Something to Write About: This is A Challenge For You.
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15960)
United States
July 25, 2016 4:33pm CST
So many persons on myLot are saying that they can’t think of anything to write about. I never run out of things to write about.
Let me make a suggestion: One day I was just glancing through a women’s magazine. I don’t even remember which one. Probably one I picked up at the grocery store, because I don’t subscribe to magazines anymore. I used to, but they just piled up, so I cancelled all my subscriptions one day.
Anyway, just glancing through the magazine, I noticed that there were lots of STATEMENT ads and articles. So, I just jotted them down. I call them “thought starters.”
I’ll give you some examples from a magazine I have in front of me right now. Imagine writing a short piece for myLot based on these subjects.
“For The Love of Your Pet!” This was an ad for Dog Food. But, if you have a pet, why not write about how much you love your pet and how much you enjoy spending time with your pet. Put up a photo of your pet and tell all about it. I love stories about pets. I would read it.
Here’s another one: “500 Ways to Create The Kitchen of Your Dreams.”
Write about what you would like to have in your kitchen to make it more user-friendly and inspire you to cook your own meals, instead of eating out all the time.
Here’s another one: “Live With What You Love.” An ad about furniture. How easy that would be to write about your favorite colors to paint your rooms, your favorite type of flooring and maybe you have some antique furniture or a treasured heirloom that your grandmother gave you.
Do you prefer Contemporary or Classical designs in furniture?
How about this one? “It’s Never Too Late To Learn Something New!”
Here are a few more: Just let your mind capture the thought and you will be able to construct an idea to write about it.
“Everyone has difficult days.” Tell about one of yours.
“Life is full of ups and downs.”
“Do you know a hero?”
“An unexpected gift”
“Give yourself a break.”
“Put your fashion flare to work!” What is your favorite outfit to wear when you dress up?
“Me time.” What do you do during the time you set aside for yourself?
These all came from the same magazine. They are “thought starters.” Subjects to make you think about something you could write about.
I’m going to use them over the next week myself and see what I can come up with. It’s my challenge to you.
Picture by Pixabay
11 people like this
9 responses

@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
26 Jul 16
@IreneVincent I definitely will! You helped me a bunch.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@velvet53 I'm glad you liked the idea. It's easy to find topics by looking in a magazine or newspaper, or as @JudyEv says, looking at old photos.
Almost everyone likes to read "human interest" stories. That's what I used to write for a newspaper here in Virginia. So, take any interesting experience in your life of in the life of someone in your family and write about it.
Writing these types of articles can also improve your writing skills, by learning to use descriptive phrases and different words to describe things.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Go for it! I'm going to see what I can come up with myself.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Sometimes we just need a "thought starter" That's all it takes for me.
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@Gina145 (3949)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Jul 16
@IreneVincent Sometimes it works for me, other times not. I find that when I'm sitting at my computer I often struggle to write, even when I have a vague idea of what I want to say. My best ideas seem to come when I'm trying to sleep and I often end up writing whole blog posts in the middle of the night.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@Gina145 Yes, I used to keep a pen and notepad on my nightstand, so that if I thought of something that needed to be taken care of, or that I didn't want to forget, I could write it down before I went to sleep. Poetry sometimes comes to me at night.
1 person likes this

@annierose (21977)
• United States
27 Jul 16
Those are excellent thought starters. I have challenged myself to start one discussion a day here in Mylot for 31 days. I want to keep my word that I will do my best to meet the challenge every day despite the fact that there are too many things that are needed to be done. I will not accept defeat. The only thing that will make me not to be able to do the task I gave to myself is the internet connection. I am fortunate that both the internet at work and at home have been functioning smoothly since I announced the challenge for myself in this platform.
My technique so I will not run out of topic to discuss is that every night before I go to bed, I will take the time to read a lot. Actually, I just get my ideas from reading. The topic will just pop up in my mind, and I will write down a title for it. Then I will post a discussion about it the next day. I will be reaching my 2 weeks soon of my 31 days Mylot Challenge and I am happy with it and looking forward to the remaining days to complete the challenge.
1 person likes this

@annierose (21977)
• United States
31 Jul 16
@IreneVincent Thanks, Alice! I am struggling now to do it due to many things that I have to accomplish within the limited time so I feel a bit sad that I couldn't find much time participating in others' discussions. Rest assured, I will be checking others' discussions once I get a luxury of time again.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
31 Jul 16
@annierose I hope you get everything done you need to get done. Sometimes our lives get very busy. I understand completely.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
30 Jul 16
That sounds like a really good plan. I will look forward to reading your discussions. I will check your site each day.
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@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Some great topics there, thanks for sharing.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
I hope so, I plan to follow through with the challenge myself and see what I can come up with.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@JudyEv Yes, that has definitely happened to me lately, since I've been going through old photos for the ancestry search.
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@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 16
@IreneVincent Going through old photos does it for me mostly. A photo will trigger a memory and I'm on my way.
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@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
26 Jul 16
@IrenenVincent great ideas. I'll save them to pull out later for ideas. Pictures do it for me, I always get ideas from them.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Sometimes all we need is a "thought starter." I know it works for me.
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@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
28 Jul 16
@IreneVincent true. I used to use thought starters with students teaching them how to write.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
6 Aug 16
@HazySue Yes, it would be an excellent way to teach students how to write.
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@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
25 Jul 16
I'm never at a loss either, about what to write, but I guess some people are.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
I write some long articles and some short ones but sometimes it is difficult to keep it short.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Yes, usually we can think of something to contribute. I don't find that difficult to do, but some do, I guess.
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