Morning pages

Photo by: Savannah Grandfather

One of the variety of books that I have read regarding creativity and writing is an excellent book by Julia Cameron, called The Artist’s Way. I’d really recommend it to anyone to wants to develop their artist.

A key activity in this book is Morning Pages. The book recommends these as three pages, I think in the US they’d be called letter size, and here we’d say foolscap. It’s just a free flow exercise in writing. Anything you think of comes out on the page. There’s no wrong way to do them. Writing deep inner thoughts, and writing ‘I really can’t think of anything to write today, I guess I’ll describe the room I’m in …’ are equally valid. You do this as soon as you get up every morning. Without fail.

I’ve been doing this for a few years on and off, but for the past year almost constantly, with the odd break when I’ve been completely out of my routine. I love it. I feel freer after I’ve written them. I’ve learnt things while I’m writing them. And it’s writing practice that I do every single day.

Cameron believes strongly that they should be written in long hand. She loves the flow of the pen over the page. I don’t agree. For me, writing on the laptop is much more of a speed with my thinking. I found the three foolscap pages are 900 words. So do it whatever way works for you. But I do recommend that you try it.