Loved reading this. By week 10 when you go back and read your notebook for insights and actions, you will see the inspiration you are looking for. It always shocks me what ive written and looking back I see how much the practice connected me to my heart
I'm in the same inspiration boat. When I get a good idea, it turns into a kick ass series. But I don't by any means have 20 of them lined up in my brain, jostling to go next. I do have a folder full of jotted ideas that - just as you said - when I go back to them would barely stand up to category, let alone full-length. I think they were my early writer brain casting the net wide without realizing all the complexities required of a strong series. But literally last night I managed to jump off of a scribbled idea (dead in the water, as I've since written something too similar) and use it to form the novella I have to start writing next month. Hence - I'm never throwing out that folder.
I love morning pages. I don't use them consistently, but nearly always return to them when I have an issue I need to work through, either technically or emotionally. I've recently picked up the practice again not because I particularly need clarity, but more for the act of writing something every day. I haven't done them this way before, not really? Like, when I first tried morning pages, I didn't have a direction, but quickly found one--I needed a place to rant, and quickly found a place to suggest and workshop solutions and it was absolutely magic. I've returned to the pages when I need that. This time, it's different. I'm writing about problems and suggesting solutions, but also just... wandering. So it'll be interesting to see how I feel after a couple of weeks of this mental wandering... and where I end up!
I would say mine are definitely of the wandering variety as well. I seem to start off wandering and then about halfway through the first page, I land on some topic, so that is working for me. I hope they work for you as well as they did last time!
Thanks for all the insights, Roni! I've tried Morning Pages (again) at the beginning of this year, but (again) found that I just don't have enough time and space in the morning to do them properly. I tried setting my alarm at 5AM but I somehow don't seem to function at that time. No idea why, since it's only half an hour earlier than my usual wake-up time but alas there it is. I recently read 'I didn't do the thing today' (think it might be you who recommended it?) and the book made me realize that while I've definitely found MP's useful, the way things are now I don't need to incorporate the extra stress of doing them in the morning. Maybe someday. Cameron is also pretty rigid in the way those Morning Pages should be done and for some reason, I also found that pretty intimidating. Which is crazy because it's not as if Julia Cameron is looking over my shoulder to check if I write the full three pages every morning but I know that if I don't do them the way I'm supposed to do them--like write two pages rather than three--it would actually gnaw on me for the rest of the day, which would add stress rather than alleviate it.
I'm definitely one of those fizzle-out-at-the-30%-mark writers :-) The problem isn't so much generating ideas but equipping an idea with sturdy enough legs to carry them throughout the novel. Anyway, working on that.
If I had to get up at 5am to do these, the joy factor would go way down, lol, so I totally hear you. And yes, I loved I Didn't Do the Thing Today. I've learned over the years that writing advice, particularly about process, is so individual that we just have to pick and choose and try and discard the things that work and don't work for us. I also am learning that I need to stay open-minded to changing my process over time because things that used to work sometimes stop working. So, for now, morning pages are working for me, but I also know that they may stop working at some point and I'll need to change things up again.
My brain works like yours: ideas do not pile up. At least not fully functioning ones that don’t need a lot of incubation and work to become even a one line book pitch. I like this idea of opening the windows more. It’s sort of like mindfulness and being more present. Seeing what’s there instead of worrying what’s not.
Thanks for taking us along on your journey. I love how you have experienced morning pages. Do try the artist date. It’s a great gift to yourself and while it may not lead directly to writing ideas, it always makes me feel like my windows are wide open!
Thanks for the Inspo! x
Glad it helped! :)
Loved reading this. By week 10 when you go back and read your notebook for insights and actions, you will see the inspiration you are looking for. It always shocks me what ive written and looking back I see how much the practice connected me to my heart
Yes, I haven't read any back yet. That will be an interesting experience I'm sure! :)
I'm in the same inspiration boat. When I get a good idea, it turns into a kick ass series. But I don't by any means have 20 of them lined up in my brain, jostling to go next. I do have a folder full of jotted ideas that - just as you said - when I go back to them would barely stand up to category, let alone full-length. I think they were my early writer brain casting the net wide without realizing all the complexities required of a strong series. But literally last night I managed to jump off of a scribbled idea (dead in the water, as I've since written something too similar) and use it to form the novella I have to start writing next month. Hence - I'm never throwing out that folder.
That's great that you found a spark of inspiration in those old notes! And yeah, I don't throw away mine either because you never know. :)
I love morning pages. I don't use them consistently, but nearly always return to them when I have an issue I need to work through, either technically or emotionally. I've recently picked up the practice again not because I particularly need clarity, but more for the act of writing something every day. I haven't done them this way before, not really? Like, when I first tried morning pages, I didn't have a direction, but quickly found one--I needed a place to rant, and quickly found a place to suggest and workshop solutions and it was absolutely magic. I've returned to the pages when I need that. This time, it's different. I'm writing about problems and suggesting solutions, but also just... wandering. So it'll be interesting to see how I feel after a couple of weeks of this mental wandering... and where I end up!
I would say mine are definitely of the wandering variety as well. I seem to start off wandering and then about halfway through the first page, I land on some topic, so that is working for me. I hope they work for you as well as they did last time!
Thanks for all the insights, Roni! I've tried Morning Pages (again) at the beginning of this year, but (again) found that I just don't have enough time and space in the morning to do them properly. I tried setting my alarm at 5AM but I somehow don't seem to function at that time. No idea why, since it's only half an hour earlier than my usual wake-up time but alas there it is. I recently read 'I didn't do the thing today' (think it might be you who recommended it?) and the book made me realize that while I've definitely found MP's useful, the way things are now I don't need to incorporate the extra stress of doing them in the morning. Maybe someday. Cameron is also pretty rigid in the way those Morning Pages should be done and for some reason, I also found that pretty intimidating. Which is crazy because it's not as if Julia Cameron is looking over my shoulder to check if I write the full three pages every morning but I know that if I don't do them the way I'm supposed to do them--like write two pages rather than three--it would actually gnaw on me for the rest of the day, which would add stress rather than alleviate it.
I'm definitely one of those fizzle-out-at-the-30%-mark writers :-) The problem isn't so much generating ideas but equipping an idea with sturdy enough legs to carry them throughout the novel. Anyway, working on that.
If I had to get up at 5am to do these, the joy factor would go way down, lol, so I totally hear you. And yes, I loved I Didn't Do the Thing Today. I've learned over the years that writing advice, particularly about process, is so individual that we just have to pick and choose and try and discard the things that work and don't work for us. I also am learning that I need to stay open-minded to changing my process over time because things that used to work sometimes stop working. So, for now, morning pages are working for me, but I also know that they may stop working at some point and I'll need to change things up again.
My brain works like yours: ideas do not pile up. At least not fully functioning ones that don’t need a lot of incubation and work to become even a one line book pitch. I like this idea of opening the windows more. It’s sort of like mindfulness and being more present. Seeing what’s there instead of worrying what’s not.
I like the way you phrased it, seeing what's there instead of worrying what's not. That's the perfect way to put it. :)
Thanks for taking us along on your journey. I love how you have experienced morning pages. Do try the artist date. It’s a great gift to yourself and while it may not lead directly to writing ideas, it always makes me feel like my windows are wide open!
Thanks, Valerye! And yes, I'm looking forward to trying the artist's date part since the morning pages are definitely working out well.