This is what I was trying to fix for myself.
And I found that creating a new text document is just an additional friction.
> i'd be tempted to answer with a multi page essay
This is what I visually restricted the input field for as I also feel like some questions would otherwise suggest a long answer. Trying to answer them in a brief way is a feature for myself.
what i am trying to say is that, for me at least, the prompt itself would have to limit the scope to today or maybe this week. (but then i would not be able to write anything for this particular prompt)
maybe prompts like: what made you happy this week? what made you sad? what was a challenge you faced this week?
if you come up with a dozen questions like that, and then randomly rotate through those, one each day, i think that might produce interesting results.
i understand journaling to be about today, not something eventful in the past. that prompt i'd be tempted to answer with a multi page essay.
the key for me for journaling is habit. the habit to do this every day, and not to skip. the prompt doesn't matter. i just write about anything noteworthy from that day.
with a plain text editor, into a file.
it's not ideal though. it's the last thing i do before going to sleep, and once in a while i miss an entry. and on some days, i feel there is nothing to write.