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Inspired? Would you like to see your name on this website and your book up on those bookshop shelves? This is where we bring you a round up of writing tips, ideas and hints.
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| by Fiona Robyn of www.fionarobyn.co.uk I’ve carried out a certain ritual every single morning for the past few years. It takes half an hour, and brings me clarity, insights, relaxation, stability, and helps me to stay in touch with the source of my creativity. It works almost like magic. This ritual is my Morning Pages. Three pages of flow-of-consciousness writing with my beautiful silver fountain pen, into an A4 spiral notebook, morning after morning. Some mornings they’re full of the aches and pains I have and complaints about having to get out of bed and feed the cats. Other mornings I remember the shocking pink flowers I spotted the day before, or describe the river I swam across in my dream. Whether I want to or not, whether I’m in the mood or not, they get written. Morning Pages are a specific type of journaling. They were widely popularised by Julia Cameron, who prescribes them to blocked artists in her book ‘The Artists Way’. There are only three rules - that you write whatever comes into your head, that you write for three pages, and that you write every single morning. She believes that ‘anyone who faithfully writes Morning Pages will be led to a connection with a source of wisdom within’. Journaling can also be useful if you use it in a more ad-hoc way, as a way of working something out for yourself, or as a place to let off steam. I’d still recommend that you give regular, habit-forming journal writing a chance before you decide if you’ll continue to use it. Your Morning Pages might become two pages every evening, or a full hour of writing first thing every Monday. Follow my three tips below to give yourself the best chance of discovering the almost-magic of journal writing. 1. Find your writing a home Most of us live busy lives, and if we are going to introduce a new habit we need to make sure that we create a space for the habit to give it a chance of ‘taking hold’. Finding a home for your new journal writing includes: Getting a beautiful notebook that will be a pleasure to write in, and a pen that suits you – whether this is a ball-point with purple ink or a well sharpened pencil. Finding the right environment to do your writing. This might be in bed after your partner has left for work, or a hidden spot at the bottom of the garden, or a window-seat. Try to find somewhere you won’t be disturbed, even if you have to put a sign on the door and educate the rest of your household about your journal time. Finding the right time of day. This might be setting your alarm half an hour earlier, or escaping for a part of your lunch hour, or just after you come in after work. The less you vary the time, the more likely it is that the writing habit will take hold. 2. Do it every day It’s useful to write your journal every day for several reasons: If you write every day it is more likely to become a proper habit. We are more likely to do things regularly out of habit (brushing your teeth) than by making a special effort (cleaning behind the cooker). It is good practice to discipline yourself to do something every day that doesn’t ‘have’ to be done - you’ll strengthen your ‘getting things done’ muscles. We need these muscles when we sit down to do creative work, as well as in many other situations. It’s great to have a regular ‘check-in’ as a part of your daily routine where you can take some time to work things out. Remember that it can be especially useful to write your Morning Pages when you don’t want to. You may be experiencing resistance to writing something that needs to be written! It’s said that you have to perform a new task about 21 times before it becomes a habit. Set yourself the challenge of writing your new journal every day in its usual ‘home’ for 21 days in a row. If you want to stop there that’s fine – just make it to 21. How do you feel on the 22nd day? 3. Be yourself The whole point of journaling is that you can be exactly who you are – you’re not trying to impress anyone, and you don’t need to worry about boring anyone to death or annoying anyone (apart from yourself!). This is the place where you can be furiously angry at someone day after day for weeks, or you can admit to yourself that you don’t really want that new job you’re telling everyone you’re excited about. If you’re feeling guilty (or embarrassed or frustrated or ashamed etc.) about anything you’re writing, make a mental note of your feelings and carry on. If you’re feeling twitchy about someone finding it and discovering your secrets, invest in a notebook with a lock, or find a private hiding place to keep it during the day. Let yourself go – write nonsense, write as if you were a princess, write down your plans to take over the world. Just write! You can find out more about Fiona Robyn at www.fionarobyn.co.uk. Her latest project is at www.asmallstone.blogspot.com . |
| Posted: 04/05/2005 13:33:42 Last Updated: 13/03/2007 16:43:20 |
Chick Lit > Writing Tips :: The Magic of Morning Pages