What are Morning Pages? How One New Habit Changed My Life
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Busy Busy
Everyone has so much going on in their lives: school, jobs, kids, lovers, hobbies, bills, disasters, accomplishments, worries, joys. There’s so much rattling around in our brains all the time and we usually don’t realize it. We carry this weight with us wherever we go — all the stress and anxiety and planning. It can bog us down and get in the way of the important things in life. While it can often feel like this is simply the burden of being human, I am here to tell you that there is a way to lighten this load through a technique called the Morning Pages.
What are the Morning Pages?
The method of writing Morning Pages comes from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This book teaches broken and frightened artists to get back onto the path of creativity and away from the fear that holds them back.
The point of the book is to encourage artists to overcome the voices within and without that spew negativity.
You aren’t good enough.
Everyone is better than you.
You are unworthy, your work is unworthy, so why bother?
There is no point in trying- you’ll only fail.
Familiar? Everyone deals with this inner critic, whether they come from your middle school teacher, a “friend”, or that nasty voice in the back of your head. And these nasty voices follow us around our lives, infecting more than just the realm of art and creative thinking. The Morning Pages was originally designed to help artists break through their creative blocks and get back to living a creative life. However, the power of the morning pages doesn’t just stop at creative pursuits. This journaling technique is valuable for every aspect of life, from marriage to parenting to daily stressors about work. Anyone can start writing Morning Pages to inject more clarity, focus, and direction into their lives.
- Cameron, Julia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 10/25/2016 (Publication Date) - TarcherPerigee (Publisher)
But I’m Not an Artist!
You might scoff right here and say “Well I’m not an artist, so this doesn’t apply to me.” To this I say PHOOEY. Art isn’t about paint and canvases and clay. Art is about creating something from nothing and diving into your passions. If you cook, write, sing, dance, design video games or play baseball, you are an artist. Any act of creation or honing of skill is art, so don’t feel bogged down by the narrow constraints of what society defines as an “artist”. So yes, the Morning Pages can work for you even if you don’t draw.
How the Morning Pages Work
The actual exercise is simple enough. Find a notebook or journal of some kind – it can be a cheap spiral-bound notebook or a hardbound Moleskine journal. It doesn’t matter, as long as it has a blank page. Grab a pen that you enjoy. Make sure you use a pen that is easy to write with and feels comfortable in your hand. Personally, I bounce between a Lamy Safari and a Pilot Metropolitan. Get up a little bit earlier every morning and complete three pages of longhand stream of consciousness writing. That’s it, baby.
What Do You Write?
There might be days that you don’t feel like writing. Write anyway. Write down your first thoughts. You might forget to do it in the morning. Do it in the afternoon instead, or right before bed. You might start writing and feel like you can’t fill out three pages, it’s too hard. But fill all three anyway. The magic comes from pushing yourself to complete your pages. It doesn’t matter what you write, either. There is no wrong way to fill your pages. You could write down what dreams you had the night before, what you are currently worried about, the cat’s litter box habits, the chores you don’t want to do, the way your coffee tastes, your errands, a grocery list, a to do list, affirmations… Write whatever pops into your head.
Dealing With Distractions
This time is for you and the pages and nothing else, so don’t compromise your you-time for someone else’s needs. Distractions can wait most of the time, and you losing focus and giving in to a distraction could be that little negative voice in the back of your head pulling you away from more clarity and confidence. Don’t give in. Write, and the truth will fall out of your pen.
Because slowly, without your realizing it, the Morning Pages are healing you. Whatever injury you suffered, whether that be a blow to your confidence, a lack of certainty, or a sudden devastating change in your life, the Morning Pages act as a rock you can rely on and a pillow you can cry into. You can bounce ideas off of a morning page, revel in accomplishments, rant about how your kids are driving you nuts, or vent your emotions in any way you want.
No Sharing!
Besides showing up to write every day, there’s one other thing you need to do: Don’t let anybody read it. I’m dead serious. Do not let ANYONE touch your journal, not even a peek. You shouldn’t even read it – not for at least a few months, anyway. If you are afraid that someone is going to read this, you will not be honest with the pages and there will not be any magic. If you’re afraid of prying eyes, hide it and be careful about who knows about your journal entries. You can also simply shred your pages after every writing session if you are concerned about privacy. Do whatever you have to do.
Don’t Censor
You need to let go of the fear of judgment and write what’s on your mind, no matter how petty, silly, stupid, or crazy. Have you been considering leaving your significant other, or thinking about a wild career change, or contemplating moving to another country? You need to be able to spill all of your dark desires onto paper. And the funny thing is, the Pages won’t let you lie. Somehow the act of writing a lie, even if you are lying to yourself, makes it laughably obvious that it’s fake and you have to face it. This is something that makes the Pages a little bit scary, because if you have been living in an unhappy situation and you have been lying to yourself about your contentment, the Pages will make you look at your life with honest eyes and you will need to do one of two things:
- Get out of your comfort zone and do something about it
- Continue living in the crappy situation knowing full well that you could get out
Often it is easier to continue living in a lie than to move on into the unknown and try your luck. But it is not better. Living an honest life is the best way to live.
My Morning Pages
After seeing The Artist’s Way referenced all over the place, I finally ran to my library to borrow a copy. I read it voraciously and eagerly bought my very first Leuchtturm for writing my Morning Pages despite having a history of only using journals for a few weeks before abandoning them. It’s the nasty side effect of a journal addiction — collecting new journals despite the large pile of half-used notebooks on the bookshelf. I bought the journal anyway despite my better judgment and started writing my pages.
In my life, I had never successfully been able to keep up a habit of writing in a journal, not even short little one-page entries. I have known since high school that keeping a regular diary has a ton of benefits, but I could never hold on to it for more than a month. I was endlessly frustrated with myself on that front, and I always figured there was something wrong with me.
But something changed in me when I started my Morning Pages. I started writing each day, sometimes it is part of my morning routine, sometimes in the afternoon, but I actually did them. I was skeptical that this would be another passing fancy and I’d drop it after a while, but I kept plugging along. Suddenly, I realized that I was nearing the end of the Leuchtturm. With amazement, I went to purchase another and did something I’d never done before – I wrote on the last page of the journal. And that’s when I realized that somewhere along the way that the Morning Pages performed their magic on me.
How the Pages Helped Me
I used to be constantly bogged down with procrastination, and all the demons that come with that curse. But the Morning Pages helped me climb out of that mindset and into a healthier, more productive one. While the Morning Pages weren’t a cure-all, they did serve as the catalyst to me turning into the exact type of person I’d always wanted to be.
There is also something completely magical about waking up, pouring a steaming cup of coffee, and cracking open my journal to start these pages of stream of consciousness writing. If the weather is nice, I will open a window and feel the breeze. I listen to Prime Music, which helps me tremendously with writing consistently and not spacing out. I can listen to different kinds of ambient music or nature sounds and really feel focused when I write. The beauty is that there are no commercials to interrupt my train of thought. Try it free for 30 days and experience it for yourself! And if you’re a student, you can actually try Prime free for six whole months, which is absolutely fantastic.
15 Morning Pages Tips
Now that I’ve been writing Morning Pages for several years, I can comfortably say that I know my way around this journaling technique. I’ve run into lots of challenges and had to get creative with my solutions. Just picking up your pen and beginning to write is an excellent place to start, but check out my 15 tips to accelerate your growth with the Morning Pages!
Start Writing and Never Look Back
So is it obvious how zealously I adore the Morning Pages? I seriously cannot sing enough praises for this technique, and I hope you try it. So pick up a copy of The Artist’s Way or listen to it for free with a trial of Audible.com if you’re not sure. Or just start writing your Morning Pages today, no strings attached. If you can get through a month of this daily practice, I know you will not want to stop. You will find yourself thinking clearer and being more creative, and you will begin to recommend the Morning Pages to your friends, too. So what is there to lose? Grab a pen and paper, darlin’, and start decluttering your brain today.
