June Reflections & July Inspiration: A Writer's Summer Solstice Recap & Beach-Ready Brainstorm

My words for June were fun and joy. And it was a month of fun - with a week's vacation with my daughter and the UEFA EURO 2024 going on in Football (soccer :)) I also felt joyful with my slow but steady progress with the second draft of my speculative fiction novel.

In this post, we will reflect on our writing journey in June. You can use the idea of the Comeback Journal introduced in this post. After the reflection, we will turn the page to July.

I encourage you to keep these two questions in the back of your mind:

◦ "What could spark my creativity today?"

◦ "What sparked my creativity today?" (Celebrate those moments, big or small.)

Notes from the Comeback Journal: Reflections on June

Let's take a moment to reflect on June's writing journey. Grab your Journal and consider these questions:

• What sparks of inspiration did I capture in June?

• What emotions surfaced? Did any emotions surface that I could explore in my writing?

• Did I experiment with any new styles or genres? Did I step outside my comfort zone?

• What progress did I make? What small wins did I achieve? Did I write more consistently?

• What sparked my creativity in June? What sights, sounds, tastes, experiences, or books ignited my imagination

By revisiting your notes, you gain valuable insights into your creative process and identify patterns that can inform your writing in July.

Here are some of what inspired me in June:

• Time tracking

• An idea for visiting the Black Madonna in Barcelona

• My Garnet Paberblank notebook “ Focus the spirit with beauty”

• Watching the UEFA EURO 2024 Tournament

• A solitary road trip of 1600 kilometers. 

• I changed a pivotal plot point during the second draft of my speculative fiction novel

• I reminded myself of having the Peacock as a sign for my novel

• Going to the beach with my daughter

• Doing the Choose your own adventure from last month - Here are some clues inspired by the adventure that formed my monthly map.

My Summer Bucket list

• Visit Louisiana Literature festival

• Write under the stars

• Make a travellog

• Complete a 30 chain of writing

• Cloud gazing

• Research local legend lore

• Visit a bookstore

• Visit the Library

• Visit a museum

• Design a travel brochure for a setting in my novel

My writing abundance Manifesto

She's a storyteller. Responsibilities pile up, but she makes time. She reclaims creativity and carves writing space. Transforming experiences into stories, she finds her voice and raises above the noise. Pen in hand, she honors the writer within and the power of the written word.

Turning the Page to July: The Beach entries

As the calendar flips to July, a new chapter unfolds in your journal – a chapter filled with the sights, sounds, and sensations of Summer. Let the next pages in your journal capture the essence of beachside adventures. Whether you're journaling on the sandy shores or simply dreaming of the ocean let the beach be your muse this July. 

Seaside-inspired ideas

Unwind with this collection of beach-inspired prompts and harness the energy of the beach for creative flow. 

And if you find it a bit overwhelming, jump down to the choose your own adventure part of this blog post and let the questions guide you. However, if you are curious about all the prompts read on.

Your Beach Brainstorm entries:

Salty Air and Sun-kissed Skin:

• Sensory Journaling: Describe the sights, sounds, smells, tastes (salty air!), and textures of the beach in vivid detail. 

• Mindful Moments: Sit quietly and observe the waves, the birds, the people, and the changing light. Let your mind wander and capture fleeting thoughts and images.

Beach Blanket Daydreams:

• "What If?" Scenarios: Imagine fantastical events happening on the beach. What if a mermaid washed ashore? What if the sand turned to gold?

• Nature: Give voices to the waves, the wind, the sand, or the sun. What are they telling you?

Beachcombing for Inspiration:

• "Found" Objects: Imagine finding a message in a bottle, a diary in the sand, or a mysterious object washed ashore. What message does it hold for you?

• Beachcombing for Inspiration: Collect shells, driftwood, seaweed, or other natural objects. Use them as writing prompts or incorporate them into your story's setting.

Stories from the shore:

• Create an alter: When you get home, create a small display that reminds you of all the stories the shore had to tell you

• Write a postcard: Capture a single moment on a postcard and display it on your desk

And now for the adventure . . .

Choose Your Own Journaling Adventure: Beach Edition

The sun warms your skin, the salty air fills your lungs, and the rhythmic waves invite you to relax and dream. Your journal awaits, ready to capture the magic of this beach day. But how will your story unfold? The choice is yours.

1. : Salty Air and Sun-kissed Skin

You close your eyes and take a deep breath of salty air, feeling the sun on your skin and the sand between your toes. And then you reach for your journal.

Do you:

• A) Describe the sights, sounds, smells, tastes (salty air!), and textures of the beach in vivid detail.

• B) Capture fleeting thoughts and images while observing the waves.

2. Beach Blanket Daydreams:

While at your beach blanket, a mermaid offers you a choice between turning the sand to gold or having the waves whisper a piece of life-changing advice to you.

Do you:

• A) Choose the sand to gold option?

• B) Choose the life-changing advice?

3. Beachcombing for Inspiration:

You take a stroll down the shore

Do you:

• A) Imagine finding a message in a bottle while walking down the beach?

• B) Collect shells, driftwood, seaweed, or other natural objects and use them as writing prompts?

4. Stories from the shore:

You want to remember the magic of the beach when you get home

Do you:

• A) Create a small display that reminds you of all the stories the shore had to tell you?

• B) Write a postcard and pin it to your desk?

Your choices will shape your journaling adventure. Let your intuition guide you and discover the unique entries waiting to be written.

Your July Writing Invitation

Choose the prompts and adventures you want to make time for and turn your pen towards the fresh possibilities of July.

You can plot it into this monthly calendar.

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