A process many writers use to jumpstart their muse is Pressure Writing. This process forces you to dump bits and pieces of thought in a timed writing exercise that allows you to concentrate on other writing tasks. This exercise will also permit you to place your creativity back on track.

So what are Morning Pages?

Morning Pages is a cousin to Pressure Writing, but is not timed. In the application of Morning Pages the premise relies on how fresh we are in the morning and encourages writing the very first thing we do every day.

How does it work?

You should find a comfortable place away from distraction. Once you are settled, open a journal or notebook and write three pages worth of thoughts long hand.

"I compare Morning Pages to my morning shower. While I'm not visually dirty in the morning, I feel refreshed and ready for my day after taking a shower. Your shower takes care of your body. Morning Pages is a shower for your heart, mind, and soul." - Artist's Way

Consider Morning Pages therapeutic if you will. This process allows you to glean valuable insight into your personal feelings or thoughts. Morning Pages also allows you to move onto other projects with a mind that is undistracted with thoughts you hope to recall later.

Obviously this process can take place at times other than the morning, yet for most writers it is the time when they first wake when this process seems to be most helpful.

The way things usually go . . .

You wake up with a variety of ideas and you make a decision to keep those ideas fixed in your mind until you have a chance to jot them down or formulate them into a story. Meanwhile there are morning preparations to take care of, breakfast to consume, children to drop off at school and perhaps a job to attend to.

By the time you are able to return to your 'brilliant' idea its gone. You know there was a stroke of brilliance in the thought, but there is no recall. By this time of day you are typically exhausted and are more than willing to adopt a 'who cares' attitude.

The truth is, you do care and you wish you had the ability to take these good ideas and make them something more than forgotten memories.

When life seems to always get in the way of your ideas, the use of Morning Pages can help you come back to those inspired thoughts for later review.

Scott Lindsay
http://www.faithwriters.com