- Cameron, Julia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 10/25/2016 (Publication Date) - TarcherPerigee (Publisher)
If you’ve already read The Artist’s Way and are still looking to awaken your creativity. I also recommend Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and A Trail Through Leaves by Hannah Hinchman. Both are great books that really helped me grow as an artist and as a person. (Remember you can listen to two free audiobooks with a free trial of Audible.com that you can cancel at any time!)
Whatever you do, remember to keep trying. Starting the Morning Pages can be a bit terrifying, but the release it provides is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. Maybe it doesn’t stick for you at first. That’s fine! Keep at it and you will develop the habit. The point is that you strive for growth and put in the effort. Adding this ritual to my daily morning routine completely changed how I live my life, and I know it can help you too.
Okay, this is crazy encouraging! I just picked up a new journal (another chronic notebook buyer over here!) and learned all about the benefits of morning pages on another website. but…I have the same hangups you do! lol Your title really drew me in and I’m so glad I took the time to hear your take on it. Much appreciated!!
I first read about morning pages in Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, and it sounded great, but I wasn’t yet in a place in my life where I felt okay just writing down whatever sprang into my head–I wish I had, but I think I had so much dissonance in my life that what I felt and knew and believed didn’t mesh with the box I felt I had to be in, and that’s not a fun place for self-reflection.
In the past few months I started a job at a company that makes planners and journals, and in my desk when I started was an “oops” journal that had been mis-personalized, and the cover is a bit crooked, and it had clearly been there *awhile*. I stared at it for maybe three months, and then about two weeks ago I picked up a pen and just started writing stream-of-consciousness during my downtime at work. It’s a thing to fill my time that isn’t browsing Reddit or Instagram constantly, or playing games on my phone, and I find that I’m calmer, and more clear-headed, and I have a lot less pent-up angst to dump on my poor partner when I pick him up at work at the end of the day, and that angst is often better-articulated than it used to be. And he’s noticed a difference, too.
To be clear, I used to be an *avid* writer. I’d write all day long if given the time. I wrote stories and poems and was certain I was going to be a writer someday. And then, sometime in my early 20s, I just stopped. I still enjoyed the physical act of writing, but most of my writing was notes about things I wanted to remember, but not my own thoughts. And writing felt slow and painful, and my hand *hurt* when I wrote. Interestingly, it hasn’t been hurting from doing my pages (I guess they’re not really “morning pages” because they’re done throughout the day whenever I feel the urge to put some words on paper), and I think this is because I gave myself permission to write in my natural handwriting. There’s nothing *wrong* with my natural handwriting; I actually like it. But I’ve been using a different script, and I think because it wasn’t totally natural it was actually hurting my hand.
Anyway, I just purchased The Artist’s Way on Audible with one of my remaining credits, and I’m excited to play it while I make dinner tonight. I’ve been resisting buying it for years for some reason, and finally decided it was just, well, time. Thank you.
Sometimes things happen exactly when they are supposed to. It sounds like you are at a point in your life where the Morning Pages can do the most good. I mean, a journal appeared and begged you to write in it! That seems like a sign to me 🙂 Your journey sounds so very similar to mine, especially with how you stopped doing something you loved so dearly and how it affected you. I hope the Morning Pages are as helpful and eye-opening to you as they were to me!
Just remember to be kind to yourself through this process. It’s okay that your writing is sporadic and not first thing in the morning. What’s important is that you’re starting. Keep writing when things feel difficult, or you hit a knot, or you don’t know what to say. One way or another, the Pages will always lead you the right way.
Simply– thank you.
Very much.
Just tried it after a video with Tim Ferris – It really clears your mind and you can really feel the activation of the brain – I’m not used to journaling at all, but have for the last couple of months thought about doing it. I’m writing technical documentation and instructions as a daily task during my job as platform engineer. I had unconsciously felt that my mind was more coherent, when doing a daily “deck log”. I even bought a used old Surface Pro 5 device, so that I could begin journaling using a pen instead of the keyboard. This way I never run out of pages and can link information much easier.
I’m so glad you found your stride with it! Typed Morning Pages are definitely helpful for scanning for info in past pages, but typing is less than ideal. It’s brilliant that you found a solution that gave you the benefits of writing with a pen AND the benefits of digital pages. Smart thinking!
Hi Shelby. I found your post through Googling…Oh, shoot, I forgot what I was looking for Lol! I read your post partially but fell asleep because of my meds. But then continued where I left off.
The morning pages, I tried it before after hearing about it from a Youtuber online and I guess I kinda know how to write it? But I didn’t last because it kinda sounded like the way I wrote in my diary. Can you give me an example of an entry so I know how to do it? Please?
Another thing I found out when trying morning pages and even in my diary is that if I read it much later on, I can’t “see” the solution to whatever problem I wrote down or feelings. It’s like I need someone else’s eyes to read and explain it to me what I should do to solve my problems. Weird I know.
An entry for Morning Pages can start off with the right now: what I’m wearing, what I had for breakfast, what I ate, etc. Then I might write about work frustrations, which might lead me to an ongoing family situation, which might make me think of a chore I need to remember to do.
The pages can be very scattered and all over the place, or if something is bothering me, I might write for three pages about one topic.
Something worth noting is that you don’t need to look back on old entries to find a meaning or solution. The major benefit of writing is in the act of writing, not necessarily in some Eureka moment later on.
If you need help drawing lines between dots or finding solutions to problems, you might enjoy seeing a therapist! I find that therapy is the best way to get an outside opinion on problems that I’m too close to see properly, and I enjoy the process of venting to someone else to get through frustrating situations. I hope that helps!
I happened to just stumble across this post while looking for some bullet journaling tips and inspiration. Which I gotta add that, as always Shelby, you were my first go-to for these types of tips and inspiration since I first found your blog/site/page last year! Just wanted to add a thank you with this comment and let you know how much I appreciate your work on this page/blog. I love all of your posts and have learned so much from you including my new love of hand-lettering and now about to start trying out watercolors because your work is so beautiful!
Back to the main reason I decided to write this comment about this topic probably several years late lol!.. This is the first time I’ve heard of “Morning Pages”, which I know now after reading your post about it here, that this is *exactly* what I need right now in my life. I already keep a notebook of random thoughts notes, lists, everything really, inconsistently and all in all just a giant brain dump with no structure and also no personal feelings or honest thoughts at all. I have also been trying to start my “official” bullet journal after multiple failed attempts for 2 years now, buying new journals, (among countless other supplies) then finding one reason or another to not use it as I feel it won’t work for that purpose”, it’s too pretty, expensive, etc.. my fear of beginning this and failing has unfortunately only caused me to feel more like a failure. But after reading this article I came to the realization that I need to do these “Morning Pages” and I’m actually going to start this morning (in my brand new pretty journal/notebook I just randomly happened to buy last night. Lol!)
For this, again I truly thank you for the inspiration and hearing how effective it is for you personally.
