When I bought my book home from the bookstore, I opened it up and read some of the exercises. I have taken a few creative writing classes and I always like seeing new ways to get people loosened up and writing freely. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to write about when I have an assigned topic or paper due, but sometimes I need some inspiration to get me going. I think that by doing these prompts, creativity can be encouraged and given an outlet. It also would have guidelines to follow which could increase comfort and confidence with writing.
I know that students don't seem to be very eager writers these days. These prompts can break them out of their shell and let them have some fun and be silly with writing. I would like to give them prompts to write about on a regular basis. I think that by doing these prompts the students would become more comfortable with writing and it would let them practice doing it in a creative way. It would still be an assignment, but it would have more freedom than most school writing assignments. A lot of the prompts really make students think about what words they should include in thier writing or how to develop ideas. This could encourage them to focus on their word choice when they write for other assignments.
I like the idea that the prompts are impersonal also. Many writers do not like to share their work because it is too personal. They feel too exposed and vulnerable about it and would rather keep it private. These writing prompts should lesson the anxiety for these students. The prompts are mostly silly and none of them ask for personal revelations or reactions. They all ask for creativity in writing the prompt, but the topics are general and impersonal. Anyone could write on these prompts whether it is students or adults. The topics are basic and easy to understand for everyone.
Some of the prompts may not appeal to everyone though, so I would probably give students the option to write about 2 or 3 so that they could choose one that works for them. I woudn't want the students to become discouraged and frustrated if they couldn't think of a response to one of the prompts. (The idea of unjournaling is to take away this kind of pressure.) The key in the back would be good to present to students who are struggling, but I would discourage students from using it because it could influence their own ideas or possibly stifle their own writing by limiting thier ideas.
Maybe when I introduce the topic of unjournaling I woud let them hear an example response first if they seemed confused. It also might help to show them a model of it so that they understand that they can be more creative and free. I know sometimes students can be uncomfortable with an unfamiliar assignment and they might not be prepared to be "silly" in school with their writing. Reading a few samples might help put them at ease and start their creative juices flowing. I would have them write about different prompts than the ones that were modeled, but I would try to pick ones that resembled each other in their focus. Hopefully, after doing it once or twice, the students would be comfortable with the idea and doing them independently.