Morning Pages - Inspiring Creativity

 

I started writing a journal at the start of the lockdown in March 2020. In fact, I wrote several journals, and I expect I have written about that time before in this blog. I continued journaling for nearly two years before it tapered off. Since then, I have restarted more than once.

For the last two weeks, though, I have been creeping downstairs early in the mornings, 

'What have you been doing?' I hear you ask, well perhaps not.

What I have been doing for the last two weeks is writing Morning Pages. In my new notebook, free writing, clearing the subconscious mind and writing it down longhand, three pages, non-stop, each morning.

Morning Pages are essential to Julia Cameron's book The Artists Way. Written in 1992, this multi-million bestseller has inspired many to unblock and find their creativity.

I first came to the concept of Morning Pages via the YouTube Channel and Blog of professional writer Martin Sketchley. Martin has a YouTube community and is a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow working with university students one-on-one to improve their academic work. He has many YouTube Vlogs about how writers can benefit from Morning Pages.

Morning Pages is not only subconscious journalling but, in a unique way, a form of meditation. And it is also only about writing. It is of benefit to all the creative arts.

The idea is to get up in the morning and, before doing anything else, sit down with a notebook and your favourite writing implement and write. Writing about nothing, in particular, just continuous writing for about three pages of B5 paper, or larger if you're feeling somewhat inspired at the time. It is to unburden you of those subconscious thoughts and clear your mind for more creative productivity later in the day.

Writing Morning Pages is a relaxing start to the morning and something I can see myself doing for a long time. Julia Cameron has been writing them daily for over 40 years, so I have some way to catch up with her.

The Artists Way is a 12-week course, and the author suggests reading through it before commencing the workbook. That is where I'm at right now, and I'm looking forward to having a go at this course alongside all my other writing activities.

Morning Pages and the Artists Date are the two bedrock activities throughout the 12 weeks of the course. I will probably blog further about the Artist's Date when I attempt them.

I'm already starting to feel the benefits of Morning Pages, and it can only add to my writing creativity. The coming week is going to be busy with two workshops. I will finally break through a milestone in my novel this week. I spotted a possible pitch to a magazine on a trip to the library the other day, and I have a few ideas for short story competitions. Gosh, I could be too busy writing to have to go to work; now there's a thought.

I will post a few links below for you to look at. 

Next week, Did the Pandemic and Zoom transform writing and book clubs?

Links:

Julia Cameron - The Artists Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity is available on Amazon

Martin Sketchley on YouTube - https://youtu.be/22vd7lYhqA8?si=e7Q4qwwdR6NXzbzP

https://martinsketchley.com/