I recently started the practice of writing morning pages every day before I begin my work hours. I asked myself a time or two whether they were a useful tool or a waste of time.
You’re probably asking, “What are morning pages?”
They’re a tool created by author Julia Cameron. She discusses them in her bestselling book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. The book is a 12-week course in creative recovery. She says morning pages are:
“three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness…They might also, more ingloriously, be called brain drain, since that is one of the their main functions.”
I have been more faithful to writing the morning pages than I have been to reading the book. Maybe I needed less creative recovery than I thought I did. I have to admit, though, there is something in each chapter I identify with.
Dribble?
The first few days it took me about 30 minutes to complete the 3 pages. Often I wrote what I planned to work on that day or recorded the status of a current editing job.
When writing morning pages began dragging out to an hour is when I started wondering if they were merely stealing time from my work day or doing me some good.
But I reminded myself I could write anything I wanted, so I started writing write, write, write, blah, blah, blah. My brain responded with something else after about 2 lines of such words.
Genius?
After about two-and-a-half weeks of daily morning pages, I began to notice 2 important things.
- Throughout the day, my mind stayed focused on the task at hand rather than wandering off to other things I had on the day’s to-do list.
- Creative ideas began popping up throughout the day. Plot ideas for the novel I’m currently writing, marketing ideas, and even ideas for running my business. In fact, ideas are nearly brimming over, and I have an excitement about my job again that I haven’t had in a while.
For me, morning pages are rarely a brain dump. Often I tackle plot points or ask myself questions like “How can I generate more passive income?” And my mind responds.
Whether you read The Artist’s Way or not is up to you (check your library for a copy), but I recommend you give morning pages a try for at least 3 weeks. Afterwards, come back to this post and leave a comment about what you think of them or send me an email.
Do you already do morning pages? Please leave comment about how they have impacted your life.
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Yes! Morning pages are terrific. Writing them inevitably gets the jumble out of way to let inspiration flow.
Our writers group has been reading and listening through The Artist’s Way. It’s lovely hearing the intonations of Julia’s voice as she narrates it.
I also like using the Artist’s Way journal.
Blessings!
I realize morning pages aren’t for everyone, but I have certainly found them helpful. How nice that your writers group is working through the book together and no doubt getting insights from each other through it.