🚶Berlin & ✍️David Milch’s Favorite Writing Exercise

"In the course of these exercises, the true categories of your imagination emerge, and they are absolutely different from what you think they are."

I am sitting in a cafe in Berlin Kreuzberg with a notepad in front of me. I’ve brought several on this trip. I love writing by hand, journaling, drafting ideas, or writing exercises. Something about translating hand movement into symbols can lead to free flow, moments when movement bypasses thinking and connect me to the unconscious.

Granted, sometimes I ramble or get lost in it. On some days, I barely get through the mental clutter. But often a nugget emerges — a phrase, a moment of clarity, the kernel of an idea.

Cafe Lu, Kreuzberg

I’ve toyed with different writing practices — Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages, Katie Byron’s The Work, and journaling prompts like gratitude (Tom’s recent chat with Devin Martin has a prompt about personal energy). Imagine my excitement, when I found David Milch’s favorite writing exercise.

Milch got stuck writing his first book. He wrote “the same twelve pages” over and over, “almost word for word” for six months! I don’t know whether he used the exercise back then, but his entire writing process was designed to “disembody” himself and allow a natural flow.

I am adding a poll at the end of this piece in case you try the exercise and are interested in an opportunity to share and discuss.

👉 I will be walking and working in Berlin until next week. If you’re a Berliner and are interested in sharing a walk, coffee, or beer early/mid next week, email me.

Kreuzberg