How to Free Write

Free writing is serendipitous: It can help you to discover new ideas, liberate inner thoughts and tensions, and improve your other writing skills.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Alarm Clocks
• Typewriters
• Desk Chairs
• Desk Lamps
• Women's Watches
• Pencils
• Notebook Papers
• Pencils
• Pens
• Computers
• Laptop Computer
• Pencils
• Pens

1. Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted or distracted. Your mind needs to be completely unhindered for this exercise. Try to forget about anything that may preoccupy your thoughts.

2. Set an alarm clock or wristwatch for a set period of time, usually about 10 minutes. Put the clock or watch where you cannot see it so that you won't be checking the time every few minutes.

3. Begin writing. Write whatever comes into your mind, no matter how nonsensical or random. Don't worry about grammar, spelling or punctuation. Let the words flow freely, and skip from subject to subject at will.

4. Write nonstop until the alarm sounds, even if you must write "My mind is blank my mind is blank" until something new emerges. Try to get in touch with your inner thoughts and feelings and let them direct your writing.

5. Stop writing when the alarm sounds.

6. Read over what you have written. Look for ideas or concepts that have emerged and that might be helpful to you in gaining personal insight, in finding direction in your writing or in pointing you to a special project.

7. Try to schedule time for free writing every day, if possible. It will develop your right brain over time and train you to think more clearly.

Tips & Warnings

• Free writing is useful for personal problem-solving or for when you need to come up with ideas for specific school assignments or business.
• Use the writing tool that is most comfortable for you - pen, pencil, PC or laptop.
• Even if you do not "use" your free writing for giving you direction, it is a great tool for warming up before something that will intellectually challenge you - such as an exam.
• Do not judge or censor what you are writing; there is no benchmark for success or failure. The purpose of free writing is to lose your inhibitions and not let blank paper intimidate you.

[whoisjazzfreak]

on 3/14/2009 I am going to put it into the real thing, and start by free writing my next blog.Really great mind-opening article.Thanks.

[nmcguire7]

on 2/25/2009 I love it! Thanks for the article!

[ann107]

on 2/9/2009 free writing is my effective way of keeping in touch with my brain when i feel so lazy that i don't want to do a thing. for me, as a lazy person, tapping the keyboard is not a thing.

on 11/22/2005 My A'Level English Literature teacher used the technique of free writing as an exercise to understand stream of consciousness writing. It was an interesting insight into the different ways people think and something i now regulearly do at home.

on 11/22/2005 When you free write, you can think of something that is a fantasy that could happen, but never did. I pretend I went to Honolulu with my friends!!