What’s most crazy to me right now though and the reason I am 100% sure of this being what is missing from my life, is that I realized during this read the “Morning Pages” are exactly what I did with my Journal from age 9 until about 22 (I’m 38 now). I actually even made my own “guidelines” to my journals. Things like writing every day no excuses, and speaking honestly, no matter what it is about, not tearing out a single page of my bound composition books (that I’d use purposely so I couldn’t do that), not reading entries until months later for comparison, or ever editing my previous entries when I did read them, finishing the entire book from front to back before ever picking up and starting a new one, among other things that I thought might mean I was probably a little crazy. I would pour my heart out about every thing during my pre pubescent, and then teenage-angsty years. When I ran out of things to say I would add doodles, lists of favorites, song lyrics, dreams, you name it. That journal of mine, (which is crazy that now I have a storage tote completely filled with so many of them I just can’t ever let go of), actually got me through some of the worst (but also sometimes best) times of my (childhood) life. Not only did it serve as a best friend I could tell all of my secrets to without judgement, the process of writing out things actually helped me to work out how to fix issues in my life, give me better insight and the ability to see things differently, logically even. I found my true love and passion of writing during this time. Most importantly though, it helped with storing all those memories in my head for life. I have a terrible memory, but each entry written has engrained in stone all of those memories, that I would’ve otherwise forgotten. I can even remember exactly how I felt at that very moment I wrote an entry, or where I was and even vividly remember the dreams I wrote about as if I just had them. Anyway, I really regret that I stopped writing in my 20s. All because my social life became more important than taking the time for myself to continue the tradition I created for myself. I can say that this is what I’m missing for sure now and I can’t stress enough how important and overwhelmingly helpful it is to keep a journal/notebook like these “Morning Pages”. I want to share your post with the world now! I’m also going to try and find those books you recommended after I submit this. Sorry for such a long comment but I was really compelled to share all of this. Even if no one reads it all! Lol
Do you write 3 pages front and back of each page? 3 total?
I write 3 written pages, meaning one and a half physical pages. So front and back of one, then the front of the next one.
Hi Shelby!
Can you tell me why we should never read back what we wrote in the morning pages? Is it because so that we can keep going on writing and won’t be distracted by the content we previously wrote? Btw, I love your morning pages article!
I wouldn’t say you can NEVER read your old pages. I go back and read old ones occasionally because it’s helpful to see that I’ve overcome whatever problems I was struggling with a year or two ago. You simply shouldn’t go back and read your pages from the last month or so. The reasoning for this is that you need a bit of time to gain perspective on those notes, and reading them might cause you to focus on them in your future pages. This defeats the stream-of-consciousness writing that you’re going for because you could end up using your pages to chew on a single problem over and over again instead of relaxing and writing about other things. I hope that makes sense!
Oh yea thats really help me to understand more. Thanks Shelby!
I’m a bit late replying I’m sure, but I personally find i need to go back a few years to get some benefit from reading my old journals. If I go back a few months I can get some benefit too, but I have to be careful how much I read otherwise I start worrying about the things I used to worry about
That is an excellent point!
I really enjoyed your tips, but the repetious music was so annoying almost like a chalkboard being scratched I almost turned off the video, multiple times. Next video, try it without music, you say lot and so fast its enough just listening to your voice is enough. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks for the feedback! This video is a few years old and I’ve thankfully learned how to balance background music better so it’s not so overpowering. Each new video teaches me something new!
You say 15 Tips, but there aren’t any? Did some of the article get left out?
Sorry for the confusion, Julie! All 15 tips are in the video embedded in that section of the post.
Love morning pages! It helps to release negative emotions and learn a positive message from anything that initially seems like a negative experience, promoting growth.
Exactly! The pages are truly an amazing exercise.
Hi, thank you for your article!
I am wanting to start doing this but am not sure what size journal to get. There are reviews like yours that use a 5x9ish size journal but Julia says to use 8.5×11. Julia’s recommended size seems daunting and I’m not sure I have the time or patience to do it for that long, but scared if I only do 3 pages of 5×9 I won’t get the full benefit of getting the complete “brain drain.” Do you have any comments or advice on journal size?? Thank you!!
Hey Christine! That is a fabulous question. I personally use an A5 sized journal (5.5 x 8.25 in I think) and have used this size journal for years. Perhaps it isn’t the recommended size, but I can’t deny how much Morning Pages has helped me since I started. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by a larger journal, I’d say try filling a smaller journal for your first go of it. Then, if you feel more confident later, you can bump up to a larger journal. I hope that helps!
Congratulations Shelby!
Beautiful article!
I also read the book a few years ago and it has changed my life.
I don’t use the morning pages for creativity, but as a form of meditation to get to know myself better!
I’ve been doing them every day for years now!
Thanks, Dario, that’s wonderful! Truthfully, the best way to access creativity is by simply getting to know yourself better and get a feel for your true wants and needs. This technique really is an amazing fit for so many people in so many ways!
Thank you for that. I have started to write morning pages and the most difficult thing for me to overcome is the desire for perfection. Not to beat myself up for missing a day, or two, or three. It is a good way for me to break the need for perfection. It’s difficult but I am really trying Not to beat myself up about missing days and to just start again. Not going back to read what I have written helps because then I don’t remind myself that I missed a day.
That is one of the toughest parts for me! I miss days all the time and I still feel bad about it sometimes — especially lately! But there is no better way to get back on the horse than to forgive yourself for being human and starting again. You got this!
hi!
I found you while i was looking for dot grid sheets for printing. I think it was just what i needed to read. Since we are in quarantine because of Covid-19 (in my country) … i feel my procrastination is growing and growing every day. Feel so tired of myself sometimes because even I said I will start something.. i get distracted by mi phone, tv, and many things more.
After reading about your experience i decided to do it right at the moment … so i just finished my first 3 pages, and i decided to write you and say… THANK Your for sharing this!!!!
love
GC
(sorry for my english 😛 )
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment, Gise! I’m so glad that the Morning Pages are able to give you something positive to look forward to during these stressful times. I hope you enjoy them as you continue to write!
Privacy Tip: You can scan your pages into Evernote and throw them away. My best method was to use Scannable App which has an option to save to Evernote. My info was saved and kept private. This was lifesaver, while I was preparing to get ready to divorce. I am happy and free, but I still do morning pages. There is nothing like a great answer to my “What should I … Know, Accept, Try, Do” wrap up to my MP!
That is a great idea, Tasha. It’s the best of both worlds, you get to keep them and not have to worry about someone reading them!
My favorite journaling medium right now are the reusable notebooks. My favorite is the Rocketbook because the app is amazing in scan quality and OCR. These let you write and erase or first scan and send to somewhere electronically so they can be secure from prying eyes. I even use one for my bullet journal/planner.
Thanks Shelby! Can’t wait to try the morning pages.
Do you HAVE to do it long hand? I type soo much faster and feel like i can unburden myself so much better because I can almost keep up with the manic movements my brain is making. Can you do morning pages electronically? What is the advantage of doing it Long Hand BLUCK!
That is a great question, Kim! The benefit of doing the Pages longhand is that it sorta slows you down. There is no harsh blue light, no popup distractions, no pings about incoming emails — nothing but you and your pen. That being said, I wouldn’t totally dismiss typing out your pages. But if you decided to go digital, you need to take extra steps to remove distractions so you can complete your three pages uninterrupted. If it’s a matter of writing them digitally or not at all, then go digital. Writing your pages is better than not writing your pages, always.
I know there are different programs or even browser extensions that can help you remain distraction free as well! May be something worth looking into if you prefer to do your journal digitally!
I’m building an app for morning pages called Melius – https://melius.app
It has a dark mode (no blue light) and built in exercises in the form of writing prompts for practicing gratitude, stoicism, self-confidence, etc.
I am a much faster typist than hand-writer, so it really helps me get my morning pages done faster without any negative impacts or feeling rushed.
I’d love any feedback if you want to give the app a go 🙂 I still need to add some features but the basics are all there.
Hi Shelby,
I saw someone on Instagram hashtag morning pages, googled those words and came across this page, and just wanted to let you know how helpful this has been for me. I’m 21, and in my final year at university, with the fear of graduating and entering the ‘real world’ constantly looming over me, and I’ve been in a negative slump, bogged down by my own thoughts. I started journaling last year, writing at the end of everyday, but it quickly became like a chore and I was forcing myself to write when I didn’t want to, so would just do a few sentences describing my day, like a diary. As you said, you thought there was something wrong with you, I’ve been feeling the exact same way.
