It never fails, I start a new blog or open a pristine blank journal and I have no idea what to write. Sometimes starting out can be paralysing to me. The thought that my first post or page needs to be perfect. I need to add those wise words, something philosophical or witty, and the possibilities are endless. With an endless supply of possibilities, narrowing it down to just one can be extremely overwhelming leading to inaction. Well, it does for me at least.
Over the years I’ve collected some first page prompts for my journaling and many of them translate well into blogging. Here’s a collection of some of the first post or first page prompts I’ve picked up.
- Write about your intentions for the blog or journal.
- Write about your first memory.
- Write a list of your firsts and include this blog or journal on the list.
- Tell the story of your first love.
- Record your personal goals for the next month.
- Write about yourself. Introduce yourself.
- Collect a list of questions about your blog niche or just about you and answer them.
- Write a list of your favorite blogs or authors, or those that have inspired your work.
- Write about a news story that came out today and relate it to your blog.
- List out the things you’re grateful for, then revisit it in a year and see if the list has changed.
- Pick out your favorite quote and write about it.
- Explain where you got the idea for your blog name (or journal name if you name your journals).
- Share your favorite photographs and talk about them.
- Write about your first day of school, either elementary, high school or college.
- Talk about your life philosophy or passion.
- Introduce your social media channels.
For even more writing ideas, check out my list of 100 ways to find inspiration for awesome blog topics.
Great prompts! I definitely will use some of these. I get writer’s block too, it’s very frustrating, especially when you’re trying to be consistent with your blogging!!
I keep an on going notebook of blogging ideas. When I’m stumped I either go through what I have or brainstorm a new topic. It’s a lot of fun. I love the creative aspect of blogging.
I love your prompts list. I will have to PIN this for sure. I like the idea of planning out the first journal page with a little more intention. I laughed out loud when you said “Explain where you got the idea for your blog name (or journal name if you name your journals).” I didn’t name my journals / diaries as a child but I would write as if I was writing a letter to a friend. I would give her a name and each entry would start Dear (insert random name). To me it made it more personal than Dear Diary. That was soooo long ago but it is a great memory for me. Thanks for sharing!
I love that you wrote to friends in your diary as a kid! Writing can be anything, and you never know what’s going to inspire someone to write. I think I might start naming my journals and see what happens. Though my name will probably be a more proper title, something like: The Absurd Thought Collection of an Always Tired Mind. LOL. I know, it needs work, but it might inspire me to write!
Thanks for sharing your tips & writing prompts! That’s why I joined the 30 day blogger challenge because I wanted to challenge myself to get into a writing gear. These prompts will assist me in doing just that!
I’m glad they can help! I’m also going to try to write prompts on Day 1 of each month so check back. I have January’s already published. Check out the 100 ways to find inspiration post too. I don’t give you the prompts, but I do give 100 different ways to brainstorm and seek out topic ideas.
I loved this post, one of the hardest things for me is finding things to write about because I’m always doubting! I now keep a tiny little notepad with me all of the time to jot them down. I used to write notes in my phone but I just never looked at them and the inspiration was gone by the time I did. I will definitely use some of these ideas though.
I currently keep a notepad and pen by my bed because those great ideas I’ll definitely remember in the morning, are always forgotten! My biggest challenge is the ideas I come up with in the shower, LOL. I try to repeat them to myself as long as possible, then write them down as soon as I have a somewhat dry hand. Those are my two biggest moments of thinking time.
This is GREAT! Love this list! I will also be checking out your blog topics post! Thanks for writing and inspiring others to do so as well!
Thank you Shela! That means a lot. I love to inspire ideas and brainstorm. I’d say that’s one of my strengths, so I like to help other people with those things as well. Hope you get inspired by some of these ideas!