I write afternoon pages! It's so much fun. I have a notebook lying around and when a moment comes when I have the urge to talk to someone, or check the internet, or write an email, or anything that has the purpose of distracting me from my own thoughts, i pick up the notebook and just write what comes. I really enjoy it. Like morning, pages, what i write isn't meant to be read later. And a lot of it is just stream of consciousness. But i love the way I've figured out this method of allowing my own thoughts to come through. Sometimes, i also write night pages, but basically, I more or less just write all day in notebooks--longhand. It actually took me MONTHS to remember how to write longhand! But now i'm thrilled to have that skill again. Writing by hand and hearing my own thoughts, dull or exciting as they may be. it's all good.
I have never been able to come downstairs with morning pages. I’m a nighttime person. The idea of flipping the morning pages concept to night is attractive. And I have a solution for not rereading. I wrote by hand and can barely decipher my own writing when I’m writing fast and hard in pursuit of—the fleeting wonder. Thanks Mark.
I much prefer this theory of night pages. I think morning pages, to me, might seem depressing. Full of what you have in store for yourself that day or of what the day will hold. Night pages would be more reflective. A dive into what unfolded that day. How did that day leave you? What surprised you about that day? It might be interesting to write both and compare the two :) The what if of the morning and the reality of the night.
This is intriguing Mark but as a long-time practioner of morning pages I'll never let them go. If, like me, you have vivid and often disturbing dreams, there's nothing like sitting down - with a pen and notebook - yes I do it longhand! - and processing whatever's on your mind each morning. I often let it drift into reflections, personal and professional, from the day before as well as some planning. I'm totally addicted. I suppose if you're a night owl then night pages makes sense but my morning pages cleanse my brain and my soul and enable me to start my day.
I don't, actually, routinely write Morning Pages (but that was, once upon a time, part of my practice). So I wouldn't be switching things up--but I do like the idea of giving Night Pages a try. I'll keep you posted!
Ah, this is a thing I have strong opinions on! 1) I think of The Artist's Way like a recipe - try it faithfully for the first time, see how it works for you. 2) from there on out, you use your own experiences to adjust. In my case, morning pages were nice the first time I tried them when I was in my 20s and had a lot of control over my life. When I came back to writing with a small child? HA. But I got a lot of bang for my buck doing three pages - unfiltered, not revisited, etc. as the entry ritual into my writing time, whenever I had it. For me, it functions as pump priming - if I write with entirely suspended judgment for 10ish minutes, it helps the other writing flow. Night pages seem like a very reasonable adaptation - there aren't universal right or wrong answers here...what do you find freeing and energizing? That's going to be YOUR version of the recipe. 3) be prepared to interrogate your practices over and over in your life. What's freeing and generative today may not be next winter, or after the new job starts, or when you move, or after you are struck by a grief, or when the baby comes, or... at this point I find such joy in being curious: what's working for me, what's creating friction, how will I experiment with new (or stretched) techniques?
I think your approach is sensible. That something like "morning pages" can really be a jumping off point for creating your own writing routine. Part of this is just getting beyond the concept of "writer's block", right?
My sense is some folks get caught up in doing exercises "the correct way" and so beat themselves up if they don't get precisely three pages or a certain word count... and that misses the point of course.
I appreciate your important point about "suspended judgment". Doing our best not to think about editing as we free write is super hard.
I think a lot of writers really struggle to put words down on the page (even in private, even knowing no one will read them) if those words do not feel right or accurate or worded correctly (etc).
I wrote a page every morning for a year and that eventually turned into my book of poems that’s going to be published in a few weeks. It wasn’t a morning page in the Artist’s Way manner, which I have done in the past. But it was a practice and it fed my creativity. Obviously a lot happened between those raw pages and the poems. I like the idea of adapting the practice to fit.
