Weekly Writing Prompt — February 22, 2012 Edition

I hope you’re all staying dry during this rainy mid-winter break. More importantly, I hope you’re writing.

First off, there is no field trip tonight to The Black Dog. If you missed that message over the weekend — tonight’s open mic is musicians only. We’re looking to go for their “spoken word” night, and I’ll ferret out more details on that later. So look for that information later in the week or by next Wednesday. Every writer will have to read at some point in their life (as witnessed by myself this past weekend) — so it’s good practice. Why not do it when there are so many friendly faces and supportive souls in the audience? However if you like supporting local musicians, go tonight all the same and be a happy ear and joyous applause maker for those brave enough to take the stage.
This weeks’ prompt comes from one of the founding tactics in Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way.” It’s called morning pages. What are morning pages? This is what Ms. Cameron says,

“Put simply, the morning pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-conscousness: ‘Oh, god, another morning. I have nothing to say. I need to wash the curtains….’ They might also, more ingloriously, be called brain drain, since that is one of their main functions. There is no wrong way to do morning pages. These daily morning meanderings are not meant to be art. Or even writing…Writing is simply one of the tools. Pages are meant to be, simply, the act of moving the hand across the page and writing down whatever comes to mind. Nothing is too petty, too silly, too stupid, or too weird to be included. The morning pages are not supposed to sound smart — although sometimes they might.”

I want you to try to attempt doing morning pages every day for the next three weeks. One of our members keeps a notebook in her bathroom, so she can do them without interruption by spouse or child. You can find a method that works for you. I start the fires of the household in the morning, then I do my pages. Again, you can find something that works for you. Maybe do it before your feet even hit the floor. Do remember these morning pages, this journal, is not shared by you — nor should you review the pages until the end of the three weeks. If you have more questions about the morning pages, feel free to message me back with what they are. Or you could pick up a copy of The Artist’s Way and check it out yourself.
Also, for those who want some more tips about writing, I wholeheartedly endorse that you follow Chuck Wendig’s blog. Be advised his potty mouth makes me look like a saint. I’ve told you before it’s as if he has some sort of Writer’s version of Tourettes; but, he’s dead bang-on right about his advice. So read it here (at your own risk) and digest. And then go finish some morning pages.
Now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has ceased.” ~J. Krishnamurti


What did you Write today?
~Casz 

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
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“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron