Prompt Set 3. People and names

Third set of visual journal starting points, designed to help you gather what might one day become map material or a creative research project ... or not.

This is the third in a series of 12 visual journal starting points, designed to help you gather what might one day become map material .. or not.

These prompts are to help you gather what might become map material (or not), or as a jumping off point for a creative research project. They are designed as nudges to help you frame your attention, so that your visual journal becomes a container.

This week's hints and tips: keeping track of recurring themes

As you work with these prompts, you may start to notice themes and connections appearing across prompt sets. It can be useful to highlight these in some way as they pop up, so that you can pull them altogether at a later stage. There are many ways to do this, but here's a simple system called Threading which originates from Bullet Journaling. This is my own refined, simplified system:

1. Number your journal pages (I take a shortcut here by only numbering the odd pages)

2. Allocate each theme a small icon (create a mini key at the front of your journal so you remember them). Keep the icons simple: stars, asterisks, circles etc, so they’re easy to use

3. When that theme pops up in response to a prompt, add the icon next to your response

4. Create a set of Theme pages at the back of your journal, one page per theme

5. Write the page numbers where you’ve placed icons against responses

Somewhere in these lists, there may be the beginning of a map

This week there are 15 prompts. There’s no need to engage with all of these prompts. Choose a few prompts that immediately spark your curiosity and leave the rest. If any of the items trigger you or bring back traumatic experiences, skip this week.

Add your responses to your personal visual journal in whatever form suits you. If you’re short on time, write quickly and make a list. If you have more time, draw connection lines, add initials instead of full names or simply notice who comes to mind and how that makes you feel ...

Set 3. People and names

A remembered name can bring back a specific place, a particular time, a role, a feeling, a version of yourself or a story. A list of names can become the beginning of a relationship map or a map of influences in your life.

1. Names you remember from childhood

2. People you once knew but no longer see

3. Names of teachers, neighbours, friends, relatives or classmates you still think about

4. People who changed the direction of your life

5. Who had inspired you?

6. People you miss

7. Names of people you avoid

8. People you feel most yourself around

9. People who have shaped your taste, values or sense of possibility

10. Whose voices do you hear in your head?

11. People who have given you useful advice

12. Who has misunderstood you?

13. People you would like to thank

14. People you are still trying to understand

Remember: We are not … talking about beautiful pages in an art journal or about producing something impressive… about following a layout, using expensive materials or knowing how to draw. You are simply gathering enough material to either show evidence of paying attention to your life, for making a map or starting a creative research project.

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Your turn

Tell me, by leaving the number of the prompt, which prompt immediately caught your attention. No need to say why, just pop the number (or numbers) in a comment.

Next time, we have a set of places, routes and rooms prompts.
Leave a 💛 if you’re keen to continue exploring with me!

Other posts in this series

• Why gather before you map?

• Prompt Set 1. Creative clues and fascinations

• Prompt Set 2. Home, objects and belongings

• Prompt Set 3. People and names

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The Moodling Letter is where I share what I’m working on - from photography and mixed media pieces to hand-drawn maps - along with invitations to exhibitions, open studio days, and workshops (both in-person and online) where you can experience or take part in the process.

Deeper explorations of Moodling through photography, personal mapping, visual journaling and creative enquiry. Following what happens when Moodling becomes a creative practice.