Twenty-five gentle grief journal prompts, grouped by the person you are remembering. Take one, write for two minutes, and stop whenever you need to. A single honest sentence is a complete entry.
A grief journal is a private place to put down what grief leaves behind — the memories, the questions, the small daily things you still want to tell someone who is gone. There is no correct way to keep one and no order you are meant to follow. If a prompt does not fit, skip it. Nothing here is asking you to explain your grief or resolve it.
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All twenty-five prompts on two printable pages — free, no cost and nothing to install. Add your email and the PDF opens straight away.
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Grief journal prompts for the loss of a parent
A mother or a father — grief and inheritance at the same time.
- A lesson from you that I still live by is…
- I hear your voice most clearly when…
- Something of yours I kept, and why…
- The tradition of yours I want to continue is…
- What I understand about you now that I didn't before…
If these are the prompts you keep returning to, there is a grief journal for the loss of a father and a grief journal for the loss of a mother, each with eighty prompts written for that one relationship.
Grief journal prompts for the loss of a partner or spouse
A husband, a wife, a partner — the small routines as much as the milestones.
- The ordinary moment with you I would give anything to have back…
- Something we planned that I still think about…
- A private joke only we understood…
- How you changed the way I see the world…
- What I want to carry forward from our life together…
See the journals for the loss of a partner, with separate editions for the loss of a husband and the loss of a wife.
Grief journal prompts for the loss of a sibling
The person who knew you longest, and kept your shared childhood.
- A memory from when we were young that still makes me smile…
- Something only you would have understood about our family…
- The way you looked out for me…
- A quality of yours I hope people see in me…
There are editions for the loss of a brother and the loss of a sister.
Grief journal prompts for the loss of a grandparent
The stories that connect one generation to the next.
- A story you told me that I want to pass on…
- The way your home felt, and what I remember of it…
- Something you taught me without ever saying it aloud…
- A tradition of yours I want the next generation to know…
See the journals for the loss of a grandparent, for a grandmother or a grandfather.
Prompts for remembering a child
Offered only as invitations — use them if they help, and set them aside freely if they do not.
- A moment I want to hold onto forever…
- The sound of your laugh, as I remember it…
- Something I want the world to know about you…
- A place that will always be yours…
The journals for the loss of a child are made as keeping places for a life loved beyond measure.
Grief journal prompts for the loss of a friend or anyone dear
Real grief, often quietly carried.
- The first time I knew you were a true friend…
- Something you always said…
- What I would tell you if I could call right now…
The flagship edition, Still With Me, is written for the loss of anyone dear to you. For a pet, there are separate pet memorial journals.
How to use these prompts
- Pick a quiet moment. Ten unhurried minutes are enough — many people light a candle first.
- Start with one line. Not the whole page, and not in order.
- Let it be imperfect. There is no wrong way, and no need to reread.
- Come back when you are ready. A week, a month, a year later — the page keeps.
If you want more background before you begin, read our gentle guide to grief journaling.
Frequently asked questions
What do you write in a grief journal?
Whatever you would say to the person if they were still here — a memory, a question you never got to ask, an ordinary moment from your day, or the thing you wish you had said. There is no right subject and no required length.
How do I start when I don't know what to say?
Start with one specific prompt rather than a blank page, and write for two minutes. A line such as "The thing I most want you to know today is…" is far easier to answer than "how do I feel."
Are grief journal prompts different for different relationships?
Yes. A prompt for a spouse asks about a shared life; a prompt for a parent asks about the person who raised you. That is why the prompts on this page are grouped by relationship.
How often should I write?
As often or as seldom as you need. Some people write daily in the early weeks, others only on anniversaries. A grief journal is a place that waits for you, not a routine to keep up with.
Is the prompts PDF really free?
Yes. Twenty-five prompts on two printable pages, at no cost. The journals are what we sell; the prompts are not behind a payment.
Is journaling a substitute for grief support?
No. Writing can give grief somewhere to rest, but it is a personal practice, not a treatment. If your grief feels unbearable, please reach out to a doctor, a counselor or a grief support professional. In the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be called or texted at any hour.
Still With Me makes guided remembrance journals — eighty gentle prompts across nine chapters, in editions shaped around one specific loss.