I write afternoon pages! It's so much fun. I have a notebook lying around and when a moment comes when I have the urge to talk to someone, or check the internet, or write an email, or anything that has the purpose of distracting me from my own thoughts, i pick up the notebook and just write what comes. I really enjoy it. Like morning, pages, what i write isn't meant to be read later. And a lot of it is just stream of consciousness. But i love the way I've figured out this method of allowing my own thoughts to come through. Sometimes, i also write night pages, but basically, I more or less just write all day in notebooks--longhand. It actually took me MONTHS to remember how to write longhand! But now i'm thrilled to have that skill again. Writing by hand and hearing my own thoughts, dull or exciting as they may be. it's all good.
Afternoon pages ! ! !
Love it!
You have a terrific attitude about journaling. Sounds like you've discovered the process that makes the most sense for you.
I have never been able to come downstairs with morning pages. I’m a nighttime person. The idea of flipping the morning pages concept to night is attractive. And I have a solution for not rereading. I wrote by hand and can barely decipher my own writing when I’m writing fast and hard in pursuit of—the fleeting wonder. Thanks Mark.
I much prefer this theory of night pages. I think morning pages, to me, might seem depressing. Full of what you have in store for yourself that day or of what the day will hold. Night pages would be more reflective. A dive into what unfolded that day. How did that day leave you? What surprised you about that day? It might be interesting to write both and compare the two :) The what if of the morning and the reality of the night.
I definitely think trying both and seeing what works personally is the wise move.
This is intriguing Mark but as a long-time practioner of morning pages I'll never let them go. If, like me, you have vivid and often disturbing dreams, there's nothing like sitting down - with a pen and notebook - yes I do it longhand! - and processing whatever's on your mind each morning. I often let it drift into reflections, personal and professional, from the day before as well as some planning. I'm totally addicted. I suppose if you're a night owl then night pages makes sense but my morning pages cleanse my brain and my soul and enable me to start my day.
Thanks for weighing in, Delia, and I'm so glad to hear that morning pages works this well for you!
I began night pages a few months ago, and it has been a wonderful way to clear my (overactive) brain!
Ooh, maybe we're onto something ✨
I don't, actually, routinely write Morning Pages (but that was, once upon a time, part of my practice). So I wouldn't be switching things up--but I do like the idea of giving Night Pages a try. I'll keep you posted!
Oh good! Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you, Erika! :)
Ah, this is a thing I have strong opinions on! 1) I think of The Artist's Way like a recipe - try it faithfully for the first time, see how it works for you. 2) from there on out, you use your own experiences to adjust. In my case, morning pages were nice the first time I tried them when I was in my 20s and had a lot of control over my life. When I came back to writing with a small child? HA. But I got a lot of bang for my buck doing three pages - unfiltered, not revisited, etc. as the entry ritual into my writing time, whenever I had it. For me, it functions as pump priming - if I write with entirely suspended judgment for 10ish minutes, it helps the other writing flow. Night pages seem like a very reasonable adaptation - there aren't universal right or wrong answers here...what do you find freeing and energizing? That's going to be YOUR version of the recipe. 3) be prepared to interrogate your practices over and over in your life. What's freeing and generative today may not be next winter, or after the new job starts, or when you move, or after you are struck by a grief, or when the baby comes, or... at this point I find such joy in being curious: what's working for me, what's creating friction, how will I experiment with new (or stretched) techniques?
So many good points!
I think your approach is sensible. That something like "morning pages" can really be a jumping off point for creating your own writing routine. Part of this is just getting beyond the concept of "writer's block", right?
My sense is some folks get caught up in doing exercises "the correct way" and so beat themselves up if they don't get precisely three pages or a certain word count... and that misses the point of course.
I appreciate your important point about "suspended judgment". Doing our best not to think about editing as we free write is super hard.
I think a lot of writers really struggle to put words down on the page (even in private, even knowing no one will read them) if those words do not feel right or accurate or worded correctly (etc).
I do night pages in longhand and morning pages, typed!
YES! Love it!
What do you think you gain from this practice?
Which practice do you think feels more helpful?
Many are wondering... how do you find the time?
I wrote a page every morning for a year and that eventually turned into my book of poems that’s going to be published in a few weeks. It wasn’t a morning page in the Artist’s Way manner, which I have done in the past. But it was a practice and it fed my creativity. Obviously a lot happened between those raw pages and the poems. I like the idea of adapting the practice to fit.