Look familiar? That’s right, it’s a blank document. For many of us writers, that’s the stuff of nightmares—you know, the one where you’ve been paper cut to death by a swarm of rejection letters? That’s the one. Well, it’s an all-too common problem many us could live without. Oftentimes, instead of having this wordless screen stare back at me with a “Uhm, hello? I’m blank. You going to write something on me, or what?” I’ll close the laptop. Ha! Take that! Although that’s typically unproductive . . . unless I pick up  a pen and a pad of paper. At times, I find I’m more productive when I go Old School and write on paper; it’s less intimidating than a blank Word Doc. But then what? 

Get writing. Dennis Palumbo, author and former screenwriter, who spoke at the Jackson Hole Writer’s Conference a few years back said, “Writing begets writing.” Turns out, he’s right. However, when you need a hand to get going, story starters or writing prompts can help wake the muse. Here’s a few to try out:

• Emma knocked on the door and immediately regretted it.
• Ben hated what he had to say next.
• Had he been conscious, he probably would have said . . .
• “It won’t hurt a bit,” she told him.
• Most of the time I keep my promises, but . . .
• I thought I had more time, but the doorbell rang . . .
• She held out the box. “No, you open it.”
• She/He/It slipped in through the front door unnoticed.
• They didn’t believe me at first. 
• Daniel thought she was crazy when she first told him . . .
• I tried to give back [fill in the blank] but he told me to keep it/them.
• Eric wanted to take the words back the second he said them.
• It went completely against his nature, but he had no choice but to . . .
• He walked in and saw her sitting with . . .

The following two prompts come from The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood:

• I could have avoided all that trouble if I had only remembered to . . .
• Seven days ago [fill in the blank]. Now, no one will talk to me.

Okay, now it’s time to take my own advice and write.

Do you have some writing prompts? Please, do share in the comments below.