On Freewriting

improv (71)in #freewrite • 7 years ago

Well, look at that. Freewriting has become a thing on Steemit. I mean, it was already a thing, but now it's a whole community, and lo and behold...

I've been recognized for my sticktoitiveness.

So, I've been asked to write about it a bit.

Okay. Okay.

First, freewrite however you like.

For me, this is why.

One.

If you have an amount of time during the day when you must do something, you will do it during that time. I will write for 5 minutes a day. Even if I'm sick, even if I'm exhausted. I will start a timer and I will write.

Two.

I don't even know what the thoughts are that are going on in my brain. Many of them get crushed. Many of them get forgotten. Many of them get filed under "this thought is bad". For 5 minutes, all my thoughts are allowed to exist and get expressed. It's a relief, and it helps me get over my fear of being judged.

Three.

It's a declaration of self. I am here on Steemit daily. Other people, who aren't put off by all the secret thoughts laid out on the table, get to find me and I get to find them. You can't be silent on Steemit.

There are also three different kinds of freewrites that I noticed I do.

One.

When I'm exhausted, that when you get those "freer freewrites" as @mariannewest once called my freewrites. I had a cold yesterday, so you got one of those. Here's another: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@improv/corn-5minutefreewrite

Two.

A story. I usually do these when I'm feeling most awake. I usually start with a character noun (a name or pronoun) in the first sentence, and then I find it easy-ish to follow them. Here's one: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@improv/if-you-have-any-thoughts-please-let-me-know-5minutefreewrite

Three.

A poem. These often start as undecideds, like the "freer" ones, but then, because I'm not too exhausted, I start to hear a rhythm to the words, and my mind stays just one step ahead of my fingers. (In "freer" ones, my fingers are usually a couple steps ahead of my mind). Sometimes they just happen because a hard return is easier than a period + space. Here's one: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@improv/three-grapes-5minutefreewrite

Four (because I'm a liar)

First person... these are probably the easiest to fall into. The character is there already, I don't have to bother naming them. I don't know what distinguishes these... Actually, you know what? This is to stories as "freer"s are to poems. I set out to write a story, but I'm too tired to think outside myself. Here's one: https://steemit.com/freewrite/@improv/ooze-5minutefreewrite

Five...

I guess I also do just descriptions sometimes... but those usually fit into stories eventually. Man, a retrospective can be just a long list...

and just for completion's sake, here's my very first freewrite on Steemit:

ummm... it won't load all the way to the end...

It's all still there on the blockchain, though, right?

Here's the oldest one that loaded: https://steemit.com/improv/@improv/overeat-5minutefreewrite

Yeah. What the heck.

Here, using the steemit tag search, I was able to find this older one: https://steemit.com/improv/@improv/bugs-5minutefreewrite

But I don't know if that was my first. I think not. I think I explained what freewriting was in my very first one... But maybe it was, and I didn't do that until later, and maybe just in a comment.

Anyways. Hurrah!

Here's the first photo I added to a freewrite:

#steemit #celebration #introduceyourself #fun

7 years ago in #freewrite by improv (71)

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metzli (67) 7 years ago

“My mind stays one step ahead of my fingers” Best description of free writing.

I love freewriting. When I was an English teacher I used to start all my classes with a warm-up freewrite.

Thanks for sharing all your methods. You make the freewriting community fun to be a part of.