Writing Prompts for Your Reading Journal

Have you have ever wondered what exactly to write about in your reading journal? Sometimes we have seemingly endless stream of thoughts to express about a book. But sometime, we need a little inspiration to get our creative juices flowing.

Here are some prompts to spark your creativity and get you thinking more deeply while you read:

For Fiction Books:

1. How did the book make you feel?
   • emotions you felt while reading (or the lack of)
   • connections with the characters
   • the highs and lows of events in the story
2. Did the book keep you engaged throughout?
   • pacing of events
   • immersion into the story world
3. Did anything specific catch your attention (positively or negatively)?
   • favorite parts of the book
   • least favorite parts of the book
   • anything unique about the writing style or narrative structure
4. Did you make any connections from the book to your own life?
   • realistic or relatable
   • lessons learned
5. Did this book remind you of any others?
   • similarities to others in the same genre
   • similarities to others in different genres
6. What did you like/dislike about the characters?
   • connections to their motivations
   • traits and personalities
   • arcs and transformations
7. Were there any tropes or stereotypes?
   • what worked and what didn’t
   • fulfilling or too predictable
8. What themes did you find relatable?
   • philosophical wonderings
   • the human condition
9. Did you like the writing style?
   • flowy, punchy, unique
   • striking prose techniques
10. Were you enraptured by the story world?
    • scenery and imagery
    • engaging and immersive (or lacking)

For Non-Fiction Books:

1. What is the central idea of the book as a whole?
   • summarize key points and takeaways
   • applications to you and your life
   • things to consider further
2. What are the key take-aways from each chapter?
   • further details to your outline
   • questions or comments on ideas
3. Did you learn anything significant?
   • most important ideas
   • effects of implementation
4. How can you apply what you learned to your own life?
   • improvements and adjustments
   • new ways of thinking and perceiving
5. What is the overarching theme of the book?
   • purpose and call to action
   • driving motivation
6. Did anything specific catch your attention (positively or negatively)?
   • favorite parts of the book
   • least favorite parts of the book
7. Did the book raise any important topics or issues?
   • socially or individually
   • your stance on the matters
   • effects on the future
8. What did you agree or disagree with?
   • pros and cons
   • changes you would make
9. What are the implications of what you learned?
   • apply to your own life
   • apply to the lives of others or the world as a whole
10. What solutions did the book propose and would you add anything?
    • efficient and effective (or lacking)
    • additional considerations