|
Freewriting is a release from
the prison of rules. It allows the fastest and deepest
improvements to a writer’s creative process. Freewriting
shows writers how to overcome past resistance challenges.
Either in writing, control, or other fears. It returns the
power of free thought. It also renews the energy flow with
the universal laws of attraction.
Let me recommend that for
this writing exercise you use pen and paper. This way you
can accomplish it anywhere -- on a metro, waiting for the
plane to take off, before a meeting starts or when you are
waiting for someone. Laptops take time to boot up, a
precious time when memory can become an endangered
species.
This process is easy to
remember, easy to complete, yet needs pushing to start.
The exercise only requires that you write fast for 10
minutes. The goal is to let go of control or any other
block. Give your supraconscious, subconscious, and
conscious permission to let anything roll out.
Topic doesn't matter. Even
if you start with monkeys, run through the grocery or
chore list, and finish up starting the first chapter of a
novel that you didn't know you wanted to write. You might
even start and end on just one topic. Allow and know all
is perfect, no matter what appears.
This stream of conscious
writing has few goals except to write nonstop during the
10 minutes. Writing well, how fast is fast for that
particular writing, paragraph division, spelling, grammar,
or anything else doesn't matter. Just keep the pen moving.
If you can't remember a person’s name or place, leave a
blank, e.g., "______." Return later and insert.
If your mind goes blank, begin the next sentence using the
last one or two words from the previous sentence.
Let me make two
suggestions. First, you will want to remember to breathe
normally through the exercise. It isn't uncommon to hold
your breath or breathe very shallow during the exercise.
Actually, breath reduction is a common occurrence during
any type of timed writing. Breathing controls the amount
of oxygen that reaches the brain. Less oxygen, less clear
thinking, and yes, less creativity and poorer expression.
Second, please be careful
not to let this exercise fall into the category of
journaling -- personal writing -- in other words, all
about you. If you are trying to move away from journaling
into other types of writing, or product production, you
will want to give up journaling for a short time in order
to allow the new process to take hold. Not forever mind
you, just a little while, while you learn to open your
writing to a higher level of purpose and possibility. The
freewriting exercise is one of the best ways to transition
to another style of writing.
If you prefer your
freewriting exercise to have more focus, you can begin
with a concentrated statement. I do suggest that you allow
yourself to become comfortable with unfocused freewriting
before exploring concentrated freewriting. This transition
usually doesn't take long. Maybe a month or two, if
completing this exercise as frequently as once a day.
When beginning with a
focus, write a question or statement at the top of the
page. Give yourself a minute or two to reread the focus,
let it swirl around in your mind, and then begin writing.
Still you don't want to control the freedom. This means
that if the topic begins to go south, give your writing
the girth that it needs to do so. If the thoughts stop,
you can easily reread the statement or question to trigger
the flow again. If you find that you repeat yourself after
a stop/trigger/start, let this occur as well. You will
find that the repeat usually adds clarity.
A personal preference of
mine is to keep my freewriting exercise in a subject
notebook. I write "FREEWRITE" on the cover.
Previously, when I used single sheets, they became
something else I needed to organize. The stack grew. I
wanted to toss them out but just couldn't for some reason.
The compromise was the notebook.
In the inside front cover,
I wrote my contact information, just in case I left it
someplace. I number each page before I start to write in
the notebook. I also start a reverse (from the back page
inwards) table of contents, labeled TOC1, TOC2, etc. in
the upper corner. When I begin to start my freewriting
exercise, I record the date in the large margin at the
top, along with a circled 1. Meaning that is page 1 for
that date’s freewrite. Then continue the process with
circle 2, etc.
Later, if I feel the
material is ready to blossom, I type, usually rewriting at
the same time. Afterwards, I mark those pages with a light
slash corner to corner and write "typed" in the
top margin. After printing I sometimes, but don't always
remember, staple a copy to the page. I do so in a manner
whereas I can still read my original writing. Sometimes
after I finish my freewriting, and it isn't ready to be
typed, it could be ready to outline. Since I'm a trainer
in Mindmaping (clustering), I might also outline in the
notebook.
Usually, I have no idea
what is going to appear. It usually takes more than one
10-minute freewrite to get to whatever wants to shine.
Since I purposely wake up three hours early every morning
to devote to my writing, there is more than one segment
available for the sun to appear.
Scattered throughout my day
I like to add a 10-minute freewriting session. After a
coaching call, reading, or watching television. TV
programs like, "The Associate" trigger ideas and
thoughts, but nothing concrete, and with the freewriting
exercise I can pull out what is gnawing at my gut.
The best part of having my
exercises in a notebook is being able to reread and see my
progress. Seeing the changes in my style, language, and
creativity is enough push for me to keep completing the
exercise day after day. Even years after completing this
exercise, I'm still delighted with the progress I'm
seeing. Occasionally, I'm shocked with, "I wrote
that." Those are warm fuzzies all writer’s need,
including me.
Allowing is a major
principle under the Laws of Attraction. Here are the 10
gifts that freewriting provides within the principle of
the Law of Allowing:
1. Allows the use of good
time management skills.
2. Allows less negative
energy expenditure for worry or doubt and increases
positive energy for creative allowance.
3. Allows separation
between the production process and the revising process.
4. Allows dancing around
the inner critic.
5. Allows the writer to be
in the present moment.
6. Allows the focus to
transition from the result to the process, thus reducing
the pressure to produce.
7. Allows the mind and
heart to melt together into unprecedented language.
8. Allows a virgin flow of
creativity to materialize.
9. Allows current emotion
to manifest in the writing. 10. Allows a connection
between your knowledge and the universal knowledge field.
|