Your words in this post have given me a sort of lightbulb moment, I need a way to overcome negative thoughts, and I thought I was the only one who had these kind of inner battles in my own mind, as none of my friends seem to feel the need for an outlet like morning pages. I’ve been in a bad place lately, and I don’t feel like myself these past couple of months, and this might be exactly what I need.
So thank you for the advice and the inspiration to take back control and refocus myself, I’ve given some of your other posts a look and I think this is a blog I will be returning to for inspiration- you really do have a gift for organisation, creativity and words!
Again, thank you.
You are definitely not alone at all Katie! I’m so glad you found your way here and had that light bulb moment. I have a feeling that Morning Pages will do wonders for you 🙂
Hi Shelby,
I fortunately stumbled onto this page, I do have a copy of The Artist’s Way that I purchased about 9 years ago. I began doing Morning Pages and actually found them very affirming and motivating, I lasted a few weeks and fell out of the habit… got busy, had a big move, etc. excuses I know. I wrote into a spiral notebook, I became very conscious of having these notebooks around, what if I kept this up for a year? I’d have stacks of notebooks to store/hide? The thought of referring to them to me seemed like defeating the whole purpose, the stream of consciousness, honest writing in the moment was what’s important. I’m more inclined not to keep what I’ve written, it seems more pure. I want to start again as I find it did help me to focus and ‘lighten the load’. I see Julia Cameron suggested throwing the pages out. Do most people refer back to them? I keep having this mental debate.
Thanks for your post,
Allen
That’s a good question, Allen! It can certainly be a bit intimidating to have stacks of personal information and insights just lying around. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I rarely read any of my old entires. Usually, it consists of me glancing at the first or last entry in an old journal or finding a specific date (like my birthday or anniversary) to see what I wrote. I suppose you could split the difference and save any meaningful days in a secure folder and discard the rest if you aren’t comfortable keeping them all around. It’s very much a personal decision, though. Good luck finding the right plan of action, Allen!
I read this book some years back. I really liked the way she wrote. It kept my attention and made me want to inish the book. I really need to get it back out and read it again. Thank you Shelby.
We hope you’re able to pick it up again for a refresher, BrendaLea!
Hi, I tried reading through the comments to find this answer but there was just too many! I plan to read the book, but just wondering does this have to be done in the morning? I’d prefer to do it at another time of the day (I’m not really a morning person), but wonder if this would affect the benefits I’d get out of it? And maybe they’re called ‘morning pages’ for a reason.. Ha
Thanks
That’s a great question, Rachel! The name of this exercise can definitely make one think that it HAS to be done in the morning, but it can actually be done any time at all. I know some people enjoy writing their pages just before bed to help relax and get to sleep. Some people find their writing window during a lunch break. As long as you try to write every day, you’re golden!
Hi Shelby,
Julia Cameron dixit:
“We are aiming to catch ourselves before our ego is awake, before its defenses are in place. We want to be vulnerable. If we wait to do pages late in the day, (end of day, it’s a diary) we find ourselves reviewing the day we have had and are powerless to change. Writing first thing in the morning, we lay down the track for the day that looms ahead of us. Caught off guard, we are apt to be honest. “
You’re right, Dani, that is what Julia Cameron says. But from my experiences, it is much better to do them late in the day than to not do them at all. This is simply my interpretation of The Artist’s Way, of course, and you are free to do the exercise exactly as it is described in the book!
It’s quite a magical book. I was never able to stick to it (ADD) but I lent it to several friends, and those who did had quite miraculous things happen. For me, mornings were always too hectic (snooze button + procrastination) but morning pages were absolutely brilliant at night. She calls it a “brain drain”. Even the worst spiralling thoughts, once written down, would seem to empty my mind and I’d fall asleep peacefully
Hi Dee I too was just looking at the page and not the author but saw your question… it says to do three pages whenever you have the time. Afternoon before bed or morning. I think it’s such a great idea I didn’t want to not answer when I happened upon that.
All the best,
Noelle
thank you to morning pages. I was very eager and interested to start and do it consistently in the morning. I am a morning person and I loved writing very much. I used to do collage or decorations put some art with my writing. I look forward doing this.
I’m really interested in this, but I signed up for the free trial of Audible books and unfortunately all of the books you mentioned are no longer free.
I’m sorry to hear that Dee! Thanks so much for letting us know, we will update that post 🙂
Your public library is a terrific source of books and materials, both print and digital. And free, always!
They sure are Eva!
Not in a town as small as mine, unfortunately.
E-books and audio books are probably available online. Get your library card (on line?) and search for your county/state library site. Amazing hat is available!
I read The Artist’s Way a few years ago and shared it with both my daughters. It’s an amazing book and the morning pages have changed my life. You are right, they do have a way of helping you to heal. Thanks for a great post!
What a neat thing to pass along and share with your daughters Christina!
I’ve been struggling for a while with a lot of different things and I really think this will help. I’m excited to give this a try. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad to hear you’re going to give them a try Janay!
What if in the course of writing Morning Pages you think about things you need to do (i.e., To Do list items). Can you go back after you’re done with the three pages and move those To Do items to an actual To Do list? Just not sure about the sanctity of Morning Pages and not wanting to do anything that short circuits the process. Thanks!
That’s an excellent question, Bill! I often think of to-do’s when I’m writing my Morning Pages, so I run into this a lot. I usually try to remember as much as I can when I’m writing my task list for the day, but I will go back and quickly reference the Pages to complete the list. Otherwise, I’d be bothered for the rest of the day trying to recall that one thing I wrote in my Pages! I hope that helps 🙂
This was my concern as well, but just thought maybe I’ll put an arrow or such notation in the margin so I can find it easily when I’ve completed the three pages. Thanks.
That would work great as well Tricia! Quick and easy to find once you’re done.
So, I tend to get a post-it out and put it on the desk next to my notebook and then put my to do thoughts down there – what do you think of that approach? Breaking up the page focus to mch?
There aren’t any hard and fast rules here so if that works for you, then you can absolutely do that Christine.
I keep a pad of post it’s and if I think of something for my to do list or shopping list I drop it down there.
I will buy The Artist’s Way. It seems such a wonderful book and, even thought I’m pretty confident about my path, there are days when I feel that I’m not good enough (your mind cannot be strong everyday).
Morning Pages seems such a peaciful activity, a momento for yourself, for spilling put all your demons a free your soul of some burdens that weight you down. I will grab a notebook once I arrived at home and start them tonight.
Thank you so much for your recommendation 🙂
You’re so very welcome Isa!
I am just about to start morning pages, having started reading The Artist’s Way on Friday! I am searching for the perfect journal and wondered what the journals in the pictures are? They look like the kind of paper I love… strange, I know!
Hey Natalie, it’s a Leuchtturm. It’s linked within the post so you can find it easily!
Love this! Can’t wait (but also terrified) to start! I struggle a lot with procrastination and I think this will really help! Thank you so much for sharing! I love your work and how your personality comes through your writing. It’s so enjoyable to read, almost like you’re speaking your posts instead of me just reading them! I get a lot of blog posts in my inbox and truthfully I hardly read them, but with yours I read all the way to the end everytime!
Keep it up! 🙂
Thanks a million Ciara! I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the content. Don’t let fear take over, jump in and try those morning pages, you will love them!
