My dark secret about The Artist's Way
Friday, 28 January, 2011 at 10:30 AM 
Unless it's something you do regularly, you don't get to call it a habit. Writing "Morning Pages" is something I picked up from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way years and years ago, but I don't get to call them a habit. They give me intermittent benefits, though, when I remember to write them. Usually this happens on days that start out all jumbled while what I need is a clear, calm head to approach all the projects and tasks I've agreed to. Like this morning.
Of course I did it wrong. (In spite of the assertion that there is no wrong way to do them.) And I know this because I just went over to the "Basic Tools" page of the official website for The Artist's Way to confirm my understanding of those morning pages for you, and this is what I read:
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages-- they are not high art. They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind-- and they are for your eyes only.
Back when this description was fresh on my mind, I used to write them in longhand. All the time, I did this! These days, though, I have a file on my computer specifically for "The Morning Pages" and that's where I turned this morning.
But That's Not The Worst Of It!
Pssst. I have another secret. A huge one. Typing these pages is far from the only way I've failed to use this book to my advantage. You know what else? I've never actually read the book! That's right. I've owned The Artist's Way for more than 15 years, but I only ever read a chapter or two. Or maybe three.
Lately I've been surrounded by this book. All my creative friends mention it eventually. (And I have a lot of creative friends.) My friend Phyllis Sharpe is even teaching a course based on it, at the Greensboro School of Creativity! So when people drop it into conversation, I nod readily. I'm in the know, see. I've been around fans of this book for as long as I've known it existed, so I can talk the talk... to a certain extent.
It came up again yesterday in conversation, and this time got me wondering. When am I going to read this book? When am I going to use this book? Good question.
Thing is, it's more than just a book. It's a guide to really unleashing creativity. A guide to embracing creativity, and living a rewarding creative life. And like all good guides, it contains exercises. When you really read this book, you really make a commitment. A commitment I've postponed for far too long.
So I'm adding this to the list of things to do this year. It's on my Life List to do so, in fact. But now I'm deciding to bump that up a bit. I won't commit to starting it now... nothing so silly as all that. But I think it's time to move beyond the morning pages.
Which, by the way, I will resume doing in longhand. That much, at least, I can go ahead and commit to...
Reader Comments (10)
I have dozens of these books on my shelf (including The Artist's Way)... books that are going to turn me into a much more brilliant composer, a more self-aware & evolved version of myself, a faster runner, a better cook, a more flexible yogi, a more frequent blogger, blah, blah, blah. I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only one to have read only a few pages and fooled myself into thinking I had read the whole damned thing. Ugh. I know you haven't necessarily challenged others to do the same as you, but I'm taking it as a challenge to read and implement more of these books and see what I turn into in 2012. :)
Since I began seriously writing the novel I'm currently writing, I have had to type all my stuff, not wanting to spend so much time writing by hand, then typing it in afterward. I really miss handwriting my daily timed writings using the Natalie Goldberg method, which is similar to Julia's morning pages. I do still write weekly poetry by hand, which is the only way I can see myself doing it.
There is nothing as great in writing as dong it by hand.
You're doing it wrong. You have to do it exactly as the book says or it won't work. Plus, you have to read the book from beginning to end and do EVERY SINGLE exercise IN ORDER that they are presented. Otherwise chaos will reign in the Universe.
;) Love and kisses from your favorite anal-retentive friend.
Nathan, I should have offered a challenge. Was so focused on my own oversight of this book, I guess. So it's good to hear you're taking a similar challenge with me! Maybe the encouragement and reminders of others will help?
Michael, reading your comment makes me almost crave some time holding a pen and writing in a notebook. How I love my paper journals! And Natalie Goldberg too! Isn't she great?! How is the novel writing going?
Dena, I'd be perpetually angst ridden if I believed half that. Because I WOULD be doing it all wrong! Can you imagine living my particular set of rhythms while also being convinced I should be following prescriptions to a T?! It makes me shudder to think of it. (Still, I think I'll have to follow the book very closely since how could fourteen squillion Artist's Way Types be wrong? No reason to go reinventing wheels here, right?) :)
You know the real reason I'm doing AW again (6th time) is I always get into my "own thing" & let the pages & artist's dates go....usually to sleep later. But you know when I do them my life just gets into a better rhythm. Hope I'm in your group when you decide the time is right!
How cool, Phyllis! I guess sometimes the structure and accountability of a group really does help! It hadn't occurred to me that I necessarily should do this in a group setting - I'd always just thought one day I'd sit down and read the book and do the exercises. But you've reminded me of the likelihood of that happening. I hope I'm in your group, too!
I, too, feel like The Artist's Way has been all around me lately. Your post is just another instance. I saw copy in Half Price Books but hesitated out of fear of commitment. Cheers to you for bumping it up a bit.
When I first did TAW I slavishly followed all the instructions and got good results. Yet now, 10 years later, I find the whole thing too uptight because I realize that I need to be more flexible to make these things work for myself. I type my morning pages at some time during the day and they have different uses for me--in the morning they help order my thoughts and in the evening they help me process the day. In the afternoon they help me let off steam. What works for one person (say JC) doesn't always work for everyone.
Bump. So, have you actually gotten round to doing the artist's way this year?
Dropped the ball on comment responses for a while here, didn't I? Gretchen, how about you - did you ever decide to pick up a copy after all? With all your changes, I know you've had a lot of reading on your plate - depending on where you're headed with your career shift, I know people who would declare it to be a phenomenal help if you're moving toward a more creative path. I'd love to know if it's been useful to you. (Or if it will be, should you jump in and try it.)
CM, from what I DO know of TAW (reputation and the parts I have read,) it sounds to me like you're taking what you need from it and generally making it work for you in the most authentic manner possible. Guides can only be that for us, right? Especially that you've done it "by the book" once, and know how that felt. And all guides are, in the end, just tools to be used as we need.
Gideon, I love your direct question. And the answer is no. I haven't even picked it up a single time since I wrote this. Well, maybe once. Who can remember now?
The truth is that somewhere around spring, I started taking on more and more work, and haven't found a way to balance things well... even now. So adding one new commitment to an overbooked schedule (which I fully understand and acknowledge is of my own making,) hasn't felt ideal... or even possible. What about you? Is it something you've tried yourself? And if so, what has it been like for you?