october journal prompts

spooky season might be my healing season

hello, everyone!

welcome to my very first Substack post! I wanted to kick off this month by reintroducing a practice I’ve always loved—journaling—back into my daily routine.

each month, I'll be sharing two sets of prompts: a shorter version for those easing into journaling, like me, and a full daily version for those who prefer a consistent, everyday approach. whether you're starting fresh or already a seasoned writer, there’s a format here to suit you.

along with the prompts, these posts will also feature my personal TBR list and recommendations, whether it’s albums, shows, articles, essays, or other media I’m loving at the moment. hope you enjoy!

love,

rae

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September and summer brought a lot of changes into my life. By starting this page, I’ve been trying to reconnect with my roots. It’s been a long time since I last sat down, allowed myself to fully feel my emotions, and put them into words. This is the kind of activity I’m hoping to rediscover.

When I was younger, I loved writing and storytelling, but somewhere along the way, I became paranoid—almost as if everything I wrote in private would someday be read by the ultimate authority on writing, who would then tell me I was a mess. I’m working to overcome that fear by putting myself out there with this new project. More importantly, I want to heal my relationship with private writing, recognizing that not everything has to be shared or judged. Sometimes, the only reader that matters is the author.

So, I’m starting a journal for the first time ever. Now, I have to admit, consistency has never been my strong suit. Historically, a lot of my more creative and "less productive" projects have been overshadowed by my academic pursuits, my overachieving tendencies, and at times, my emotional unavailability to connect with myself. This has kept me from being truly introspective. I’m working to overcome that by holding myself accountable online.

This month’s prompts are focused on healing and reconnecting with myself. They’re designed to help me tune in to my emotions, fully experience them, and reflect on what I feel. Here are the 12 prompts I’ll be working on this month:

Full daily version

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October’s TBR list

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Albums of the month