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How I Built a Daily Writing Practice (That I Actually Enjoyed)
No perfection. No pressure. Just one sentence at a time.
Christine Bissonnette
May 05, 2025
Hello,
On April 1st, 2024, I made a quiet commitment to myself. I didn’t post about it or tell many people. I wasn’t trying to prove anything—I just needed to begin.
The commitment was simple: every morning, I’d meditate for 15–20 minutes, read one daily passage from Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates, copy down a couple of sentences that resonated, and then write about where they carried me.
As I write to you now, I’ve closed the book after completing all 365 days of this ritual.
I didn’t do it perfectly. I missed 32 days (mostly in February, when I was sick). But from the start, I made a deal with myself: this practice would not be about perfection. It would be about nourishment. If I missed a day, I'd return the next. No big deal. No guilt. Just a quiet recommitment to something that felt good and grounding.
I made another promise too. This one was about journalling. When I tried The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in my 20s, I struggled with the three-page “morning pages” goal. It felt arbitrary. More like a rule than an invitation.
So this time, I set the bar lower: one sentence a day. That’s all I had to write.
Most days, of course, I wrote far more. One sentence most often turned into a page and a half, but sometimes I found myself writing 4-5 pages, feeling rejuvenated and energized after the practice was done. The goal wasn’t volume or writing something ‘good’, it was presence.
Ultimately, this year-long practice has taught me about the art of ritual.
A ‘ritual’ is a repeated act of devotion that makes space for presence, insight, and renewal. A ritual is not about crossing things off a list or doing things perfectly. It’s about immersing yourself in where you are, and calling where you are, meaningful.
Two weeks ago, my Develop a Writing Ritual program started.
Every Wednesday from 4–5:15pm PT, a small group of us are gathering online to commit to either a journalling practice or a creative project that has been asking for our attention.
We begin with a ritual of breath and freewriting that is about being where we are, and then we write for 45 minutes, holding space for each other as we show up at the page.
We’re not worried about word counts or deadlines. Instead, we’re choosing presence together, saying, “I want to be here. I want to write, because the act of writing is important to me.”
Do you want to join us?
I have 2 more spaces informally available, just for members of this mailing list. Send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll get you up to speed and get you ready to join the group on May 7th or 14th. Discounts would apply, since you would have missed the first few sessions.
You can learn more about the Develop a Writing Ritual program by going here.
I’m in the process of scheduling my classes for the summer and fall term. I’d love to hear from you!
Which classes have you had your eye on for awhile, but the timing has never quite worked out?
Is there a theme or focus for classes that I haven’t explored yet, that you would like to see offered in the 2025/2026?
Some events you should know about:
1) Help past student Gary Jones to Heal
Past student and fellow volunteer for CreativeMornings/Vancouver Gary Jones is fighting a tough battle with tongue cancer. He has been unable to work for months and has depleted his savings just trying to stay afloat. Gary has given so much of himself over the years… help me to return the favour and support Gary to heal with dignity
 | If you have received benefit from my classes, and ever considered offering me a ‘tip’ for my work, please consider passing that kindness onto Gary. |
2) EXchanges 2025 Workshop: Weaving New Legacies of Knowing
Join director, dramaturge, and cultural animator Diane Roberts and her team for an embodied story-weaving process where you'll explore your ancestry as a jumping-off point for creative expression.
I had the good fortune of attending a 5-day intensive with Diane last year in Hamilton, Ontario and was extremely impressed by the containers for learning and self-exploration that she builds. I’ll be attending. If you’re curious about the ways knowledge of your ancestry can enhance and ground your creative voice, I think you’ll love this workshop.
 | DETAILS:
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3) Rogue Agent Journal - Submit poetry and art about the body!
 | In their submission guidelines, Rogue Agent Journal asks “what is it like to live in your body? We want work that answers this question.” I know some of my students reading this have poetry they’ve written about the body. What a wonderful opportunity to share it! |
Testimonials
“I only worked with Christine for the duration of 4 session but it feels like our work together unlocked a whole new world in me. I thank you deeply, Christine, for holding space for my struggles and fear of the creative process, for inviting me to try on different ways to wander inside of the creative process and not only find an ease of breath with it but also feel excited about it for the first time in my life. This process of working with metaphor was the process of allowing, getting curious, trusting, and so much more. It was intended initially for poem writing and ended up finding it's way in all other creative processes in my life. Thank you for the magic of creativity that you share with those who are ready to build a different kind of relationship with it.”
Please note: the quote in the header of this email is from the book ‘Meditations from the Mat’ by Rolf Gates.
Questions or comments about anything in this email? Send an email to [email protected] . I’d love to hear from you.
with thanks,
Christine Bissonnette
P.S — Know someone who would enjoy receiving this email? Pass it along! 9 Creative Lives Studio is a small business run just by me (Christine Bissonnette). Your support and referrals make a big difference.