“If you will hew to a practice of writing three pages every morning and doing one kind thing for yourself every day, you will begin to notice a slight lightness of heart.” (Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way)
Writing Exercise: Building a Habit, Finding the Shift
Techniques Illustrated in the Quotation:
1. Consistency Over Inspiration – Writing daily, regardless of mood or motivation, strengthens creative endurance. The process, not the product, matters most.
2. Small Rituals as Anchors – Repeated actions signal to the mind that it’s time to write, reducing resistance and deepening focus. These rituals can be external (a specific pen, a place, a cup of tea) or internal (a mantra, a breath, a memory).
3. Emotional Lightness Through Writing – Writing is both practice and self-care. A sustainable habit fosters clarity, self-awareness, and creative ease, even when the work itself is difficult.
500-Word Writing Prompt:
Write three pages, uninterrupted, using the same small ritual before you begin. Choose a ritual you can realistically incorporate into your daily routine—lighting a candle, setting a timer, stretching, writing a sentence in your notebook before opening your laptop. Whatever it is, commit to it.
For the actual writing, free yourself from the need for coherence. Write about anything—an image that lingers, a thought you can’t shake, a fictional moment, a dream, a memory, a complaint, a single repeated sentence. The only rule: Keep writing, even if it’s nonsense. If you get stuck, write about being stuck. If your mind wanders, follow it.
After you finish, do something kind for yourself. This can be as small as taking a deep breath, drinking a glass of water, or stepping outside for a minute. Note how you feel afterward—lighter, frustrated, indifferent? What happens if you repeat this tomorrow?
What Makes a Strong Response:
• Strong Example: The writer sets a timer for 20 minutes and begins by describing a childhood memory of sitting in the backseat during a thunderstorm. The memory shifts into a reflection on time, then into an unrelated list of regrets, then back to a sensory description of the rain. The piece flows without self-censorship, allowing unexpected connections to emerge.
• Weak Example: The writer starts with a formal structure, worrying about a clear beginning, middle, and end. They stop frequently to revise, delete, and correct phrasing. The piece feels forced and hesitant, with little movement beyond surface-level observations.
Evaluation Criteria:
1. Did the writer maintain momentum? Pausing to edit or judge the work breaks the flow. The goal is sustained writing, not polished prose.
2. Did the writer allow for unexpected turns? A strong response embraces tangents and surprises rather than forcing coherence too soon.
3. Was the pre-writing ritual intentional? A ritual, no matter how small, should create a sense of starting.
4. Did the writer reflect on the process? The prompt is about habit-building, so noticing one’s reaction to the practice is part of the exercise.
Follow-Up Workshopping and Revision Questions:
• What internal resistance came up while writing? Did you push through or stop?
• How did your chosen ritual affect your mindset? Would you keep or change it?
• Did the act of writing create any shift in mood or thought? If not, why?
• How might this practice evolve if repeated for a week?
Recommended Reading:
“Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg – This book explores the discipline of daily writing, the value of practice without judgment, and how small rituals and habits create a sustainable creative life.
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