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Who It’s For
This challenge is for anyone who wants to write more but keeps not writing. That's most people who say they want to write more, including most working writers.
It works particularly well if you:
Have a writing practice that's gone dormant and you want to start again
Want to write but don't know what to write about
Are trying to build a daily habit without it feeling like another wellness chore
Are recovering from burnout, a big life change, or a long stretch of not feeling like yourself
Are working on a bigger creative project and want short daily prompts to warm up with
It works less well if you're looking for technical craft instruction or genre-specific exercises. This is a writing-as-practice tool, not a writing-craft course.
Ways to Use It
You don't have to do thirty days in thirty days. The structure is yours to play with.
As a daily warm-up. Five to fifteen minutes each morning before you do anything else. The prompt isn't the work; it's what gets you to the work.
As a comeback. If you haven't written in months or years, start with day one and don't worry about the rest. Sometimes one prompt is enough to remember why you write.
As a once-a-week practice. One prompt a week for thirty weeks. The slower pace gives each prompt more weight.
Alongside something else. As a companion to Introspect, journal therapy, a writing course, or your own work-in-progress. The prompts are short enough to sit beside something more demanding.
As a shared challenge. Print two copies and do it with a friend or partner. Compare notes at the end of each week.
About the Author
I'm Charlotte J. Bell, a writer based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. I hold a Master of Writing with Distinction from the University of Canterbury and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Geography. My essays and features have appeared in Broadsheet, Sauce, The Asia Collective, and Hungry in Bali. My first essay collection is forthcoming in 2026.
I make writing guides like this one because the writing tools I wish I'd had — practical, evidence-aware, and free of the self-help framing — were hard to find when I needed them. This challenge is a starting point. If you want something more structured, Introspect goes deeper into reflective writing, and the Writing for Mental Health course is in development for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you complete the free checkout, the download link is sent to the email address you enter at checkout. There's no payment required and no waiting period. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder, then email me and I'll send it manually.
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Yes. The PDF is formatted for A4 printing as well as on-screen reading. Print it, scribble on it, give it to friends.
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Yes. The challenge is free for personal use and you're welcome to send it to anyone you think would enjoy it.
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Both, depending on how you use it. The prompts work for personal reflection, creative practice, or a mix of the two. There's no right answer.
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Some will gently invite reflection. None of them require you to write about anything you don't want to. If a prompt doesn't suit you on a given day, skip it, the next day's will be different.
After the Challenge
If the thirty days leaves you wanting more structure, Introspect — the next guide in this series — goes deeper into reflective and introspective writing as a craft practice, with longer-form exercises and frameworks. It's available here →.
If you want regular reading material from me while you write, my Substack Trainwrecks publishes new essays regularly. Subscribing is free.