Morning pages are something I mention fairly often here at Called to Write, but haven’t ever defined. Many writers are unfamiliar with the concept.
Morning pages are a writing tool created by Julia Cameron and described in her book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity*.
The core idea is to write three long-hand, stream of consciousness pages every day, first thing in the morning upon awakening, no matter what, even if you only write, “I don’t know what to write,” over and over again.
If you have a comment or question about writing morning pages, make sure you leave a comment by Friday, March 10th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time because one lucky commenter will receive a copy of the 25th Anniversary edition of The Artist’s Way, as my gift. (And if you already have the book, I’ll send it to someone you want to share it with!)
How to Write Morning Pages in 3 Easy Steps
Here are three easy steps to help you get started writing morning pages:
Step 1: Get yourself a notebook to write in (and put it somewhere you’ll find it quickly and easily in the morning).
I like something with half-size sheets so that it doesn’t take me all day to fill the pages. My favorite is this steno notebook*, because I love the paper weight and the size of the pages. I prefer using something a little more disposable like this than a fancy journal since I don’t want to feel attached to them. Though I’ve kept all of my many notebooks so far, I expect to eventually have a bonfire with them and I don’t want gorgeous leather-bound books energetically stopping me from letting go. I keep my notebook with my favorite pen tucked into my nightstand for easy retrieval upon awakening.
Step 2: Write three pages — about ANYTHING — when you wake up.
I love to write morning pages before I do anything else other than make a quick trip to the bathroom and put in my contact lenses. Then I hop back in bed and write. My pages tend to take me about 20 minutes. Some writers prefer to get up and make coffee or tea, and sit in a cozy spot to write their pages. If you’re tempted to stop short of three pages, I highly recommend pushing through. There’s so much insight that happens once you get deeper in (usually about the 2.5 page mark) — don’t miss it. Don’t worry about what you’re writing — just write whatever is swirling around in your brain, even if it’s boring, whiny, ridiculous, or pointless. It doesn’t matter.
Step 3: Repeat the next day… and don’t look back.
Write the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that. Morning pages are one of those tools for life that are worth holding onto. Especially in the early days of writing morning pages, don’t re-read your pages. Julia Cameron even recommends stapling the pages together when you first start so you aren’t tempted to go back. Just put the words on the page, and move on. It’s a tool, not a record.
5 Reasons You’ll Want to Write Morning Pages
Some pretty amazing and miraculous things start happening once you’ve been writing morning pages for a while. Here are five reasons you’ll want to make them part of your regular writing routine:
1. Morning Pages Lead to Creative Recovery
Morning pages are a powerful tool for creative recovery. Many writers and artists experience creative burnout at some point and struggle to regain their creative footing and orientation. Writing morning pages helps us find our way back to our creative selves.
Morning pages also are a way to “rest” on the page — a way to keep the words flowing even if you’re feeling blocked with writing your book or what to write next, and can be a “bridge” to keep you writing between finishing a draft and tackling your next revision when you don’t want to lose your writing habit and momentum.
Writing pages this way also helps free us from perfectionism. Since we’re writing without editing or for publication or even for sentence structure, it gives us great practice at letting the words flow freely without judgement or internal censorship.
2. Morning Pages Prepare Your Mind for Creative Insight and Discovery
Writing morning pages will help you clear away any angst, fear, worry, and doubt — in any area of your life. Morning pages are not journal pages — you aren’t (necessarily) going to be recording your life experiences through your morning pages. Instead, use them to purge the voices of negativity that hold you back. Get them out onto the page and out of your head, so you can move to your writing with a lighter heart and fresher spirit. So go ahead and vent and complain. Get it all out and leave it behind you.
What’s so cool about this is that it helps you quiet your mind. And a quieter mind is one better prepared for creative insight and discovery.
3. Morning Pages Foster Self-Trust and Honesty
Morning pages require honesty. Writing every day about what bothers you and what’s going on has a way of surfacing truths for your attention and recognition. You just can’t get away with complaining about the same thing over and over again without feeling called to make a change. You’ll notice what’s working and what’s not working in your life. And as you listen to yourself, you’ll build trust with yourself and your inner wisdom because you’ll be noticing over and over again where your inner voice is giving you information about what’s going on — and you’ll see the evidence of it.
4. Morning Pages Are an Antidote to Self-Forgetting
Morning pages are a powerful antidote to self-forgetting. When you write morning pages, you’ll reconnect with yourself. In my experience, it can be challenging to “come back to yourself,” especially in a world where busyness and materialism abound (and especially as a sensitive, intuitive, introverted writer). All the noise around us can make us feel lost and disconnected from ourselves, and morning pages bring us back to who we are.
A writer who knows herself is better able to deliver her highest quality work.
5. Morning Pages Are a Pathway to Self-Acceptance
Once you’ve stepped into this place of consciousness, it’s hard to go back. Fundamentally, morning pages give you permission to be who you are. They are a pathway to a radical form of self-acceptance. By being true to yourself and fully expressing all of yourself without judgment, you honor the truth of who you are.
Personally, I have found morning pages invaluable, from plain-old venting to accessing powerful insights. I use my pages to whine, moan, and complain. I unload my greatest fears and my deepest desires. And I ask for guidance from my inner self. It’s an incredible way to clear your mind and listen to your heart.
