I want to start a series talking about some preparatory exercises that I aim to do every day that help my acting. Notice that I say I aim to do them daily. I don't. To do them daily and regularly is my ideal. If I fail to do them, I feel bad, out of place, but I've learnt not to berate myself when I fail to do my morning pages. As Natalie Goldberg sagely said, "No one lives to her full potential."
Julia Cameron talks about her version of the morning pages here. For her, it's three pages, stream-of-consciousness, first thing in the morning. Then the next morning, write another three. No one is supposed to read your pages. They are supposed to be a psychological safe place for you to write freely about anything and everything going through your head as soon as you wake up. Your complaints about your boss, your worries about your spouse or child, your joy at life's surprises, everything has a place within the space of three pages.
Do the morning pages whether you feel like it or not, whether you think they're working for you or not, whether you love them or not. Just get up, reach for your pen and notebook, and write. Write on bond paper size (8 1/2 by 11) or a large notebook. Wake up earlier if you have to, or else you'll have to catch up and write during lunch hour or on the commute. But first thing in the morning is best.
Do not reread your morning pages, at least for two months. Try this exercise. I'll continue to write more about the morning pages on succeeding posts.
