taste, style, interests, and music-enjoyment needs.

  • Our very favorite Sony Noise-Cancelling Headphones (so only he can hear the music)
  • Tickets to see his favorite band live
  • An official shirt or hoodie from his favorite band — say, the Foo Fighters ?
  • Alternatively, the shirt my kids picked out on Etsy: Missionthread’s cat playing a guitar t-shirt
  • This cool Build Your Own Bluetooth and FM Radio Kit.
  • Electric Guitar Heartbeat Duffle Bag from Redbubble
  • A framed poster of his favorite album cover or tour art — love the selection at StudioMaxe on Etsy
  • For a big splurge, the portable mixer from Teenage Engineering at the MoMA Store

Other ideas for a DIY Music-Lovers Gift Basket for Dad: A rare LP he has wanted (this Etsy shop gets great reviews), guitar themed socks, the Game That Song card game .. or maybe just a new playlist for him, from the kids. Never know, he might discover some new tunes to add to his own collection!

Be sure to see more Father’s Day gift ideas for all kinds of dads here

creative writing ideas about money

Written by Lisa Barnes

Lisa a fabulously cool mom of three grown or nearly grown kids, and a new Oregonian. She loves cooking and meal planning so much, she writes about it on Cool Mom Eats. Superstar! Bio

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COMMENTS

  1. 61 Money Writing Prompts and Ideas » JournalBuddies.com

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    56 Creative Ways to Make Money. Scroll through to spot ways to supplement your full-time job or simply find a creative outlet for making money. Links are included to get you on your way. Start Your Own Side Gig. If you want to run your own show, you've got a lot of options. 1. Design Websites. Earning potential: $24.70 an hour

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    If you pass their muster and can crank out well-written articles regularly, you could have a steady gig as a writer. 5. Publishing a book. Self-publishing a book might seem a bit of a pipe dream for an aspiring writer, but it is possible to get your name in print and make some money in the process.

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    Most of these prompts are from my latest book, The Year of You: 365 Journal Writing Prompts for Creative Self-Discovery, so if you enjoy them and want more like this, check it out here. 1. Describe your relationship with money in five words or less. 2. What was your money story growing up? 3.

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    But, you can actually start making money from reviews quickly by signing up for a few rewards websites. On these sites, you could find yourself reviewing anything! Gadgets, music, stationery - you name it. For example, on Slicethepie, you can earn cash from writing short reviews of fashion items and songs.

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