How do you find using the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen in your Leuchthurm? Does it bleed through at all? I am just starting to love fountain pens and think this would be a great way to incorporate them everyday. Also, what ink do you use? I am going to try this ASAP
Hey there Rachel! I love using the Pilot Metropolitan. It’s one of my go-to fountain pens because it’s so trusty! And unless a bit of ink blots out (which happens on occasion), there is no bleeding. There’s a bit of ghosting if you’re using a darker ink, but personally, I don’t mind. My two favorite inks are Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts and Diamine Ancient Copper! I hope that helps 🙂
I had already ordered Morning Pages and cant wait for it to arrive. I did order the other two you mentioned- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and A Trail Through Leaves by Hannah Hinchman. Thanks so much. Just found your blog and I LOVE it.
I hope you enjoy them all Saundra!
Hi, this may be a silly question but do I date each entry or just let them kinda flow? Thanks
I would 100% recommend you date them, Jenn! It’s really great so when you look back on them (if you ever want to), you can see patterns and other insights. Plus they’re a nice time capsule for certain periods of your life that you can’t ever get back, so it’s really nice to have them dated. Of course, if you’d rather let them flow, that’s totally up to you!
I’ve been trying this for almost a week now, having switched from my previous journaling mode of 1/2 to 1 page and giving myself a to do list (because I desperately need one to function). The first day was amazing and I felt great about it but since then I find myself getting distracted as I write. I usually do it first thing in the morning and my thought might peter out and I start to space out and then need to bring myself back to writing. Do you have any thoughts on this or is it just a normal part of the process as well?
Don’t worry about this part, Isa, it’s totally normal! Sometimes I still zone out while writing and have to zap myself back to reality. Maybe try listening to soothing music while you write to try and help relax your mind, or meditate for a few minutes beforehand to help ease the brain chatter. Just keep pushing and trying!
hi! i just discovered morning pages & want to give it a try. do you use only 1 journal for your morning pages? or do you write other things as well?
That’s awesome, Rachel! My Morning Pages journal is exclusively for that task. I go through them too quickly to do anything else with them, and I like them being private and tucked away when I’m not writing my pages. I hope that helps and good luck getting started!
Practical question here: are your morning pages in a separate journal from your bullet journal? If they’re in the same journal, how do you make sure you have enough room for each month? I like things perfectly spaced and I also don’t like wasting any pages, so need some help with the set-up.
That’s a great question, Andy! I keep my Morning Pages in their own journal away from my plans. I want them to be private and separate so my thoughts and feelings are nice and safe. And when you write three pages every day, it eats up journals too quickly to really use it for anything else anyway! I hope that helps 🙂
I’m very interested in your morning pages habit! I’m a long-time journaler with an unregular writing schedule as well, but I have all of my journals all the way from age 7! I wrote a lot more in high school and my journaling was more genuine. I do find myself editing what I write in my digital journal now. I write on my computer and my ipad. I love it because it allows me to add pictures as well. But there’s something about pen and paper… I started my bullet journal about 3 weeks ago and I love it! I want to try your morning pages idea. I have the book you referenced and have never read it. I’m going to find it and do just that. I think your idea about the 3 pages is very interesting. I look forward to what I will learn about myself. I think I’ve been hiding from my desires for a long time!
How did you get started as a professional blogger? I think that’s fascinating!
Diane
You’re totally right, Diane – there is just something so special about pen and paper that computers cannot compete with. And thank you! I started blogging as a hobby, and it just sorta grew from there. I realized that I was more interested in working on the blog than I was with my chosen career path, and I eventually started making enough money that I felt comfortable quitting my day job. The rest is history!
Hi, I’ve been lurking for a couple of days, poring over your BuJo stuff (hello, meal planning solved! thanks for that.)
I was not, repeat NOT going to read this post, ’cause me and my Pages have been sulking at each other for a couple of months now. But I know what the problem is–even before I read it in your post: you can’t lie to yourself when you’re writing them, and I have been trying to gloss things over for way too long, about a lot of things. The question is, what am I going to do about any of it? Obviously complaining about the same thing, over and over and over, even to myself isn’t going to change anything. And that’s why I stopped writing them–because I was tired of hearing myself whine on repeat. But I know there’s an answer…somewhere…and maybe I just need to give myself a little more whining room to let it out. So, thank you for this. I have some writing to do this afternoon.
I’m glad you decided to read this post anyways, Stacey! I hope you’ve been able to start writing again and get to the other side of things.
Wow! I actually need this right now! I have so many thoughts that I want out of my mind but it’s not healthy to speak it out to other people that’s why I chose to keep it myself. Thanks for this worthy blog post!
Thank you Janna! Glad to hear it was helpful for you.
So only to write non-fiction?
And what is the “spiritual” part that is on the book?
Well, the author of The Artist Way goes into lots of stuff about spirituality that I can’t possibly whittle down into a single comment. I’d totally give it a read if you’re curious! And I’m not entirely certain about fiction vs non-fiction writing in your Morning Pages. I think it’s supposed to be non-fiction, but it’s totally up for interpretation. I’d say just write what feels right to you!
Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed reading. I too have had the same issues, got all these journals, I start to write for like a few weeks then I stop and never touch it again. I’m trying this and see how it goes for the next 30 days. My mind is always busy with many thoughts so doing 3 pages should help. I can’t wait to start this on November, gonna make a tracker for it and all too. Thanks! =)
Wonderful! I think you will find they are pretty amazing.
Thank you for your posts. I enjoy reading them. I also like how you have it easy to share on the sidebar but it makes it hard for me to read your post since it is blocking some of the words. Maybe it is just my computer. Just thought you might like to know.
Happy to hear you enjoy the content. Thanks for bringing this to our attention! It seems to only be on some screens. If you change the zoom on your screen to just 90% you should be able to read it without the share bar blocking your view.
Stupid quesrion probably lol but is one page just front or front AND back? Like, do I write front back front back front back, or just front back front?
Because filling three full pages is quite a lot!
Hey there, Sofie! That’s a great question. I fill up one and a half physical pages (so front, back, front). Three full pages of front and back would be quite a lot! I hope that helps 😀
loving your blogs!
Thank you!
I’m really interested to try after reading your post! But i don’t really get the idea of it. So it is like just writing whatever pops out if my mind? And I myself shouldn’t even read it after that?
You can write whatever happens to be on your mind at the time. The goal is to just get those thoughts out and clear your mind. If you feel like reading it later you certainly can but it’s best not to for a couple months.
I’ve got it now! Thanks 😀 It’s my third day writing and I really like it! Hope that I will be able to continue writing in a daily basis and hopefully this can strengthen my concentration >< I am so easily distracted and so hard to focus :(((
Wonderful! So glad you are enjoying it! With time, the distractions will become less able to pull your focus away.
I love the idea of your morning pages. I am a person who struggles with panic attacks and it has gotten worse in the past weeks. Often because there is too much stress and most of the times I just don’t feel able to deal with all of it. So I thought that it might be a good idea to start writing in the morning. Because when I get up, my heart is already pounding and I panic, because of the tasks that are waiting to be done.
I have tried it the last two days and I really like it. It helps me to get things of my chest and I get calmer while writing. I already recommended it to a friend who said she would rather turn it into an evening habit and I said it is fine as long as it helps her.
So thank you for sharing this!
So glad to hear this is something that’s helpful for you! It really is such a great way to get your day started off organized and under control.
Your blog came to me at a time when I heard just what I needed to hear. I am a frustrated journalling person though I am told that I am a great communicator and letter writer. Your blog gave me some tools that I believe will help me to overcome this hurdle. Thank you for sharing
So happy to hear you’ve learned some helpful tools.
Hi Shelby, I like your posts, very informative and inspiring. I’m trying to be better about putting pen to paper in a journal. Do you journal in your bullet journal, or separately? Curious about your approach and opinion.
