How to get words on the page - Step 4/5
Like Shakira says, Whenever, Whatever 😉
Our journey continues…
Step 1: We named our enemies, the Lizard Brain and Resistance. ✅
Step 2: We weakened those enemies by reimagining them as Neighbor Norma. ✅
Step 3: We chose our tools, avoiding the fancy trap, focusing on the cheap and easy. ✅
Now it’s time to take action.
Step 4. Write Morning Pages, Whenever
Many people swear by Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages as the ultimate creative unlock.
Her idea is straightforward: write three pages of whatever comes to mind, first thing in the morning. No edits, no judgment, no rules—just brain-to-page download.
However, unless there are external forces pushing me, consistent morning habits have never been a strength of mine.
Add to that the unexpected nature of mornings when trying to get two kids off to school and I knew I needed a different approach.
So, I adapted.
Enter: Pick A Damn Time Pages.
It’s not about mornings, it’s about building the habit of writing regularly at the same time each day. I understand the point that the morning offers less mental clutter. For me, I like writing later in the day to get the junk out of my brain.
Whether it’s at the breakfast table, during a lunch break, or ten minutes before bed, the goal is the same: grab your cheap notebook and let the words out.
What to Write? Whatever
So now, you’re staring at a blank page.
Neighbor Norma is dancing around, sprinkling Lizards Brains and Resistance on your head.
Here are two options:
Think out loud on the page, write whatever comes to mind.
Neighbor Norma showed up again—she wants me to research self-cleaning ovens. I am sending her home.
Annoying dog barking, did I lock the car? I should eat more green leafy vegetables.
Push forward with a prompt. Prompts can be the lighter fluid you need. My default prompt is: What’s top of mind today? You can find thousands of prompts online, write a few down or print out a list.
Why It Works
The act of writing Morning Pages or Pick A Damn Time Pages isn’t about producing masterpieces. It’s about decluttering your mind.
It’s also about training your brain to loosen its grip on perfection.
When you write stream-of-consciousness, you’re giving yourself permission to be messy, unpolished, human.
What matters is showing up, regularly, pen in hand, ready to confront Neighbor Norma, the Lizard Brain, and whatever else comes your way.
Over time, you’ll find gems in the scribbles.
Cover image by Brad Neathery via Unsplash