Week by Week: A Year's Worth of Journaling Prompts & Meditations

by Amber Lea Starfire

Week by Week: A Year's Worth of Journaling Prompts is an inspiring collection of writing prompts and meditations designed to enhance self-awareness and healing through journaling. Meditations and writing prompts are arranged by weekly topics, in categories such as Self-Awareness, Spirituality, Family & Relationships, Authenticity, Obstacles & Opportunities, and The World. Week by Week can help anyone begin, deepen, and enrich a personal journal writing practice.

Genres: Writing, Journaling

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2011

Reviews

[Howard Veit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is a treasure chest of writing ideas.

I am retired and now have the time and motivation to move my writing to a higher level. Amber Lea Starfire's book Week by Week: A Year's Worth of Journaling Prompts & Meditations stimulates me to write daily and to think deeply. A daily journal is my primary tool for writing practice, recording reflections on life, considering problems and opportunities, chronicling the world, and reminding me of things that are important. Starfire challenges us to think and write creatively about each of these broad topics. This book is now a constant companion on my desktop computer, iPad and iPhone. Yes, I have the Kindle version. Whenever I am driven to write, I now have a rich concoction of ideas to energize my writing.

The book is divided into eight topics - self-awareness, authenticity, family and relationships, obstacles and opportunities, seasons and holidays, the world, spirituality and moving forward. Under authenticity, for example, the author asks us to consider what it means to live life more fully. In reflecting about the world, she challenges us to "Free write for ten minutes about human nature and violence." The book is not a rigid prescription of daily writing prompts. It is creative and fluid, easily adaptable to many writing and daily journaling styles.

Amber Lea Starfire has provided my writing road map for 2013. By the end of the year, when I have written in my journal each day covering the prompts provided in Week by Week, I will have a rich chronicle of my life. I will also, hopefully, be a better writer. I highly recommend this book.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and using it. I don't journal as much as I should but this is the book I go to for inspiration when I sit down with pen and paper. Very practical and easy to use.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple and easy to put into action. I’ve found the prompts in this book to be realistic rather than too esoteric.

[Sharon Lippincott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected no surprises when I opened the cover of Amber Starfire’s book, Week by Week. I’ve been following Starfire’s blog since its inception, so I knew the material would be familiar. I placed my advance order for a copy anyway, in both paper and pixels, looking forward to having the prompts easily at hand for quick reference while journaling. The fact that I paid for material already available for free is a strong statement.

Starfire did a stellar job of packaging her web material, making it even more accessible to both new and veteran journalers. Her list of benefits of journaling should convince anyone to begin its practice or stick with it. Her brief outline of journaling basics is sufficient to orient novices and may offer a couple of ideas to experienced practitioners. Her explanation of how to use the prompts is helpful even for those familiar with them from the web.

Some people may choose to work their way through the book in sequence, sequentially addressing one prompt each day. While I am certain those people will develop incredible insight and wisdom, I freely admit I’m not one of them. My preferred journaling style is spontaneous freewriting, but when I become immersed in a challenging topic, prompts such as hers super-charge my inner journey. They are masterfully organized; it takes only seconds to find a relevant section, align a prompt with my purpose, and return to writing.

The book is a joy to behold. The soothing cover image invokes a meditative state. Page layout is elegant and readable, with impeccable grammar, punctuation and spelling. The small size adds to its portability. Most eBooks I’ve read, even those from major publishers, are rife with distracting spelling, spacing and other errors. This one is clean and beautiful. Starfire sets a high standard for those choosing to self-publish, and I hope others will follow in her footsteps.

This review was originally published at StoryCircleBookReviews: http://www.storycirclebookreviews.org...

[Patsy Ann]

Week by Week, A Year’s Worth of Journaling Prompts & Meditations by Amber Lea Starfire is filled with just the kind of information needed to help beginning journal writers get started and will fuel the imaginations of more experienced writers. The quotes that open each section are worth the purchase. But Amber Lea Starfire offers much more in this inspiring, well-structured book. She provides prompts and exercises that even fiction writers will find helpful in creating the interior lives of characters. This book is a gift to anyone who wishes to step into the world of self-expression through journaling or memoir writing.
Reviewed by Patsy Ann Taylor
www.patsyanntaylor.com
www.napavalleywriters.org