Thanks, Paul! That’s lovely to hear 🙂 I keep my Morning Pages in a different journal. I’d devour journals at lightning speed if I kept my pages with my planning stuff! I’d definitely recommend keeping them separate. I hope that helps!
I just discovered your blog and signed up! I have written journals for many years. The last 4 I typed and then had the pages hardbound. Love them. I want to go back to writing and have spent months trying to decide how to do this. I discovered all these analog people on IG but everyone was so artistic I was intimidated. Bought a TN and it didn’t work for me. What I want to do the most is journal for those that follow me. I also want it to look great! I’ve decided I can’t be intimidated by anyone but I sure can get a lot of ideas for simple things I can do. I finally found a Leuchtruum (sp?) and its perfect. I know that from first to last page it will do a lot of changing. I am taking a brush calligraphy class which I really want to learn.
Can’t wait to read all your ideas!
Susan Lambrix
That’s really great that you are diving back in! I bet you will really enjoy the calligraphy class and put what you learn to use in your new journal.
I could never get Morning Pages to work for me. I don’t The Artist’s Way, but I read Cameron’s The Writing Diet where she also proposes the same exercise, and I tried more than once to get the habit to stick, and it doesn’t. Then a couple of weeks ago I was reading Nick Littlehales’s book Sleep, and there’s a section where he talks about “unloading the day” so your brain can rest, and I thought Morning Pages would be the perfect thing for it. So I turned my Morning Pages into “Evening” Pages, and those three pages just flow.
Sometimes “evening pages” work better and that is totally fine! You’re doing it, and that’s what matters more than what time of day it is.
Hi Shelby do you think it makes any difference if the words are written on paper rather than on pc?
That’s a great question, Nicola! I think that there is a more deep connection with the words when they are written on paper, and there’s less potential for distractions. However, I do not think that typing is bad! If you think that the only way you are going to be able to stick with it is if you type it out, then more power to you. The important part is being honest, being habitual, and keeping it private. If you can hit those check marks, then you should be good to write to your heart’s content.
I love this! I tried them today. I thought it would be hard to do three pages but ended up with four. It was weird to be so brutally honest. I have done morning journally before but it was at most a page. The more words the better! Thanks for sharing!
It’s so weird being so honest when you first start. After a while, it becomes second nature and you begin to generally live a more honest life! It’s hard to continue to live a watered down life when you have the pages to hold you accountable every day. I hope you continue to write your pages, Sarah, and feel that awesome truth!
Im having one of those Holy S**t moments, right now, where the world you thought you knew starts to crack right down the middle and the light shining through is so bright you almost actually want to close your eyes… Yeah its like that! The line “a book that teaches broken and frightened artists to get back onto the path of creativity and away from the fear that holds them back.” Litteraly was like a wave of sudden realization washing right over my head. In high school i did alot of art of all mediums and i like to think i was pretty descent, then at one point in class i was looking at anoher kids art and thought to myself “i am never going to be ThiS kind of good, so why even bother?” And i felt a switch in my heart break into pieces and after another year or two of art i didn’t do any drawing for almost 10 years… Not for lack of tryng either, i would get my pencil and paper and spend hours gatherng reference material and then there goes my confidence, sometimes i would actually put my pencil to paper, but to no avail. Never satisfied, afraid of failure, wanting so badly to just create something, anything beautiful and always utter disapointment. Until now… It never even ocurred to me that i could cure my fear and doubt and clear a creative pathway… I always thought i was the pilot of my own ship and if i couldnt fix it noone could, but it seems silly to me now that i was alone in my shell and that there were others who not only had been through what i was feeling but could HELP me through the frustration! I mean talk about a duh moment… But long story short, thank you, i dont know how i stumbled here to this particular post on this particular day, but from the bottom of my heart, Thank You!
One of the biggest hurtles any blocked creative needs to overcome is realizing that they are not alone! It’s so great to see that you are beginning to push past your obstacle and see the problem for what it really is 🙂 You should definitely read The Artist’s Way. You’ll be amazed at how much you relate to it. Good luck as you strike out on this new and exciting creative journey!
I did them for a couple of years. I actually felt lighter when I did them. I’m going to get back into them.
I feel the same, Donna! It feels like my heart is just a bit lighter and more honest. I’m glad to hear you’re picking up the habit again! Good luck!
Hi Shelby – I stumbled upon your post and love what you wrote about the morning pages. I have never been a morning person but have been learning how much joy the morning can bring if only I am intentional with my time! I recently wrote about something similar on my blog, The Coming Appetite, but instead of three pages I write a poem a day. It is liberating and I am usually surprised by my own writing. Thanks for your post!
Thanks so much Deidre! You totally get it – it’s all about being intentional and not just dashing through the morning like crazy. Taking a breath for introspection is wonderful! And a poem a day is a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing!
Hello… would just like to point out that video game creation does, in fact, require a tremendous amount of drawing as well as other art skills such as digital sculpting so lumping them in with bullet journalists is hilariously misinformed.
Hello Carley,
Absolutely video game creation requires a ton artistic skills, however in this particular instance I was saying that even if you work solely in an area that is not traditionally considered artistic, such as the coding side of video game creation, you are still artistic by the mere act of honing your skills.
Cheers,
Shelby
Hi Shelby
I’m really intrigued by this idea of morning pages! I had done something similar in the past (although not regularly) but I totally get what you said about it healing you and helping you understand yourself better. This post did a good job persuading me to start again!
HOWEVER I’m very concerned about the “don’t let anybody read it” part. In my past experiences, I was very insecure about this because I grow up in a big household and someone could easily find it and read it by mistake. I ended up writing by exchanging several keywords with a secret code so even if someone did find it they wouldn’t really understand. But it leaves me insecure in writing and as you said, not being completely honest steals all the magic. Do you have any tips or suggestions for me?
Thank you in advance.
That’s a great question, Sarah! I totally understand that fear. I grew up in a house where any sort of diary was insecure to wandering eyes. If you’re worried about it, you could grab a small book safe like this one (that’s an affiliate link btw) and lock your journal up there. Or you could type out your pages and save it in a password protected file. Julia Cameron suggests writing out your Morning Pages on a legal notepad, ripping out the pages, and shredding them after each session. I hope you can find a balance between pouring your heart out and keeping everything secure! It sucks that people can be so nosy, but that’s just human beings I guess. Good luck!
Love your blog — it’s so inspiring! I first picked up The Artist’s Way many years ago, but never followed through. I’m glad your post reminded me about the Morning Pages, and I’m going to give it a try again. Thanks!
If it makes you feel any better, Kat, I haven’t gotten all the way through it, either! It’s a tough artist’s boot camp, and I intend to push through and try again as well. Maybe this summer 🙂 I wish you the best of luck as you go through it, and don’t forget to have fun!
Thank you for sharing! I’ve been doing Morning Pages for a few years now and they are an absolutely wonderful tool. Have you worked through any of her other books? I recently finished Finding Water and I’m hoping to start Walking In The World in the next few weeks.
Big Magic is also a wonderful accompaniment. It’s what pushed me to finally take the plunge and start my own business!
I actually haven’t gone through and read the other books yet, so thank you for those suggestions, Mirna 😀 I have had the pleasure of reading Big Magic. It’s incredible! It was a big factor in me quitting my job and going full time with the blog. Elizabeth Gilbert knows how to inspire!
Hi, it was very interesting for me to read your article. In childhood i used to write my morning pages and it helped me much. It helped me again than i was elder and now After reading it, i realized that i have to start my morning pages again. ????
It’s never too late to get back into something that brings you happiness! I’m so glad I could help reunite you with this long lost joy 🙂
Hi!
I bought Julia’s book years ago and devoured it. That is not to say that I did anything she suggested – but it was nive knowing I am not alone in this creativity world.
