I Can't Believe It's Already Time for the August Writing Prompts!
It's so true that the older you get, the faster time flies by. I have also been on bed rest after a minor surgery, so I guess that doesn't help! Anyway, if you live with a chronic illness or disability, come check out the 2026 August writing prompts, and do join us if you're feeling up to it. We'd love to hear more about your life with chronic illness, how you're coping, and what you'll be up to this month!
*Disclaimer: This post/linkup is meant for educational purposes, and is based on my/our personal experiences as patient(s). I/We are not doctors, and nothing in this post or its associated links should be substituted for medical advice. Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding any new treatment protocols. This post/linkup may also contain affiliate links. It will cost you nothing to click on them. I will get a small referral fee from purchases you make, which helps with the maintenance of this blog. Read our Privacy Policy page for more information. Thank you!
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What the 2026 August Writing Prompts are About, and How to Participate
The writing prompts are a monthly get-together for anyone with a chronic illness, mental illness or disability. An opportunity to share, to listen, and to learn from one another through shared writing prompts.
I also think it’s a great way to provide insight into life with chronic pain and disabilities, from many different points of view. You can choose to write about your latest experiences with chronic illness and/or disability, or even turn it into an evergreen blog post.
All you have to do is write a post using at least three of the writing prompts listed below, and publish it on your blog, or to a free writing platform such as Medium or SubStack (don't forget to set the post for public viewing!). Then click on the blue ‘Add Link’ button in the widget below to add your blog post to this page. Voilà, you’re now part of the linkup party!
Simple Rules for the 2026 August Writing Prompts
- Only submit one link per website/blog.
- If you choose to participate, do comment on at least two other blog posts in this linkup by the end of the month. Return to check at a later date if there aren't enough entries yet. Helping to spread the word on your social media is always appreciated, but not required.
- Linkups start on the first of every month. There will be five different writing prompts. It will close at the end of each month before midnight. All timings listed are in Singapore time (+8 GMT).
- Pick at least three of the writing prompts to write about. Five is best, of course!
- Insert a link to this post when you submit your blog entry for auto verification.
- Failure to follow these rules might get you blacklisted from future writing prompt linkups. Let's keep it fair for all 🙂
August 2026 Awareness Dates
Here are a few health events (and more) happening this month, should you feel like talking a bit about them using the August writing prompts.
- World Lung Cancer Day (01 August). Lung cancer isn't just a "smoker's disease"; according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA), up to 60% of patients are non-smokers, or have quit years ago. Early screening saves lives.
- Left Handers Day (13 August). Okay, I'm biased and had to include this one, as I'm a leftie myself. We often advocate for an inclusive society, but I bet most people never notice how lefties cleverly adapt to a predominantly right-handed world rather seamlessly 😉
- World Humanitarian Day (WHD) (19 August). WHD honours the sacrifices and dedication of humanitarian workers. They are the ones who step into disaster zones and other dangerous places to help those in great need. The humanitarian system itself is underfunded, and needs more awareness raised.
- International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) (31 August). IOAD is a global campaign to end deaths from overdose, which are largely preventable. The CDC has an IOAD toolkit here which you can use to help raise awareness together.
The following awareness campaigns span the entire month:
- National Immunisation Awareness Month (NIAM). According to the CDC, "NIAM aims to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination across the lifespan to help protect communities from serious diseases". Throughout August, the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) will also be sharing information and resources you can use to help raise awareness.
- Psoriasis Action Month. Psoriasis can manifest in different ways on the skin, and no matter which way you look at it — they all look painful. One in three people with psoriasis also have Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), which is an autoimmune condition.
Presenting the 2026 August Writing Prompts 🎉
1. Confining
Perhaps you've been confined to bed rest or stuck at home due to chronic pain, chronic fatigue, or don't have anyone to help you travel outside safely. You might also be limiting certain things in your diet or lifestyle, such as your sugar intake, or overzealousness for certain activities. Or perhaps you're trying not to go beyond your energy boundaries or limitations, and/or ensuring that other people respect them, too.
A bit of a cultural tidbit — in Chinese and other Asian cultures, pregnant women also spend their first postpartum month 'in confinement', which is actually a positive thing in this instance. They often hire 'confinement nannies' who help restore them to health with herbal soups, postnatal massages, and other healing practices. Here are some interesting differences in confinement practices, between Chinese, Malay, and Indian communities in Singapore.
2. Draining
What's the main activity that's draining you of energy this month? You might find certain tasks more draining than others for different reasons on different days. Perhaps certain conversation topics, human behaviours, medical issues, work or life events are sapping you of energy. You could also be draining water or liquid in your garden, for cooking, or some other household chore.
3. Invalidating
Have you been feeling invalidated of late, perhaps in your dealings with uncaring doctors, test results, society in general, or something else? You could also feel that a certain person, manner of speaking, treatment or behaviour towards you is invalidating. Alternatively, it could be the more literal sense of the word, where you're invalidating a document or contract. It could also be logical, where you are disputing a claim, fact, or study/report.
4. Anchoring
Do you have daily rituals or goto practices that help anchor you whenever you feel anxious, or are huddled up from chronic pain? You could be anchoring your thoughts or emotions using certain objects, mantras, sensations, people, and more. Oh, and I doubt any of us here are anchoring a boat, but if you actually are — I would love to hear about your adventures!
5. Restoring
Does your physical or mental health need restoring this month, and how do you plan to go about the healing process? Or perhaps you're trying to restore the appearance of a certain room in your house, trying to restore your car or computer so that it's in tiptop condition, or trying to restore a relationship. You could also be trying to restore a certain body part that might be damaged or decaying, such as your teeth, nails or vision.
Join Us in the 2026 August Writing Prompts Here
I hope that at least a few of these writing prompts stir your creative juices, and I truly do hope to hear from you. Let's aim to increase the participation, and help support one another in this online community space 😊
You can read past linkup entries here for inspiration or ideas on how or what to write about. Feel free to write in whatever style or form suits you, however. These writing prompts are meant to be a relaxing and cathartic community activity, after all. Happy writing and sharing!
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