Free Writing and Writers Block: Will it work?
There is much already written about writers block and methods of getting through it although opinion is still divided about which methods of addressing it are most effective. Sometimes self-criticism, anxiety, fear of failure or even apathy can form a barrier to a writer being able to create their prose and it is generally recognised that these are the issues that must be tackled by a writer trying to beat writers block.
Free writing is a method recommended by some writers and creative writing teachers as a means of addressing writers block or generally freeing any mental blockages a writer may be experiencing. Free writing is an unbounded, unstructured writing technique where the writer notes down words or phrases from random thoughts or ideas that occur to them, in a short, intense period of time, for later use.
A quick web search will get you any number of references on free writing but in general they agree on some of the basic approaches you can take to try free writing as a means of clearing your own mental blockage. The six points below summarise one approach that can be taken and reflect the general approach suggested when trying free writing.
1. Set aside a specific amount of time. If you're trying free writing for the first time, it may feel uncomfortable and you might want to keep it short. Write for one minute, five minutes or ten minutes, you choose, but stop after that time.
2. Forget about being neat, correcting grammar, punctuation or spelling. You're the only person that will ever see what you've written so who cares what it looks like. It's far more important that you get the words on the page.
3. Keep writing until your chosen time is up. Write steadily and quickly and don't pause to think or to focus on an object or off-topic thought.
4. If you do get distracted, try to figure out what's bothering you or causing your mind to be diverted. Addressing that might help unblock whatever problems you're experiencing.
5. If you run out of ideas, try writing whatever words or phrases enter your head until your time is up. What seems like nonsense now, might just spark an idea later.
6. Take what you've written and highlight words or phrases that give you ideas: things you can use later or expand upon.
You'll be wondering what to write about though. It's not really about the subject, but more about what ends up on the paper: the act of writing itself. You could either give yourself a subject to 'brain dump' on, or try starting with no subject. The latter is much more difficult and will add to any uncomfortableness you may feel while trying to free write.
Although free writing is quoted by many as a method of overcoming writers block, you do need to remember that everyone is different. Your 'blockage' may be coming from anywhere, depending upon what you're doing in life at the time, so there's no guarantee it will work for you. But like many other things, maybe the process will help while you get your mind straight.