I do remember she said to do your Morning Pages right after you wake up. You can start making your coffee or tea, but she suggested you do them right away in the a.m. – no talking, no internet or texting or emailing. It’s a mind dump.
So happy to find your blog/site. It has inspired me to start my MP again!!
I am a creative – great ideas but no follow-through!!!!
Thanks again for all that you do!
I’m glad the post served as a reminder, Christine! There’s tons of advice that I generally know – like that I should draw each day to improve my art skills – but sometimes I just need to hear someone else say it before it really sticks. Hopefully this was the spark you needed to creating a habit that will ultimately make your creative skills explode with growth! Good luck and thanks for stopping by 🙂
I am so glad you shared this post again! I enjoyed reading this post and got started on morning pages this morning! I am using a rather large notebook, so I was pleased to get 1 1/2 pages down this morning before getting ready for work. I love the idea of just writing WHATEVER and letting the “truth” fall out of my pen!!! Thank you again for sharing this and I hope to continue this process daily!
Congrats on getting your Morning Pages started, Debbie! It is such an incredible feeling, and I’m so glad you got to feel it. Once you get past about two weeks of daily writing, you won’t be able to stop! Good luck keeping your new habit going and enjoy that wonderful sensation 🙂
I found you on Pinterest and I started with a post on Habit Tracking and eventually found my way to this subject! I have a quick question… Is there a “rule” about writing by hand vs. typing in a Word document? Everything you have written seems to point towards doing it by hand, although in my case I type really fast and I write much slower (and left handedly so I inevitably smear the ink on my lovely white pages!) Maybe the hand written journal is more permanent? Or working slower has a benefit? Just curious about your take on this! Thanks!
That’s a great question, Ann! The Morning Pages work best when you are comfortable, so it’s your decision to make. Personally, I feel a benefit in slowing down, feeling the pen in my hand, and bringing my mind to calm and focus. It feels more special and like a luxury I’m giving myself. I’d suggest you try writing by hand and see if you get used to it. However, if you feel uncomfortable and it’s just not working for you, try typing. But beware, computers have tons of potential distractions. If you do decide to type your pages, make sure you turn off any pushy notifications and mute any alerts. Nothing zaps you out of that writing zone like an obnoxious ding. Good luck with whatever you try!
Thank you for your insight! I agree that the computer “dings” would be a distraction and my writing might just feel like work if I’m hammering away at the keyboard. Writing by hand does seem more… natural? organic? grounded? I will try it and see what works for me. Thank you also for not being dogmatic and insisting that I do things a certain way!
Of course! I understand that what might work beautifully for me might be uncomfortable or inefficient for someone else. Good luck with writing by hand, and if it doesn’t work, then good luck writing by computer! I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s best for you 🙂
Quick question. Do you write your morning pages in your bullet journal? If so, where do you keep them? In that month, or in a separate morning pages section?
Thank you for blogging your experience with bullet journaling. It’s been really helpful as I set up a notebook for 2017!
That’s a great questions, Kate! I have a separate Leuchtturm just for my Morning Pages. I’d use up my journals way too quick if I kept them together. I hope you enjoy planning and writing in 2017!
This post prompted me to search for my copy of Artist’s Way. I had purchased the book MANY years ago. Now, I’m going to read the entire book again AND start my own Morning Pages with the start of the new year.
Thank you for that!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Andi! I wish you the best of luck in getting back into those pages!
I could have sworn the Morning Pages came from The Miracle Morning. Or are they just incorporated into it?
Currently reading the Miracle Morning. But from all the groups the Morning pages have been associated with that book.
But will add this book to my to read list.
It all started in The Artist’s Way! The technique has been widely used because it’s so simple and effective, but it’s Julia Cameron all the way. You should definitely read The Artist’s Way, Yvette! If you like the Miracle Morning then you will surely love this.
Great post Shelby! I have started the artists way twice and failed twice after just the first week – the artist dates made me feel silly/anxious, the 30 minutes each morning of writing felt exhausting and like I’d lost time, and I wasn’t sure how to explain to my partner what I was doing when he saw me writing. HOWEVER I love the idea of doing it and know it would benefit me in the long run – so I’m not sure how to start again and stick at it. Did you read the whole book before starting, or dive straight into it?
Thanks, Madeleine! It’s a tough system to stick to since it asks so much of you. I actually haven’t completed all twelve weeks of the exercises and work. Artist dates were the hardest for me to find time for because I felt exactly the same, like I was being silly. I read the whole book in about three weeks, but dove in immediately after the first chapter. The Morning Pages were tough to make into a habit, but now I can’t live without them. While I wasn’t able to keep with all the other exercises my first time around, I am so so happy that I stuck with the pages. I think incorporating the pages into my creative process is going to be incredibly helpful down the line when I try to tackle the book again. I hope that helps a little bit!
I clearly need help with “focus” because I honestly have no clue how I found your page. I believe I was Googled “master grocery list” like an hour ago. The concept of Morning Pages seems daunting. I am a journal/notebook addict. Mostly spiral since I realize I spend more time writing and rewriting and ripping out pages. I currently have 5 spiral notebooks going. I can truly find nothing. Bullet Journaling brings on every single one of the negative self talk statements above. In elementary and high school, I was very creative. I can reflect and say that the creativity slowed, then stopped, when the negative self talk got louder and louder. You have inspired me to begin a bullet journal. I’m simply going to take the first spiral notebook I lay my hands on and begin. Overthinking and over-researching are currently my biggest challenges. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your blog has earned a shortcut on my home screen. A first!!!
Lots of people who started the bullet journal had the same problem! I know I’ve got a ton of half-used journals laying around. And I also have had my creativity wane since high school, but thankfully the bullet journal has helped me regain some of what I’d lost. Something about it and the Morning Pages have helped me get over the fear of screwing up every page, which allows me to move forward with planning, art, and other nonsense. I’m so glad you found some inspiration here! I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you hurtle that negative self talk. It gets better, I promise!
Wow, I am so glad that I found your article. To be honest, I’ve never heard anything about Morning Pages but this really convinced me to give it a try! 🙂 I started my Bullet journal about a month and I am satisfied with the results. So, thank you for sharing it.
Have a nice day
Lucie http://www.inbluebox.com
Welcome to the wonderful world of bullet journaling! I’m so glad you’re giving Morning Pages a try 😀 they really are a wonder! They’re especially great right before you plan out your day so you can unjumble your brain. I don’t know how I ever worked before them!
Found this through pinterest and had to try! Been only doing it for two days but so far I feel like I’m trying to cram so much stuff into those 3 pages, it’s nothing (or maybe I’m having a too small notebook) and I finish in like 10 minutes. I will give myself a week and then maybe I need to give myself like 5 pages instead! 😉
I haven’t journalled in months so this was a nice way to get back on the horse so to speak!
I usually struggle with not enough material! I have whole pages of riffing 😆 And hey, if three pages isn’t enough, there’s no reason you can’t move to four or five. I’m glad you’re giving it a shot! Thanks so much for stopping by and dropping a comment. I hope you enjoy writing your Morning Pages!
Thank you Shelby for reminding me of these morning pages from The Artist’s Way. I learned about them years ago (won’t tell you how long ago, it’s a big scary… It was before 2000) when I was reading the book to inspire myself to find a creative outlet that fit my life. I was single then and I found the writing like a purging of the mind, and so inspiring no matter what I wrote.
One of my writing professor’s used that tool to help oil the writing wheels, so to speak, and I found it worked so much. I did a teaching placement at a school where I was given freedom to work with a group of Gr. 3 students who were all full of the negative self-talk about their writing so I introduced the morning pages to them. Their writing became much clearer and they expressed in their reflections how they felt more confident. I made an entire Writing Workshop for them to build on these skills. I remember one student who was so hard on herself and thought of herself as an incompetent writer and she grew to appreciate her own voice through these exercises. A proud moment when I was able to see her smile as she read her edited work to the class.
