Years ago a dear friend gave me a book called The Artist’s Way.  The book required the reader to fill three pages a day with writing, whether or not there was anything to say.  I don’t remember other things about the book, but I still try to keep up with the three pages.  There is something amazing that happens when you ask your brain to match the speed of your hand.  The cursive becomes sort of hypnotizing after a while and the three pages quickly add up to full books.  It seems much easier to move forward once thoughts are organized on paper.  There is nothing I like better than waking up early when the house is quiet and sitting down with a good pen and an empty page.