How Writing Changed My Life — Despite Not Doing it Perfectly.

For over thirty years, I’ve written morning pages — a journaling practice made famous by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way.

What are morning pages?

They’re a daily writing practice that declutters your mind and taps into your creativity.

The Artist’s Way Guidelines for Writing the Morning Pages

In her book, Julia gave us guidelines for how to write morning pages.

As soon as you wake up, grab your pen, open your 8×11-sized journal, and write 3 full pages, stream of consciousness. Longhand, no editing, no rereading — just write …..

— every     single      morning.

Seven days a week. Just write.

And one final word of advice, it’s best to keep your morning pages private. Don’t let others read them. If you’re afraid your spouse will read your morning pages, hide them where no one will find them — in your Kotex box or with your fishing tackle.

Now, finally, I’m ready to confess. I’ve cheated on my morning pages.

I’ve swapped out my 8.5 x 11 journal for a smaller one. I’ve also written only two pages or a half of a page.

Instead of rolling out of bed, I dressed, drove to the coffee shop, drank my café au lait, ate a chocolate muffin, and flirted with the barista before writing.

I’ve doodled and double-spaced my handwriting to finish faster, even typed them.

I’ve used them to declutter my brain of feelings and thoughts and to plan a class I was teaching later that day.

I’ve abandoned the morning pages for months, flirted with other creative practices, only to come home and find my morning page journal waiting for me where I left it on the bedside table.

What about you? Over the past thirty years, I’ve guided thousands on their Artist’s Way Journeys, and I know many people try to write them perfectly.

Do you wonder if skipping a day of writing is okay? Are you cheating when you don’t write stream-of-consciousness? Is it okay to type the pages or write them later in the day?

I answer, if you can follow Julia’s guidelines — at least for three months, do so. After all, I never heard any rumors that Julia cheated on her morning page practice. And she has written 40 books.

On the other hand, there’s no need to write them perfectly.

Despite cheating on (or, if you like, substitute the word experimenting) on the morning pages, writing them imperfectly has changed my life.

They gave me permission to:

• Publish my writing, even if it isn’t perfect.
• Show others my drawings, even without formal training.
• Sing (despite me and others wondering if I’m tone-deaf)
• Stop drinking, one day at a time.
• Stop dating inappropriate men and grow a happy marriage.
• Become a spoken-word artist and published author.
• Change my career from one I hated to one I still love.
• Build my confidence and feelings of well-being.

To be clear, if you cheat on your morning pages, DON’T let that stop you from writing.

As for cheating on your husband? I definitely don’t recommend that.

Unlike your journal, your husband probably won’t wait for you next to the bedside table. At least my husband wouldn’t.