Journal Sparks - by Emily K Neuburger (Paperback)

About the Book

Sixty inventive writing prompts, guided exercises, and crafty activities designed to jumpstart creative journaling, storytelling, and self-expression are accompanied by inspiring examples from journals of people of all ages and instructions for making a one-of-a-kind blank book of your own.

Book Synopsis

Using words, drawing, collage, and observation-based list-making, award-winning author Emily K. Neuburger highlights the many paths into journaling. Her 60 interactive writing prompts and art how-tos help you to expand your imagination and stimulate your creativity. Every spread invites a new approach to filling a page, from making a visual map of a day-in-my-life to turning random splotches into quirky characters for a playful story. ​It's the perfect companion to all those blank books and an ideal launchpad to explore creative self-expression and develop an imaginative voice -- for anyone ages 10 to 100!

Teachers' Choice Award Winner
Mom's Choice Awards Winner
Foreword INDIES Gold Award Winner
National Parenting Product Awards Winner

From the Back Cover

60 Irresistible Ways to Fill the Page

Pick up a journal, a notepad, or just the scrap of napkin on your table and write, sketch, scribble, map, and collage your way to creative self-expression.

- Illustrate a map of your day
- Capture snippets of conversation
- Imagine a potion pantry and invent remedies
- Trace objects from nature
- Style funny hairdos
- Converse with the cat
- List the things that make you you
- Turn thumbprints into quirky characters
- Tell fortunes
- Construct a teeny tiny journal
- Create collages with the included one-of-a-kind art papers, paper pop-outs, and stickers

Review Quotes

"A visually adorable and joyful book full of inspiring and creative ideas for seeing, gathering, and experimenting. You will stay motivated to create for a long time!" -- Jennifer Orkin Lewis, artist and illustrator at augustwren.com

"A great roadmap for getting started with journaling. These thoughtful writing prompts and playful art activities will inspire and engage!" -- Susan Schwake, best-selling author of Art Lab for Kids series

"My family's favorite kind of any-age book. These friendly, fabulous, and imaginative prompts are great for journaling but they're also approachably small, stand-alone creative projects. You'll soon be busy charting your world of favorite things and places and words and dreams." -- Catherine Newman, author of Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness

"I dare you to make it halfway through this book without running to grab your journal and a pencil! This trove of inspiring and practical ideas encourages us to push our creative boundaries and revel in the play between words and pictures." -- Alexandra Kennedy, executive director of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

"Transcendent! At a time when all of us -- children and adults -- are deluged with pixels and information, Emily Neuburger inspires us to use a journal to notice, feel, connect, and reflect." -- Sam Intrator, professor of education and child study at Smith College