http://hbnorell.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-wake-me-up-writing.html

I started The Wake Me Up Writing on January 11, 2014, after reading the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. I have renamed them from The Morning Pages to The Wake Me Up Pages because you do them after you wake up in the morning and they wake up your life. Whether you are an artist or not, this form of free-style writing is helpful in connecting with your soul and honoring yourself. The Wake Me Up Writing is done in the morning by handwriting 3 full pages in a half hour. Here’s a better explanation…..
WHAT’S THE PURPOSE? To write in the morning when our minds are relaxed and open. To guide ourselves in our lives, our work, our relationships and our art. To get the junk out of our heads that keeps recycling (complaining, errands, tasks, worries, emotions etc) and allows us to get to the real stuff in our creative minds. We are giving our being a chance to speak without being shushed, ignored or edited. Many people of all walks of life and careers use this form of writing to guide their lives in a direction that their being is seeking.
WHAT DO YOU NEED? A notebook, a pen, a comfortable seat and 30 minutes.
1. Get a NOTEBOOK – I like the 70 page, wide ruled notebook because it takes me about 30 days to fill it up. The wide ruled also fits my larger handwriting better. But you try and decide what fits you. I also like choosing a fresh notebook to start in every 30 days. I sometimes decorate the front with stickers and markers. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I work in small doses.
2. Get a PEN – get a pen that moves easily. The important thing is to make sure you “like” your pen, it will be your best friend every morning.
3. WHEN YOU WAKE UP – this is done in the morning right when you wake up, before you start any work or thinking, when your mind is relaxed and open. (This writing will not be effective at night) You’ll want to grab your cup of coffee too!
4. CONSISTENT WRITING SPOT – choose a comfortable spot to write each morning. This is also important because where you write either invites you in or turns you off. You might need to test out a few spots in your home before deciding on what fits you the best.
5. SET A TIMER – setting a timer is helpful in the beginning. Set it for 30 minutes and keep writing until it goes off.
6. HAND WRITE – 3 full pages, yes front AND back!
7. FREE STYLE – no need to edit, spell or grammar correction. This journal is personal and not to be shared or edited at all. It’s suggested to not even read it for many days. I actually wait months before I read my previous entries.
(The meaning of FREE STYLE? It’s stream of consciousness. Write whatever comes to your mind…the grocery list, your argument with your friend, work issues, dreams, fears, memories…whatever comes to your mind….WRITE IT. There’s no incorrect way….just keep writing what comes to your mind. If you draw a blank then write “I am drawing a blank I have nothing on my mind but it figures last night I couldn’t stop thinking but now when I can work through the issues I have nothing so last night I was bothered by…….(see what I mean? It leads you back to something you want to discuss with yourself)
8. ONE PAGE, TWO PAGE…. Keep writing and get beyond the first 2 pages because that’s when your heart and soul come out. Don’t be surprised to write a lot of tasks and shallow, small-talk before that. It’s ok. We must get that stuff down and out of our minds to get to our being.
9. BE PATIENT with yourself – be kind to yourself – love yourself.
10. STICK WITH IT – enjoy the ride of this process, it will amaze you, it will lead you and bring you to a higher self.