Free Writing

What: Free-Writing

How:

• Sit down with your writing supplies of choice (pen/paper, keyboard, etc.)
• Set a timer for a realistic goal.  Start short, maybe two minutes.  You can go for longer later.
• Choose a word/phrase/topic and write it at the top of your page.
• Set the timer and start writing.
• Do not stop until the timer goes off.
• If you don’t know what to write then write “I don’t know what to write” until something else comes to you.

Why:

Blank white pages, new assignments, and interesting ideas can be incredibly intimidating.  How can you write something worthwhile?  What’s the perfect way to say exactly what you are thinking or feeling?

If you go into a writing project, or even just a new idea, trying to make something that millions of people would want to read, you probably won’t get down a single word.  That’s why it’s important to know how to free-write.  The form of this exercise churns out writing that is completely unrestricted and unself-conscious.

Sure, most of it will be terrible, but then you can sift through the crap to pick out the golden nuggets.  You’ll remember the feeling of filing up an entire page of writing, of coming up with even just one incredible turn of phrase.  And next time, it’ll be even easier to jump in.