What to Write in a Grief Journal After Loss
What to Write in a Grief Journal When You Don’t Know Where to Start
After my sister passed, I didn’t know what to say — not to others, and not even to myself. The noise of grief was so constant that silence almost felt safer. When I finally opened a journal, it wasn’t with intention or structure. I just needed a place where I could say the things I was afraid to speak aloud.
It became sacred space — free of judgment or pressure to sound wise or healed. Some days I wrote a few sentences, other days just words that didn’t make sense together. Over time, those small entries became a map of memories and emotions I didn’t realize I was carrying.
How Grief Journaling Helped Me Begin to Heal
At first, I didn’t know where to start. I wrote “things I wish I’d said,” regrets I had, and what I missed most. Then came letters, fragments of favorite memories, and eventually a running list of moments I knew my sister would have found funny. Tiny nods that only she and I would have understood.
Writing didn’t erase the pain, but it gave it shape — something I could hold and, little by little, set down.
If You Don’t Know What to Write in a Grief Journal
There’s no right way to write about grief — and no wrong one either. Some days, you might have a full page of thoughts; others, you’ll manage a single word. Both count. The point isn’t to document perfectly, it’s to let what’s inside of you move somewhere safe.
If you’re unsure where to begin, try gentle prompts like:
What do I miss the most today?
What would I tell them if I could see them again?
What memory always makes me smile?
What do I wish others understood about my grief?
What helps me feel closest to them right now?
The Healing Power of Writing Through Grief
Your grief journal doesn’t have to follow rules or timelines. It’s not homework; it’s a refuge. Write letters. Scribble lists. Doodle. Fold pages. Tear them out. Do what feels right for the day you’re in.
At Juliette & Genevieve, we believe grief has no structure — only movement. Writing can help you see that movement clearly, even when it’s quiet. There’s a certain kind of healing that happens when your own words remind you that your love hasn’t disappeared; it’s just found a new way to exist.
So start wherever you are. Write something small and true. The page will hold it for you.