Why Free Write?
The idea of Free Writing first emerged in the mind and writings of Peter Elbow in his bestselling book, Writing Without Teachers (1973). After sharing his own struggles and successes as a writer, Elbow suggests a technique which has come to be known as “Freewriting.” The technique sounds simple but, in the beginning, it requires self-discipline and dedication because it is so different from the way most of us were taught to write.
Freewriting teaches how to write without editing at the same time. When the writer tries to focus on both censoring and correcting as he writes, it makes it difficult to generate words and ideas freely. Freewriting is a non-editing exercise. Concern with editing at the same time new ideas are flowing onto the paper makes writing “dead” according to Elbow. Instead, writers should allow their natural “voice” (the sound, texture, and rhythm in the writing) to come through. Freewriting relieves the writer from fear of making mistakes; of trying to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary at the same time they are generating text. It is assumed that the Freewriting piece will be full of blunders because of the very way in which the exercise is done.
Freewriting means to write without stopping for a predetermined length of time. In the beginning, students write for 10 minutes which may increase to as much as 20 minutes or longer on some occasions. The amount of time can be “stretched or squeezed or ignored (p. 22)” depending on the circumstances and time available. The leader of the Freewriting exercise may choose not to announce how long students will be writing to prevent students from watching the clock instead of focusing on their writing. While the length of time is flexible, the manner in which writing is done is not. The steadfast rule of the exercise is that the pen must continue moving without stopping until time is called. The writer can’t stop to think, ponder, cross out, or edit in any way. She must keep writing. The result is a steady stream of consciousness because whatever thought comes to mind ends up on paper. This may include writing one word over and over or writing, “I can’t think of what to write” until a new thought comes to mind, which it inevitably will. It does not matter if the passage makes sense. The point is to quickly get thoughts on paper.
Don’t be concerned about the amount of writing produced that will never make its way through the writing process to the publication phase. Writers must learn than much of what is written will never be used in a final piece. The amount of writing produced through Freewriting helps us to cull out the best, most intriguing, and most entertaining segments that would never have found their way onto the page in the first place if traditional writing methods were used. Elbow reminds us, “If you stop too much and worry and correct and edit, you’ll invest yourself too much in these words on the page. (p. 29).” How true! Deleting words, sentences, paragraphs, and pages becomes too painful when a great deal of time and effort has gone into the writing and editing.
Freewriting exercises allow the writer to warm up and get ready for other types of writing. Just as in running, swimming, or yoga, warming up before the activity improves performance. Since anxiety is a major cause of writer’s block, Freewriting helps get past worrying about their writing. Instead of wondering, “Is it good enough? What will readers think? Have I written enough?” they will be producing a steady flow of ideas, thoughts, and words written fast and furiously. Freewriting enhances other forms of writing. “The main usefulness of the exercises is not in their immediate product but in their gradual effect on future writing.” P. 11
References
Elbow, P. (1973). Writing without teachers. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Freewriting teaches how to write without editing at the same time. When the writer tries to focus on both censoring and correcting as he writes, it makes it difficult to generate words and ideas freely. Freewriting is a non-editing exercise. Concern with editing at the same time new ideas are flowing onto the paper makes writing “dead” according to Elbow. Instead, writers should allow their natural “voice” (the sound, texture, and rhythm in the writing) to come through. Freewriting relieves the writer from fear of making mistakes; of trying to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary at the same time they are generating text. It is assumed that the Freewriting piece will be full of blunders because of the very way in which the exercise is done.
Freewriting means to write without stopping for a predetermined length of time. In the beginning, students write for 10 minutes which may increase to as much as 20 minutes or longer on some occasions. The amount of time can be “stretched or squeezed or ignored (p. 22)” depending on the circumstances and time available. The leader of the Freewriting exercise may choose not to announce how long students will be writing to prevent students from watching the clock instead of focusing on their writing. While the length of time is flexible, the manner in which writing is done is not. The steadfast rule of the exercise is that the pen must continue moving without stopping until time is called. The writer can’t stop to think, ponder, cross out, or edit in any way. She must keep writing. The result is a steady stream of consciousness because whatever thought comes to mind ends up on paper. This may include writing one word over and over or writing, “I can’t think of what to write” until a new thought comes to mind, which it inevitably will. It does not matter if the passage makes sense. The point is to quickly get thoughts on paper.
Don’t be concerned about the amount of writing produced that will never make its way through the writing process to the publication phase. Writers must learn than much of what is written will never be used in a final piece. The amount of writing produced through Freewriting helps us to cull out the best, most intriguing, and most entertaining segments that would never have found their way onto the page in the first place if traditional writing methods were used. Elbow reminds us, “If you stop too much and worry and correct and edit, you’ll invest yourself too much in these words on the page. (p. 29).” How true! Deleting words, sentences, paragraphs, and pages becomes too painful when a great deal of time and effort has gone into the writing and editing.
Freewriting exercises allow the writer to warm up and get ready for other types of writing. Just as in running, swimming, or yoga, warming up before the activity improves performance. Since anxiety is a major cause of writer’s block, Freewriting helps get past worrying about their writing. Instead of wondering, “Is it good enough? What will readers think? Have I written enough?” they will be producing a steady flow of ideas, thoughts, and words written fast and furiously. Freewriting enhances other forms of writing. “The main usefulness of the exercises is not in their immediate product but in their gradual effect on future writing.” P. 11
References
Elbow, P. (1973). Writing without teachers. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.