Post date: Mar 23, 2020 9:48:35 PM
I'm going to talk more about free writing as a "basic tool" over the next few days. Natalie Goldbergs' "Rules for Free Writing" can help get you started. You'll find them here in the "Free Writing" folder in Readings and Resources along with material from Elbow, Boice, and an article that can introduce you to Cameron's work.
I'd like to suggest that you consider adopting a free writing practice. If you're having trouble focusing right now-- or doing anything at all related to a writing project, a simple free writing practice for a few minutes a day can help.
How does free writing help? I've been using this practice for thirty years now. Sometimes I write daily (right now, I write for about thirty minutes every morning, but that hasn't always been the case). Sometimes, I use the practice as part of generating material for a project. It even helps me write email.
I call it a "practice" because I was introduced to free writing that way. I write routinely and in the same general way: I set a timer, I fill pages, I don't look back-- at least not right away.
Free writing has helped me to note the editor in my mind that becomes an obstacle. The practice helps me evade or out wait the editor. I've become more comfortable with the sound of my own voice because of free writing, particularly the sound of my voice when I think that voice is "wrong" or "bad" or "weird".
Again, perhaps, I've just learned to out wait my impulse to judge my work when what I need to do is draft.
The routine practice of free writing has helped me when I need to turn the practice towards a purpose, such as create text of an essay, poem, or even a memo. I can arrive at a place where I generate text that helps me find out what I need to do. Even if I write for twenty minutes and produce five pages of a mess, I often find my way to clarity through those twenty minutes, or among the five pages, I find a few sentences that turn out to be what I need to move forward.
The most famous proponents of the practice, today at least, are Peter Elbow (Writing Without Teachers), Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way), and Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones). Robert Boice also talks about the different between "spontaneous" and "generative" writing. I take his distinction to mean that sometimes, you free write without a particular writing goal. Sometimes, you use the practice to generate text.
Google around to learn about the practice. There are many guided sessions on You Tube, as well as talks.
Each approach shares common features though, that make them "free writing":
Decide on a fixed period of time and set a timer. You can begin with five minutes and increase from there as you see fit. Remember to end when the timer goes off. It can be good for your confidence over time to know you can end and begin again.
Choose a topic or a prompt to help you begin to write, keep you going and focus your writing. You can begin writing what is immediately on your mind, or use the writing to review what’s on your mind.
Fill time, not space. Often, when we think about writing, we think of a number of words or pages. Here, your goal is to write for the allotted time without stopping.
Keep you your hand moving. Don’t stop to reconsider or to polish. If you feel you want to say something differently, don’t erase. I would say it will be more helpful simply to repeat yourself differently. Remember that the idea is not to create perfect prose. Rewriting is an important process. This process puts the clay on the table you’ll work with later.
Follow your thinking. If you find yourself distracted by a line of thought, follow the direction it takes. Explore your ideas.
Be concrete. Be particular in what you describe.
Speak freely. Allow yourself to write without the expectation that you will say what you want perfectly. Repeat yourself, if you’d like. But practice setting judgement aside, with respect to style or thought.
You’re more likely to get unstuck if you find some way to physically keep going. If you are stuck, try: writing the the the, nonsense words, repeated phrases. Rephrase some of what you’ve already written. Focus on describing something very concrete-- physical state, emotional state, physical surroundings.
Get up and walk away. Sometimes sessions are lousy, sometimes, routine, sometimes marvelous. Since there is no way to get this wrong don’t bother yourself with thoughts like “I hope I did this right. My writing isn’t free enough. I mostly wrote the the the.” Just come back tomorrow.
Experiment with a routine. Some do this daily. Elbow suggests at least three times a week. Julia Cameron suggests "Morning Pages"-- three pages of free writing to start each day.