By Gayle O’Brien Kennedy
At some stage in most writers’ journeys, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron finds its way onto their radar. First published in 1992, it is often considered the indispensable workbook for turning the intention to write into the act itself. At its heart are morning pages.
If you’re unfamiliar with morning pages, here’s the gist: every morning, without fail, you sit down and fill three lined pages of A4 without interruption. Call it ‘free writing’ or ‘stream of consciousness’, the principle is the same: don’t stop until you fill three pages and do not censor as you go.
If you’re worried about the consequences of sharing your morning pages, fear not – the idea is that don’t. They are not for anyone else; they are solely for you, the writer.
What’s the point? Cameron and her many followers claim they are the ‘key’ to unlocking creativity. The act of writing without censorship, before committing to anything else in your day, is meant to jump-start your creative brain and condition it to expect to write at the same time each day. It’s an incubator for creative ideas or – as my entries often reveal – a place to ponder your day’s meals. But its importance lies in the act of writing itself.
I’ve engaged with morning pages sporadically over the years, sometimes for month-long stints. They are undeniably useful, but there are also downsides. If you’re contemplating the morning page plunge, or if you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s what I’ve identified as their pros and cons.
Pro: They foster the habit of writing regularly, without excuses or apologies.
Many writers inflict self-imposed demands that everything they commit to paper is publishable. This monumental ask puts many off sitting down in the first place. Morning pages offer a structured approach to write freely without the pressure of creating something ‘good’. This doesn’t preclude the possibility of generating something incredible. In fact, I often revisit my pages for snippets to develop later. This habit of uncensored daily writing firmly establishes writing in your daily life.
Pro: They act as a freeform incubator for ideas.
When I’m not considering my food shopping list, I use morning pages to flesh out everything from character development to plot holes. Even if I don’t always arrive at an answer, the act of freeform writing provides a great platform for ideas to emerge and form.
Pro: You might surprise yourself.
I’ve solved problems with morning pages that I didn’t even know I had. The beauty of this kind of writing – and being in the habit of doing it – is that all kinds of ideas and words came out, sometimes without much thought or intention.
Pro: They ensure you’ve written something each day.
As the saying goes, much of writing involves just sitting down and putting in the work. Morning pages count as writing, even if no other writing occurs that day.
Pro: Better out than in.
I have poured complete drivel into some of my morning page entries. Many writers – actual, desired and fledgling – want to write because, to summarise Sylvia Plath, there are voices in our head that will not keep quiet. Morning pages can be the place where the constant spin of words and ideas and narrative can find a home, clearing the way for the work we may or may not do later.
Con: They are time consuming.
Filling three lined pages sometimes takes as long as 45 minutes. This time commitment is partly the point, that you grant your writing soul the time it needs and craves. However, for many of us, it potentially takes time away from other tasks.
Con: They can feel burdensome.
Not every day feels right for writing, and morning pages aren’t exempt from this sentiment. The ritual can sometimes feel futile, feeding into broader doubts about one’s writing path.
Con: They take a while to burn.
I’m not joking. For years I kept all my journals, including my morning pages. Even though they are not meant to be read – and as far as I know mine never have been – the raw content in them is not the legacy I want to leave. Not long ago I burned them all. It took longer than I intended.
In Conclusion: This article was written in lieu of morning pages.
Bio: Gayle Kennedy is a dual citizen of the US and UK. Currently a PhD candidate at King’s College London, she is also working on a book about Simone de Beauvoir.
