The Miracle of Morning Pages: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Most Important Artist's Way Tool: A Special from Tarcher/Penguin

One of the first fruits of our newfound security is an ability to take risks. We dare to broach a delicate subject with our partner. We dare to go back to college. We dare to submit an entry to a juried show. We dare, period, and as we do, our self-image shifts. Instead of procrastinating and beating ourselves up for our lack of courage, we risk an

“Julia, I’ve got a problem I don’t seem able to solve.” Take your problem to Morning Pages. Pose your problem and then listen for an answer. You will “hear” from a source of wisdom greater than your normal consciousness. I often pose four questions to myself and listen for the answers. You are listening for a higher and wiser self. I suggest posing

You may wish to pose many questions in your Morning Pages. A favorite of mine is, “What should I do next?”

“Julia, I think I must be doing the pages wrong. Mine are dull, petty, and repetitive—hardly inspirational.” There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages. Remember, they are not intended to be art. They might be what is called “brain drain”—the siphoning off of negativity is one of their main functions. “I forgot to call my sister back.” “The car has

In other words, Morning Pages give us not only the light of insight, but also the power necessary to effect positive change. It’s very difficult to write negatively about something day after day without being moved to action.

Write three pages of absolutely anything. If you can’t think of what to write, write “I can’t think of what to write.” Keep writing until you have filled three pages. Three pages full of anything, anything at all.

You no longer say “yes” when what you really want to say is “no.” You are starting to know—and speak—your mind.

Expect your Censor to comment on your goings-on. Remember that your Censor is a cartoon character, not the voice of reason. When your Censor weighs in with a negative remark, thank it for sharing and keep right on with what you were writing. It helps to know that your Censor’s most vicious remarks accompany your most original thoughts.

“Enjoyment” may be the right word for the transformation that Morning Pages induce. No matter how dreary, sad, or angry we may be when we undertake pages, sooner or later we will realize that our pages contain many choice points. We see that we choose over and over how we will spend our day. Sooner or later, we will begin to make more satisfying ch