Several years ago I took a writing class at a local college. The professor’s first assignment surprised me—morning pages. She instructed us to get an 8 ½” x 11” spiral notebook and every morning handwrite at least three pages in it.
Handwrite? I wondered. I’d already written one book and keyboarding on the computer had nearly become second nature.
“Handwrite?” my college-age classmates whined. To them keyboards and computers were first nature.
“Yes!” she said. “Handwrite.”
Moans emanated throughout the classroom.
The professor explained why. After handwriting morning pages and teaching writing classes myself, I’m convinced morning pages are a writer’s friend.
- Handwriting uses a different part of the brain than keyboarding. Research suggests handwriting increases creativity.
- Knowing no one will read your ramblings, see your misspellings, or criticize your logic can free you from your own expectations.
- Writing without fear helps you develop your natural writing style, your voice.
- Handwriting pages first thing in the morning can be a brain-dump, freeing your mind from frustrations that kill creativity and keep you from writing freely.
- Writing simply for the practice can turn into fun.
- Morning pages help you turn off the editor in your brain, helping you write rough drafts more quickly and more naturally.
- Interesting subjects and insights jump onto the page—ideas you may want to write about later.
- Morning pages jump-start your ability to write well.
So . . . no excuses! No matter the time of day, pick up a pen . . . and just start writing.
Question:
Which of the above reasons for handwriting pages seems most valuable to you? Why?