I think it’s also time for me to revisit the Morning Pages and dump the stuff collected within the grey matter sitting above my shoulders.
Cheers and thanks, Kim 🙂
That’s a wonderful story, Kim! I think that it’s marvelous that you taught kids about the importance of defeating the negative self-talk that is so easy to succumb to. I only wish I had a teacher like you when I was a kid! I probably would be a lot more organized and creative right out of the gate 😀 thank you for sharing and I hope you enjoy dipping your toes back into the magic of the Morning Pages!
Thank you for your blog and Morning pages, I needed this at this point in my life. I am a Christian and I believe that I was led to your page so that you could “push” me to express myself and not feel so lonely and uninspired. You need to keep up your blog and know that you are really touching people, this entry was a blessing and it will bless you too.
I am so very glad that you found some inspiration to express yourself! I know it can be really hard to come out of that funk. I hope the Morning Pages had the same amazing effect for you that they did for me! Thank you for commenting and making my day brighter!
I really enjoy your posts. Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us all. I purchased the book for my Kindle along with a shorter version by the author that centered just on the Morning Pages. I am almost finished with that and then plan to start reading her main book The Artist’s Way.
I have had quite a year. I had some major health issues and had never really never been sick before.. After months in the hospital, in a coma, losing 80 lbs that I didn’t need to lose and all of my muscle and strength taken away…. I am glad to say I am on the road to good health again. (Knock on wood). I had started writing a novel before all of this and have been a bit unsure if I had the energy and stamina to start again. Or if I even wanted to write anymore at all. Thanks to your post, I decided to try. I even have an extension with my publisher now. So thank you…..lots of work to do…but one day at a time I hope to get there.
I’m so glad you enjoyed my post, Jim! I’m sorry to hear about your health circumstances, I can’t say I know what that’s like. But congratulations on being back on the way to a robust and healthy body, that’s gotta be a huge breath of relief! I imagine that something big like a coma would really knock the wind out of your sails when it comes to writing a novel. I’m happy you have decided to try again and test yourself. I wish you the best of luck in your recovery and in your creative endeavors, and if you ever want to chat, feel free to shoot me a message. Thank you so much for brightening my day with your comment!
Cameron also says it doesn’t have to be monumental – you can even just write ‘I can’t stand doing these pages – what’s the point…”, etc.
I’ve had her book for many, MANY years and have not succeeded in doing it consistently or even a few days in a row.
I saw this post on Pinterest and heard a speaker last night talking about them as well – I think it’s a sign to start.
Thanks so much!
Christine in Calfironia
I’m so glad the pages allow me to complain like that (“I don’t wanna do this today!”), because sometimes it’s just what I need. I swear half of my entries have “Shelby, FOCUS!” somewhere in there. I’m sure that you’ll have it click for you at some point! I have been trying to write consistently for my whole life and I just needed the right push, and before I knew it, I had developed a habit! It will sneak up on you like that. I wish you the best of luck as you get started writing! It takes courage to start again, but I believe in you!
We used to do something similar in my high school English class, it was pretty great. And I just started bullet journaling last year, this is great. I literally have a million things on my mind at any given time…I call them “tabs” with friends and my partner, to explain I hop back and forth to the tabs to give it a nice visual…hopefully this will help close some of those pesky tabs.
I needed to read this, thank you.
“Tabs”! What a perfect way to describe it! Well, the Morning Pages have been great for me decluttering my brain, so hopefully you have the same magical effect. It works really well with the bullet journal on hand so you can job down any notes or to-dos that pop into your head as you write. Good luck closing those extra tabs!
I purchased a beautiful, leather-bound journal, found a box of colored pencils, meditated and then sat out on the porch with a fresh coffee. I picked out a beautiful blue and on my first page, in a very fancy cursive, wrote “fiday”. Yup! My first word on the first page and I spelled it wrong. Damn……wait…damn brilliant! Boom! First entry: forgiving myself. Beauty is in the imperfections. Still my favorite entry ????
That perfectly captures the spirit of the bullet journal, I love it! That first page can be so wicked intimidating, I’m really glad you could make a positive out of an oops like that!
I loved reading you blog post! So inspirational and enjoyable <3
Jenniffer, thank you so much for your kind words!
I found your post on Pinterest and I immediately clicked on it. It was very inspiring and I can’t wait to start doing morning pages myself! At the moment, I am just writing some affirmations during my morning routine, but this sounds really cool and I’m going to give it a try. Thanks 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I need to start doing affirmations. I keep meaning to, but I never quite get around to it. What kind of affirmations do you say, if you don’t mind my asking?
Oh goodness, I needed to read this!! I am SO pumped to start my morning writing! Thank you so much for sharing this. I. like you, love to write but find myself only writing for a short time in a journal, and then I stop. Thank you for giving me the motivation and desire to start writing again!
Ashli, it’s absolutely worth it! If you haven’t already, I would highly suggest you read The Artist’s Way. The way she writes just really made it click for me and had a big influence on my commitment. I am so happy to hear that this post was a motivator for you – that motivates me to keep writing, so thank you!
Brilliant! I’ve played with Morning Pages on and off – mostly off – but right now they’ve really hit a chord. I’ve been wondering if I can keep the practice up, but reading this you’re certainly inspiring me to try! Thanks 🙂
If it makes you feel any better, I was my worst enemy on negative self-talk! I kept telling myself I would never stick with it, but here I am after many months to my great surprise. After a while, the negative voice quiets down and lets me work. If I could do it, I’m sure you can!
Hi Shelby your post was very inspiring…I am going to start the artists way again this year and have been doing the morning pages off and on for years…I always feel lighter, as you said, when I do it…my only confusion when Julia says 3 pages is, is it three pages on both front and back sides (so there would be 6 handwritten pages) or just one side for a total of 3 handwritten pages? What’s your take on this?
Thank you Karishma! I interpret that as a total of 3 handwritten pages, or 1.5 physical pages front and back (if that makes sense). My pages typically take between 30-45 minutes each morning. I wish you good luck on starting The Artist’s Way again! I’m about to start it again, too, and it is a wild ride!
Thank you for that clarification Shelby…1.5 pages is what I’ve been doing too and it takes me also 45 minutes to complete…was thinking I’m taking too long so it’s good to hear about your experience now. Wish you all the best on your new journey thru the AW!
Hi
I’m just on day 6 – I find I’m just rambling lots of fragments and lots of affirmations- I’ve just sent off a first draft of a novel – and am desperate to Have it returned with notes so I can write a second draft. Before I would have been totally daunted by doing another draft but the pages are helping me to write every day and reveal- apart from nothing muchness scrawling- that I’m super motivated to have a novel complete- a book I’m happy with- and it’s revealed too in the pages – though I’ve not read them – and I’m. It interested too either – that I am prepared to work really hard to achieve my dream. .
Thanks for your post – I really enjoyed it. I’ll probs buy a moleskin. . . . .
I’m so glad you have been enjoying the pages, Julie! Aren’t they grand? I find that probably 80% of my writing is just random rambling, but the other 20% is great for brainstorming or discovering truths about myself. Cheesy, I know, but it’s true! I hope you get your draft back soon so you can continue to hone your novel into an incredible work of art. Good luck!
Can we fill in more than three pages a day ?
Absolutely! Three pages is just a baseline number to get you started. For me, three pages is the perfect amount. I feel like if I tried to write anymore it would wear me out, but if you feel like four or five pages would work better for you, you should definitely do that.