I just want to open with the options for writing, calc ect and do not want previous files I have been working on to be displayed
Please have a look at:
• Can I supress the images on the start screen?
• Can the new Start Screen in v4.2 be reverted to that in v4.1?
• Hide preview for password protected documents
See also: Tagged start-screen + recent-documents.
If you use Windows:
Programs > LIbre Office and click on Writer, Calc, etc
additionally you can place short cuts for Writer, Calc, etc at places of your preference (e.g. desktop)
In Linux:
It should be very similar.
In Mac OS:
I could not find such a possibility.