One of the best
lessons I ever learned as a writer and a teacher was found in a slim volume
entitled Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process by
Peter Elbow (Oxford University Press).
One chapter is devoted to a simple strategy—freewriting—that is amazingly effective for all ages and
levels, from elementary students to published authors. Here’s how it works:
* Freewriting
means to write down what comes into your head, without stopping, editing, or
censoring. Just keep the pen or computer
keys moving.
* Proves remarkably
freeing. Instead of sitting and
waiting for ideas/the right words to strike, freewriting actively starts the thinking/muscle-moving process—and words
follow. Random words often lead to
greater focus and soon you’re engaged in the actual writing.
* Write about and write through worries or
writer’s blocks. Begin by writing
about these worries and fears. This
clears them from your mind and gets you into the flow/energy of writing, which
often soon leads to the writing you had hoped to be doing.
* Structure your freewriting. You can add structure to your freewriting by focusing, at the beginning, on a particular
topic (an essay you have to write, a character you wish to explore) and let
it guide your opening. You may find the
writing shifting and/or new ideas emerging as you write. That’s okay.
Just keep the pen/computer keys moving.
* Recognize you can go back and revise. Don’t
try to make this perfect (that’s counterproductive). You may find nuggets and shape as you
write—or after putting the freewriting away for a few hours or days.
* Maximizes use of limited time to write. Just bring your pen and paper with you and
take advantage of the five minutes here and 10 minutes there as you wait in
doctor’s offices, in carpool lines, for violin lessons or sports practice
(whether you’re a kid or an adult).
You’ll be surprised at how much you can actually write by harnessing
that time.
* Leads to freer writing. Try scheduling 10-minute freewriting sessions for yourself or your students on a
regular basis. See what happens over
time. Often there’s an increase in creativity and pleasure and a
greater looseness/flow to the writing.
A comment I’ve heard from kids and adults alike: “This is fun!”
Writing with Power
is full of other helpful strategies. Try
them all and see which one you prefer.
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