As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’m doing the 12 week Artist’s Way program. One of the first exercises Julia Cameron prescribes is the writing of three pages every morning, before doing anything else. This is supposed to be the place and space to spit out all the self-doubt and fears, so that by the time a writer or artist of any kind is ready to settle to work, the fears and doubts have already been said and can’t block the artist’s progress anymore.

I don’t know if I’m doing them right or not, but to me, they have become a sort of journal. More personal than a journal in fact, because in my official journal, I keep in mind someone (my family) might read it in the future. With the morning pages, I ramble and babble without direction. Once in a while though, I’ll put in writing something that has been in my mind for a while, sometimes even without being conscious of it. These sparks of self-discovery are fueling my story. I read somewhere that if you do something for at least 21 days, it becomes a habit. I’ve been doing the morning pages for longer than that–I’m in week 7–and I really hope they’re here to stay. Even if they’re only good enough to take all my whining and complaining.

On other news, WriteOnCon, the amazing free writing conference organized by the amazing Elana Johnson and company is taking place right now. Click here for a recap of today. There’s plenty of food for thought. Oy! If you’re a writer, don’t forget to enter the contests and numerous critiques in the forums. Who knows who may find you there?