Answers to Common Questions About Morning Pages
- Do I have to write morning pages in the morning? Yes. :) Though you get to make your own rules for yourself, and of course no one can tell you there’s anything you HAVE to do with your writing. At the same time, this is such an incredible writing tool it’s worth experimenting with as prescribed.
- Do I have to write morning pages long-hand? Julia Cameron (and I) both recommend writing morning pages long-hand. There’s something incredibly transformative about writing your pages out by hand. And… there’s a pretty nifty site called 750words.com as an option for writing pages online. You could certainly use ByWord or Scrivener as well (two of my favorite writing tools).
- What’s the different between morning pages and journaling? The main difference between morning pages and journaling is that morning pages are about ANYTHING. It’s about clearing out, writing stream of consciousness style, about whatever is circling your brain. Journaling can be the same, of course, but it tends to more “about” something, such as recording your day, or exploring a particular issue. And while that happens sometimes in morning pages, it’s just as often as not complaining about errands we have to run or other things we’re processing.
- If your writing time is limited, is it better to just focus on your book than on doing morning pages? Maybe yes, maybe no. I’ve made the choice for the last couple of years since baby #2 to focus on my primary writing projects rather than doing pages because time (and sleep!) has been at such a premium. And… I’ve dearly missed them. I’ve gone to doing a morning journal check-in lately instead, but I’m going back to morning pages too.
- Can I share my pages with other people? I don’t recommend sharing your morning pages with anyone else, ever. Part of the magic and what’s makes them so powerful is that they are completely private and sacred. We can’t fully reveal ourselves on the page when we’re holding back for fear of what someone else might think. So keep them just for you, and protect yourself that way. This is great practice for learning to more fully reveal yourself when writing stories and books as well.
- Can I write evening pages instead? If you want to, though really, they ARE quite different animals. You might find that you want to do both. My colleague Jill Winski just wrote a post about writing evening pages in addition to her morning pages. Similarly, The Ultimate Writer’s Toolkit includes a set of morning and evening journal prompts, but focused on writing only. The progress journals that the writers keep in my Called to Write community can also somewhat fulfill the end of day writing “check-in” role that evening pages can play, but again, only around that day’s writing. My take: write morning pages to write morning pages, and use your other tools to fulfill their unique purpose rather than making substitutions.
Do you write morning pages? Do you have other questions about writing morning pages? I’ll happily answer any questions you have.
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Clearly I have neglected to write my morning pages for several months. Thank you for the reminder. No more excuses – I’ll bring out my notebook.
Margie, that’s awesome! Go for it!
I’ve been writing morning pages off and on since November 2013 (saved all my journals but never look back!) and I have to say there’s something to cleaning out your mental cobwebs before starting the day that’s been very helpful. I find its effects similar to that of meditation with the added benefit that I don’t usually fall asleep in the middle of morning pages.
Yes — I love that about morning pages too — it feels like a kind of meditation for me also. And I’m susceptible to falling asleep while meditating too!
So glad you posted this article. I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing morning pages. This is just the incentive I need to start again!
Kat, terrific! Sometimes a little reminder is all it takes. :)
This is interesting (and useful). I also use Mindfulness Meditation for gaining clarity, but Morning Pages are more focused on me and a personal “version” of reality.
Marc, I’m so glad you found this useful. I like your distinction! Thanks for commenting.
What an interesting idea. I had never heard of morning pages, but it seems like a great way to get in the creative mindset each day. Thanks for being so thorough and answering all of the questions I had!
Great, Liz! I’m so glad to hear I answered your questions about them. If you try them, let me know what you think! It usually takes a couple of weeks to get into the flow with it but it’s pretty amazing what starts happening with them. Enjoy!
I had never heard of this before. I have been doing a new Bible study that requires writing the Word. I see that it has helped me in numerous ways.
I’m glad to introduce you to something new, Sheila! Thanks for commenting.
Kat is our winner! Kat, I’ll be in touch to collect your address and send you (or your friend, if you like) a copy of The Artist’s Way!
wow – sorry I missed the deadline – but had to write to you anyway – I love morning pages, although I haven’t been consistent at all – I’m determined to put this into my daily life – in fact, Peter Jacobson over at Total Vocal Freedom, also encourages us to write Morning pages. – it’s coming from everywhere! – sounds like the Universe calling to me for sure! – Thanks for the reminder, Jenna!
Donna Marie, how great to hear from you! I always think it’s worth listening when you hear messages like that over and over again. Sounds like daily morning pages are in your near future. :)
Since you missed the deadline for entering Elaine’s book giveaway, be sure and sign up on her website at https://secure.clearreflectioncoaching.com/ to get her first book for free, or you can get it on Amazon Kindle for free too (the first in the five book series is free).Oops! I just realized you were talking about The Artist’s Way giveaway! We just finished a different book giveaway so I was forgetting I had done this one. :) Either way, thanks so much for commenting! xo
My son has been doing this and recommended it to me. I’m curious about the steno notebooks that you like-do you write on both sides of the page? Or finish the notebook and flip it over?
Judy, thanks for your note! I’ve done it both ways and I prefer writing on both sides of the page as I go through the notebook. I like the small size too. It’s satisfying without being overwhelming. :)