A free, ongoing workshop

8 Words a Week

8 Words a week is a micro-journaling practice where you only need to write 8 words once a week. From there, you can use the 8 words you choose as creative prompts to write, draw, doodle, paint, collage, take a photo or just leave it at 8 words - the choice is entirely yours.

How to Get Started With 8 Words a Week Everything You Need to Get Started! See how it works (4 easy steps)Close the guide

How it works: Every Sunday I send out an email of my own 8 words to inspire you to create your own list.

Sometimes I write in a notebook, sometimes it's a full out art journal spread, sometimes I share a photo and just the 8 words. Subscribing to my email is optional, but it will help keep you on track if you want to participate!

Step 1: Get a Notebook

You can use any kind of notebook. It can be paper or digital. You can even use more than one notebook. You can stop and start at any time.

If you'd like to do this digitally, some of my favorite iOS apps:

You could also simply start this practice on a new Google Doc! If you prefer writing, any sheet of paper would be fine because you can always bind them together later!

Step 2: Choose your 8 words once a week

These can be any words and do not need to connect with anything else or make sense. Borrow some of mine, pick your own, or mix both.

I send out the email of my 8 words every Sunday, but you can choose to do your 8 words any day of the week that works for you.

Step 3: Make something

Use your words as a creative prompt to create. Creating can be anything you like! Draw, paint, doodle, collage, take a photo or write or even do a completely different medium. You can choose to use just a couple of words or incorporate all of them into one project.

There are no rules for how you do this. I've even plugged my 8 words into AI and let them make a photo or analyze what they think it means, so really, truly - do what you enjoy! Don't stress it! Some weeks I just jot the words down in a composition notebook and that's okay too.

Comments on each week's 8 Words post are open to everyone with a free account for the first week - share your list or what you made with your words. We would all love to see it!

I also allow links, so share your links to your website or blog or social media profiles - we would love to follow you and support your work!

Important notes

There is no wrong way to do this and you can start anytime - there's no such thing as falling behind. You can do it digitally, on paper or a hybrid of both. If you have questions or need help at any point just email me hello@chellestein.com.