New Rules for Free Writing
Best Ways to Get the Work Moving in the Classroom or at the Desk
Mar 21, 2009
Free writing is a lot like free-falling. The one difference is that with free-falling there is, god willing, something that breaks the fall as in a bungee chord or parachute. But what is there to break the fall with free writing? And is this even a fall one wants to break? These are good questions to begin such an exercise either in the classroom or in the personal journal.
Free writing is an important and helpful exercise to use with all types and situations of writing: With new student writers, with experienced writers who find themselves “stuck”, with old or young writers, when writing alone or when writing with others. Free writing is that place one can go at anytime in the writing process when one feels the material is drying up or cannot think of what to say next. It is a powerful tool for simply recharging the mental batteries and/or giving a jump start to the writing process.
Rule Number One
Begin where you are. Whatever is going on in your mind at this instant, start there.
Rule Number Two
Accept whatever comes. Don’t worry about any of the following:
a. Whether or not it is good. There are no standards of good and bad at this stage.
b. Whether or not what you say makes sense. Sense or nonsense can be determined later.
c. Whether or not the spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct. Again, this comes later.
Rule Number Three
Keep your pen or pencil moving. NOTE: This does not mean you have to write quickly or be tense. You can writer slowly, take time to breathe, and let yourself stay relaxed.
NOTE: If you can’t find a word or anything to say write, “I don’t know what to say." or "I’m stuck. This isn’t working” or some such thing. Repeat these phrases over and over until the energy shifts and new words come. Words come when one gives up expecting them. Remember: The mind does not stop having thoughts. Stay receptive, keep your hand moving so you can receive whatever comes.
Rule Number Four
Free-writing never has to be shared or shown to anyone unless you choose to. This includes teachers, classmates, friends or family. This is Private Writing, for your eyes only. Unless of course you choose to share. In class you may be asked by the teacher to share, but you should never feel pressured.
Rule Number Five
Don’t throw away any of your free-writing. (This can be especially important to tell students in a writing class.) Later you can do whatever you want, but for the time being commit to keeping everything you write. Nothing wastes more time or paper than the crumple-and-pitch style of writing. Free writing can provide you with your goldmine to dip into later when looking for a new topic, trying recall an old on, or gathering ideas.
One More Thing, This is Not the End
Doesn't goldmine sounds an awful lot like gold-mind? That's the kind of discovery one can make in free writing. Free writing will always bring surprises like this. The best writing can happen when one is not looking too closely. Free writing is the best tool to have for that first entry into the mine/mind.
But of course, free writing is just getting the gold down on the page. Afterward, one must go through and separate the gold from the lead. But not now and not too soon. Time now to enter the mine.
For more tips on writing, read my articles How to Get Your Essay Going, as well as How to Write a Strong Beginning.
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