June 7, 2006
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In response to Myki’s comment, regarding Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way,” the morning pages are not meant for other’s eyes. In fact, the author says you don’t need to ever see them again. The whole point is to whip off three pages of whatever you wake up with; a very private look at your unedited self.
Because I have such a problem writing and not getting on Xanga or my Dain Rauscher account, I have decided to turn one of the bedrooms into a writing room and finish the book in longhand. After doing my morning pages up there I found I was much more focused when the dog wasn’t bouncing around trying to get my attention and I wasn’t watching the tape on Bloomberg. Plus, there’s no phone upstairs. So even though I wasn’t able to commit to anything I have a desk set up now and the intention of working up there. Any second.
Comments (12)
sounds like you have taken some good ideas and used them to your full advantage. What is the name of the book ? I know its a not paying attention kind of question but I probably missed the post…..
So long as it’s nice and cool up there.
That sounds like a liberating way to start the day! (now i wonder what my unedited self is really like, and what freedom that would give to write knowing it is never meant to be seen by anyone… although that could potentially pose a problem for me, since I almost always have *someone* in mind when I write. In fact, most of my blogs start out as emails to a friend who’s moved away.)
I guess I will have to get me a new copy of that Julia Cameron book and pay more attention to what the exercises say to do (and not do)… I also may have been confusing it with some other journal/workbook type books I received as presents (i recall friends and family gave me a bunch of books on writing and being a writer for my birthday years and years ago). Some of those books featured topics on which to write– topics which I’m pretty sure very well could be turned into blogging topics.
Having your own space for that sort of thing is wonderful! I got the most reading done the other day in my living room. I don’t watch much TV, but I’ve discovered that a soap opera I’ve been half-watching for 20 years comes in clearly and I’m usually home in time to watch it, so I read during commercials and then for twenty minutes afterwards. My mom has her study – she keeps her laptop in there, but it’s not too obtrusive. When I’m at Mama’s house, i go to her Yellow Room (study) to talk on the phone or read. She has the best rocking chair in there – I think that’s the secret.
I can only DREAM of having a special place to write!! Interesting how you can get up & whip out 3 pages right away. I like to get up & read every morning. 4 me, reading pages into whatever is on hand boosts my whole day. (of course stitching every evening after the final meal is a bonus/plus)
I just learn to put my thought into words and it is quite a struggle for me espcially English is not my native language. I love the way you present your thought. I hope someday to see your books in bookstores.
I hope it works well for you. My hand hurts after a page of handwriting…I’m so used to typing now.
Ah, the unedited self. So hard to get to. But that’s great you set up a writing space. Muy cool. :>)
I do all my original manuscripts in longhand, with a #2.
In response to your question about my pain: today it’s about a 4 to a 4.5. I even managed a mini workout, and some ironing. Go me.
No one will ever read my morning pages. They don’t make a whole lotta sense, and that’s the idea.
Cogratulations on creating some private space for writing – it will make a difference (Anna sighs enviously).
“So even though I wasn’t able to commit to anything I have a desk set up now and the intention of working up there. Any second.”
OOH Girl do I understand this one! Yes! It this is very important. I stood in the middle of my studio today and just put out my intent to create; to be entirely open to the creative processes. Then all of my new business neighbors dropped in to say hello. And Carmen, who owns a frame shop next door, heard me mention that I need an easel, so she went over and got me one from her shop. It seems that Everything is falling into place for both of us. I have the studio almost ready to go when I am ready to begin which could be “any second.” I am so excited for both of us..and our creative endeavers. You go Girl!
I hit this point a few months ago. I work in a spare bedroom of the house all day. I do NOT want to spend extra time in that room! But it’s where everything is. I know I’m lucky to have that space (although I still work off a big folding table, a donated file cabinet, an old piece of furniture that belongs in a kitchen from my Grandma, and a donated bookshelf) but I feel the need to somehow separate THAT kind of writing from THIS kind of writing. If I sit near the computer, it’s too tempting to read email, etc. I get distracted. I think I need to set up a desk in my bedroom for this.