Freewriting (Farza Majeed)

https://github.com/farzaa/freewrite/blob/main/freewrite/default.md

  • Start with a (broad) topic and set a timer
    • 15 minutes is a good start
    • A good starter prompt: “what am I working on today? what is the most important thing for me to work on?”
      • Your starting prompt is really important, so give this some thought
  • Should make this a daily thing, ideally a morning meditation/something to start your day
  • No backspaces

Freewriting (Peter Elbow)

https://www.research.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/RD/docs/FREEWRITING-by-Peter-Elbow.pdf

  • Naturally, people think about the awkwardness/wordiness of their words while they’re writing
    • This is unique to writing (i.e. we do this at a lesser capacity while speaking) and makes it difficult and unnatural at times
    • Freewriting cuts this unnecessary editing out in favor of more ‘stream-of-consciousness’ writing
  • Oftentimes we get stuck trying to write the perfect beginning, but this is difficult
    • Instead freewriting implores us to simply start, with the expectation that ‘good’ writing will follow somewhere along the way
    • And if our writing isn’t good, it’s at least authentic and represents our unfiltered thoughts, which have a lot of power