The Magic of Free-writing: A (Possible) Cure to Writer’s Block By Alin Sengjaroen

Have you ever felt like you wanted to write something but had zero idea what actually to write? Even though you’ve done everything: sifting through writing prompts, trying new forms, writing on a physical paper, not writing, doing something else, starting a book just to give up after three pages?

Let me introduce you to the wonders of free-writing: an exercise in which the writer writes non-stop for a set amount of time (could be as low as two minutes or up to ten minutes). Sometimes prompts may be involved but it is not necessary. 

Think of writing as a marathon. Before you run, obviously you need to warm up and practice to get your muscles ready. It’s the same as writing. Sometimes you need a push to get you into The Zone. So, here is what you need to effectively free-write and cure that 5-month-long art block.

Photo from Joey Potter Rangers on Pinterest

(I) GET EVERYTHING READY

Decide whether you want to write on a piece of paper or type on a device. The difference is that writing on paper may help you get your thoughts out more while typing is much faster and doesn’t tire out your hands. Make sure you have your pens, pencils, and erasers ready. Typically you’ll be so focused on writing that you won’t even need to erase, instead cross out typos. For those who are doing this digitally, make sure you have Grammarly off as it can be distracting, trying to correct every grammar mistake you make.

(II) SET A TIMER

Now a question proposes: how long should we set it for? It is up to the writer to decide. The shorter the timer is the less you can write; however, some may find longer timers overwhelming. You can find the right amount through trial and error. Start with 1 minute then work your way up until you’re completely comfortable and get the best results. Here’s an overview of the disadvantages and advantages:

1-5 minutes:

• Less material to work with afterward

• Not enough time to explore each prompt

• A lot of pressure to cover everything within a short period

6-10 minutes:

• You may run out of things to say and start writing incoherent things

• Hands start getting tired

• You may only be able to do a few

(III) GET A PROMPT (OPTIONAL)

This is completely up to the writer’s preferences but some prefer to have a small prompt as a starting idea. Whether you will use a Random Word Generator or a Random Sentence Generator–it doesn’t matter. You can even look at your surroundings and use the first thing you see as the prompt. Once you’ve decided on one, give yourself a few seconds to think about it then immediately start writing. DO NOT ponder on the prompt for too long. Just write and trust your instincts. Watch as your fingers take you to a place you never thought you’d reach.

Here are some prompts that I’ve done in the past week that may inspire you:

• “Apple” (Yes, the fruit.)

• “Online learning”

• “Innovative English Major” or the major you are studying in!

(IV) START WRITING!

Press start on the timer and let your hands move on its own. You’ll find yourself writing non-stop until you hear the alarm (if you set any). Don’t worry too much about the grammar structure or typos. Just keep writing and don’t stop. It doesn’t have to be a complete sentence either. You can write words that come to mind (synonyms, antonyms, etc), a paragraph, or what you feel when you read the prompt. Use analogies, metaphors, literary devices. Go wild!

(V) READ, REVIEW, RE-PHRASE

Once you’re done, read what you’ve written and highlight parts that you like. Now you may have an idea of what to write now. If not, that’s okay! Do more free-writing then piece together the sentences you like until it becomes coherent. When you’re satisfied, make a new document and write a poem or a story using those sentences or based off of it. You can even rephrase them. There is no limit. 

Besides free-writing a paragraph, you can try combining other forms. For example, free-writing in the form of mind maps. Write the prompt in the middle then surround it with words you think of when you read the prompt. Later, circle the words or phrases you like and begin writing about them in a separate document. This is a technique used by a lot of novelists as well to brainstorm for a great novel idea.

Another form you may be interested in is what I call a ‘narrative list of sequences.’ First, start with a sentence. You may generate it here. Write that sentence on the first line then begin writing what happens next. Use the last word to start a new sentence. Here is a demonstration:

1. Everyone was curious about the large white blimp that appeared overnight. (generated)

2. Overnight, it was raining heavily against the window and everyone thought it might have shattered.

3. Shattering the hearts of those you hate is a good hobby to pass the time.

4. Time is the essence of the universe that people don’t recognize as much as I do.

5. “Do you love me?”

6. “Me? You’re asking me? Someone who can’t read?”

You don’t have to keep writing about “the large white blimp” and instead go off-topic as long as you use the last word of the sentence as a starting point. Alternatively, you can change from writing lists of sentences and instead turn to dialogues like what I did.

IN CONCLUSION, this is a fun exercise to get the creative juices flowing. This concept was actually re-introduced to me in an English class at school. I recommend doing this daily or if that’s too much, settle for weekly or biweekly. Keep in mind the essential factors like the time limit and whether you want to use a prompt. The key here is to step out of your comfort zone and experiment with something new.

Regardless, this is not the definite way to cure writer’s block that you may be looking for. It’s crucial to recognize the different causes of your burnout. Sometimes it’s a break that your brain is signaling–not a lack of creative ideas. Breaks are as important as practice. You can’t improve if you have no energy to do so. Your health reflects your performance because to write is to be honest about yourself. If you’re doing terribly, your writing will reflect that. So drink 8 cups of water, eat 3 meals, and happy writing!