Writing one page every morning

I recently read a short article that presented a daily routine for becoming a screenwriter. As a fan of routines (I listened to dozens of Tim Ferriss podcasts this year), it caught my attention and stuck with me.

The daily routine goes like this:

• Write one page for a screenplay you’re currently working on.
• Spend two hours creating the concept, characters, and plot points for a future screenplay.
• Read ten pages of someone else’s screenplay (a good one).

Whether I stick to this specific routine or not, I like the idea of writing at least one page per day. And I especially like the idea of doing this first thing in the morning. As an aspiring screenwriter, it’s the only way to start the day. I tell the story important to me before telling the story important to someone else— my employer in this case. (I’m a marketer and writer.)

Before I started writing a page in the morning, I was reading 10 pages of a professional screenplay before showering and shoving off to work. This was a good practice, no doubt — better than nothing — but in the morning, writing is better. Though foggy at first, after that cup of coffee, the mind becomes fresh and ripe with ideas.

I usually prefer writing with pen and paper. It prevents the distraction that comes with opening up your laptop and browser. (Obviously you’re going to want to check your email first. Which leads to reading an article, then sharing the article, then into the hole of social media.)

In summary: One page in the morning. Pen and paper. Hot beverage. Go.