Freewriting is a kind of nonstop writing without rules. Your purpose in freewriting is to capture on paper or on screen some of the thoughts that are flying about in your head.
Here's how you do it. After identifying a topic (or at least a general subject) that interests you, start writing. Feel free to write about anything. Don't pause to ponder or correct: just write, write, write. If you get stuck for something to say, simply repeat the last word you have written, or write "I'm stuck, I'm stuck" until a new idea emerges.
Try to keep writing (whether you're typing or scribbling) for 10 minutes. The result won't be pretty, but you will have begun to explore your topic. Or you may discover a new one.
What follows is a student's early attempt at freewriting. (Spelling errors have been corrected, but otherwise this is an accurate transcript of the student's work.) You'll notice that the student didn't have a specific topic in mind when he started freewriting. Assigned to write a short narrative essay, the student decided to use freewriting to help discover a topic. Judge for yourself how successful he was.
First Freewriting
Freewriting is something can really help you help you you write about whatever you like. Of course you don't stop stop stop to fix errors or go back you just write. You can write can write about what I just said you can write about dogs, gorillas cats horses birds etc. Dogs are very very special animals I believe they are the best kind of pet. They wag their tails meet you at the door they stay by your side, sometimes they protect you. I'm stuck stuck I'm dogs they sometimes get run over by cars Fred hit by car an accident they didn't even stop stop stop Writing like this can sure put a cramp in your hand and it really hurts but I guess the pay off is really worth it. Glad this is not being graded for grammar spelling neatness it would sure be a double F F F F. I would hate to get an F in any subject Math test last week got an F. Did it teach me a lesson a lesson? Don't get another F! I'm stuck stuck lesson dogs and math tests and accidents accidents wrecked the Camaro brand new used Camara boy great car did I learn a lesson insurance and safety and and time's up!
If we were to judge this piece of writing as a finished paragraph or short essay, we'd find many problems. But as a first exercise in freewriting, this is quite successful.
In just ten minutes of nonstop scribbling, the student came up with at least three possible topics: Fred's accident, a failed math test, and the wreck of the Camaro. Which of these topics did the student settle on? The answer is found in the student's second attempt at freewriting, on page two.
