Writers of any skill level seeking to improve their writing abilities or overcome writer’s block should look no further than freewriting. Freewriting is a writing exercise that can help writers practice putting their thoughts to paper and develop their abilities. The process can also help build a daily writing routine that puts writers into a mindset conducive to writing. Learn more about freewriting, how you can do it, and what it can do for you below:

What is Freewriting?

Freewriting is a writing technique focused on producing continuous and unfiltered writing. It was popularized by Peter Elbow, Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in his book Writing Without Teachers. Freewriting aims to produce words and write them down on paper as quickly as possible without stopping or thinking. Structure is discouraged for this process, and writers should pay little attention to proper grammar, formal structure, or if the writing even makes sense. 

The aim is for consistent, stream-of-consciousness writing, even if the writer repeats “I do not know what to write” over and over until an idea comes to mind. While writing is a communal practice, freewriting is meant to be private, meaning writers should not be afraid of the jumbled mess of words that takes shape in front of them. Freewriting is an exercise that will never be published and aims to build your writing abilities.  

How to Start Freewriting

In its simplest form, freewriting is extremely easy to implement. To begin freewriting, a writer will need a writing space and a timer. Setting the timer for 10 minutes is advisable for first-time freewriters. That time limit can be adjusted to 15 or even 20 minutes for longer sessions or a more challenging exercise.

When the timer starts, writers should aim to write without stopping until time runs out. That means hands should never be idle, and focus should be given to getting words out and on paper. Writers should not worry about grammar, sentence structure, or even logic for this exercise. Keep writing and do not stop. 

Proponents of freewriting suggest repeating phrases or making up words if a writer gets stuck. These tricks keep the writing moving until a more concrete idea takes shape and makes it onto the paper. As freewriting becomes a more significant part of a writing routine, putting ideas onto the page will become quicker and more natural.

Additional features can be added to the freewriting technique, making it more specific to what writers want to practice. Freewriting with a prompt can help direct writing towards a more similar theme. Peter Elbow’s original freewriting process called for writers to take an idea from their freewrite, then restart the process with that idea as a prompt. Restarting can be done multiple times, refining an idea over and over until it is something that can be used for more meaningful writing.

Examples of Freewriting

Results from freewriting will vary from person to person and from prompt to prompt. The process works to improve the idea forming and writing process, and no two freewrite exercises will look the same. For newer writers, they might not even make sense. The output from this exercise should be a very rough, stream-of-consciousness piece of writing that could look something like this:

“What is there to write? I don’t know, I don’t know. Finish this article so you can get back to writing a story where a dragon works together with a princess to take down a king in the middle of a fortress on top of a gigantic mountain. Wouldnt that bes something wild and exciting and thrilling and fantastic. On the way they could team up with a noble knight.”

Freewrite Example

It is not pretty, and it is not worth publishing. The grammar is terrible, the word choice in some areas is lacking, and there are several spelling issues. However, it was written in a minute, without stopping or going back to fix mistakes. The purpose of freewriting is to write quickly and unhindered.

Benefits of Freewriting

There are numerous benefits to adopting freewriting into your writing routine. As a prewriting exercise, freewriting can help writers build confidence and momentum to work through writer’s block and explore new lines of thought. Adhering to the rules of freewriting also helps writers deal with hurdles like self-censoring and self-judgment. This unstructured writing space is the ideal training ground for writers.

The benefits of freewriting are not only seen by creative writers. Any writer can improve their abilities by freewriting, whether they are working out an essay for a class or playing with words for marketing copy. Language Arts teachers might consider adding weekly freewriting exercises to their classroom agendas to provide students with a low-stakes assignment to explore their writing and ideas. Learners of another language could also benefit from freewriting by running through their newly acquired vocabulary.

Professional Freewriting

While freewriting is an exercise, countless authors have incorporated this stream-of-consciousness writing style into their published work. One of the most notable authors utilizing this style was Jack Kerouac. One of his most important contributions to twentieth-century literature, On the Road, is written in a stream-of-consciousness narration that is reminiscent of freewriting. 

In the days of the typewriter, Kerouac wrote his novel on a long scroll of paper, so he would not have to pause to reload the next sheet of paper into the machine. The resulting 120-foot manuscript is a truly awe-inspiring sight to behold. To make the feat more impressive, the legend surrounding Kerouac claims he wrote On the Road in just three weeks.

Jack Kerouac was deeply vested in the practice of stream-of-consciousness writing, describing his writing method as “trance writing” and “spontaneous prose” while incorporating elements of mysticism and Zen Buddhism. Realistically, it probably took Kerouac longer than three weeks to complete and edit his novel. However, the idea of tapping into a mindset that results in pure, uninterrupted writing is something that every writer strives to achieve.

Regardless of your writing abilities, incorporating freewriting into your daily routine will produce positive results. Practice is essential for writers to improve, and freewriting can provide a daily outlet free from judgment and structure constraints. As writers practice this concept over time, they should work on shaking off the blocks that hold them back from writing.