Morning pages are a journaling practice popularised by Julia Cameron in her book, ‘The Artist's Way’. The idea is simple: write three pages of whatever comes to mind each morning. The goal can be whatever you want it to be, but in my experience most people use it to clear their mind, process thoughts, or get the creative juices flowing.

How to write morning pages

When I heard about the practice and decided to give it a go I was all cavalier but no idea. You just have to write a few pages in the morning, right? Well, yes, but there are ways to make that easy, and ways to make it more likely for you to keep doing it. It took me a few attempts that were many months apart before I actually ‘got it’. 

Free writing

The most important thing about Morning Pages is free writing. This is a technique creative writers use to generate ideas and to break through those ‘blank page’ days. You simply start writing, and then you don’t stop. Put the pen on the page and don’t take it off until 10 minutes are up. Or 15 minutes, or an hour, or 36 hours, whatever you like. And if you struggle to start you can use a prompt and go from there. I’ve littered some prompts throughout this article so you can find one you like and use that when you give this a try.   

It’s likely that during your free writing time you’ll run out of ideas for things to write down, that’s fine, that’s good, but you can’t stop writing. Instead, write what you’re thinking, literally write; “Oh I’ve run out of things to say, what should I talk about next? Talk about? We’re not talking here, this is writing, why do we say we talk about things when we’re writing? What does that say about our need for communication with other people that even our innermost thoughts phrase things as …” and so on. 

It’s not supposed to be good writing, it’s not supposed to be smart or insightful, it’s just supposed to get you going, get the pen moving, and get some amount of thoughts and ideas out of your head. It really is very easy. Find yourself a pen and some paper and give it a try. Here’s a prompt I know a few people use first thing in their morning pages:

Example Prompt: "What did I dream about last night?"

Finding time and space for morning pages

Just because ‘Morning’ is in the name doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do this in the morning, and just because it says ‘pages’ in the name doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write on pages. These are more like suggestions incorporated into a catchy name. I do recommend you find time in the morning, preferably first thing before or after a morning coffee/tea, and I do recommend you use pen and paper, but neither are essential. The important thing is that you find some time for your thoughts and scribble them down somewhere. 

Set Aside Time

While it doesn’t need to be in the morning you’re going to need between 15 and 30 minutes to write. Obviously if you’re going for the classical route of writing three pages each time it’ll depend on how fast you can write, how big your handwriting is, and how big your pages are but in the beginning I would just say get whatever paper you have near by and write for 15 minutes. See what comes out. 15 minutes is usually enough for me to break through the surface thoughts and start asking myself the interesting questions that are simmering underneath. 

Example Prompt: "How do I feel about the tasks ahead today?"

Find a Comfortable Space

Choose a comfortable spot where you won't be disturbed. This helps you concentrate and get into the flow of writing. Some people swear by the idea that it should be a quiet spot. I’ve seen instagram posts of people writing in random fields at sunrise. If you have access to that and it works for you, great, full steam ahead. But if you don’t, if you have housemates or a family or work in an office or whatever, get comfy. 

I usually do my morning pages in a coffee shop or at my dining table with some music playing. I use whatever chair is available, I try to sit up straight and then inevitably slouch, and I try to stare at the page but inevitably look around while I write. Get comfortable, whatever that means for you, and then start. 

Example Prompt: "What's on my mind right now, unfiltered?"

Write by Hand

DO NOT do this on a computer or on your phone. Yes that would be easier, and you might be able to try it without getting out of bed, but don’t do it. Trust me you get better results with pen on paper. 

Writing longhand slows down your thoughts, connects your brain to the page and makes the process more reflective and meditative. If you’re typing and clicking away there’s lots of digital distraction on your page. Cursors and fonts and spelling mistakes. Ignore all of that. Just write. When you’re writing on a laptop or a tablet or a phone there’s a literal pane of glass between you and your words. With a pen and paper you connect yourself more closely to your writing. If you haven’t written more than five words on a page in years try it, and you’ll see what I mean.  

Example Prompt: "What are my Roman Empire type thoughts?"

Benefits of writing morning pages 

The benefits of a practice like this are really dependent on the person doing it. Like with a lot of things you get out as much as you put in. If you try it with your whole self and put the time in and embrace the ideas I’ve talked about, you’ll get a lot out of it. Hopefully things you didn’t expect.

One of my favourite authors Neil Gaiman has said that everyone has good words in them. Everyone has at least one story to tell and has the words they need to write it. But to get to those good words, you have to go through the bad ones. You have to write bad ideas and bad stories until you get to the good ones. For me, that’s what this is about, writing until I find the good words, or even the good thoughts. 

However, if you still need to be sold on the idea, these are some of the ‘benefits’ people talk about when they describe why they do their morning pages. 

• Boosting Creativity: Morning pages help to unblock creativity by clearing out mental clutter. When you write without filtering, you can discover new ideas and perspectives.
• Enhancing Mental Clarity: Writing in this way helps organise your thoughts, making you more focused and productive throughout the day.
• Reducing Stress: Morning pages act as a form of meditation, helping to reduce stress and anxiety by allowing you to process your thoughts and emotions.

Tips for Effective Morning Pages

Alright I’m running out of things to say now so we’ll fast ball some tips and tricks:

Be Consistent

It’s obviously easier said than done but try to write every morning. Consistency helps to establish a routine and makes the practice more effective over time.

Example Prompt: "What am I grateful for today?"

Embrace Imperfection

Remember, morning pages are for your eyes only. Let go of any perfectionist tendencies and allow yourself to write freely.

Example Prompt: "What are my biggest worries right now?"

Use Prompts Sparingly

While the goal is to write stream-of-consciousness, occasional prompts can help if you feel stuck.

Example Prompt: "What am I looking forward to?"

Suggested Resources

For more on morning pages, check out these links:

1. Julia Cameron Live: Learn more about the origin of morning pages and explore additional resources from Julia Cameron.
2. The Artist’s Way on Amazon: Julia Cameron’s seminal book where morning pages were first introduced.
3. Psychology Today: An article discussing the psychological benefits of morning pages.

Conclusion

Morning pages are a simple practice to boost creativity, enhance mental clarity, and reduce stress. By setting aside time to write freely, you can unlock new ideas, process your thoughts, and maybe start your day with a clear mind. Give it a try and see how this practice can transform your mornings and overall well-being.