What to Write in Your Journal When You Feel Stuck

Have you ever sat down to journal, supplies ready, only to realize you don’t know what to create?

That stuck feeling happens more often than people admit.

You’re ready to create. You want to do something meaningful, fun, or relaxing. But instead of getting started, you freeze. Suddenly, every option feels wide open, and somehow that makes it harder, not easier.

Should you use a photo?

Do you want lots of journaling or just a little?

Should you pull out stickers, ephemera, patterned paper, or paint?

And just like that, the blank page starts feeling bigger than it really is.

I've run into this plenty of times myself, and I know from talking to other creative journalers that this "stuck" feeling is really common. You're not alone if you find yourself hesitating or unsure of where to begin—so many of us have been there. That’s why I started using a process to narrow my focus and figure out what kind of page I want to make. I call it my prompt-to-page process, and it starts with something I call prompt stacking.

What is prompt stacking?

Prompt stacking is the method I use to build direction before I start the page.

Instead of sitting down and trying to invent a full idea from scratch, I use prompt cards from my Pages in Progress Creative Journaling deck from each of three categories:

• Theme

• Story

• Technique

Each card gives me one piece of the page.

The Theme card gives me the overall lens or feeling. It helps shape the emotional tone or point of view.

The Story card gives me something to respond to. This is often the part that helps me unlock the journaling itself.

The Technique card gives me a creative direction for how I want to approach the page. It might point me toward a material, a format, or a design idea.

Once I have all three, the page starts coming into focus.

How it works

Let’s say I pull a Story card that asks: What was a small moment of joy this week?

Then I pair it with a Theme card like: Gratitude

Now I already have something to work with. I’m not just trying to “make a page.” I’m reflecting on a small joyful moment through the lens of gratitude.

That alone gives me a lot more clarity.

Then I pull a Technique card, which helps me think about how I want to visually express that idea. Maybe it suggests a collage approach. Maybe it points me toward layering. Maybe it nudges me to use a certain tool or supply.

Now I’m not stuck wondering where to begin. I have a starting point for both the writing and the design.

Watch this video to see my process in action.

Why this helps

What I like about this process is that it gives me structure without boxing me in.

I’m not following a formula. I’m giving myself a framework.

That difference matters.

When I start with a little direction, I don’t feel as overwhelmed by all the choices. I can make decisions more easily. I can respond to the prompt in my own way. I can build the page around an idea instead of staring at my supplies, waiting for inspiration to magically appear.

And for me, that’s often what helps the creativity start moving.

A gentler way to begin

A lot of people get told to “just start,” but sometimes that advice skips over the hardest part.

Starting is not always the problem.

Sometimes the real problem is that there’s no entry point.

That’s why I use prompts. They help me narrow the field and make the blank page feel more approachable.

And once I have that, I can begin.

Try it for yourself

The next time you sit down to journal, and you don’t know what to make, try giving yourself three pieces of direction:

a theme,

a story,

and a technique.

See what happens when you stop asking yourself to come up with everything at once.

You may find that the page starts to form much more naturally.

The Pages in Progress cards I use are shaped by how I actually like to work—through reflection, creative play, and a little bit of structure that still leaves room for interpretation.

If you’d like to learn more about the Pages in Progress card deck and how it can support your journaling, visit this link for more details and examples.

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