I have wanted to write about this topic for a while–to make it clear to whomever might read this blog and also for my only personal edification. I have wanted to define free writing–not just to explain my horrible grammar and syntax and also my lack of typing skill. But I find it important to note that this blog represents my failures– and as a heuristic for the process of writing that must be crucial–again not as an excuse but also as a rhetorical concern. Perhaps even my aesthetic carried out on a daily basis.
But Thank you, Will, for reminding me of why I have this blog. I told Will that usually the free writing is so far rfom the final product because I revise so often and so rapidly. I have no pretense that my goal is produce the best text and best story. To think of process and to articulate that my writing concerns and my rhetorical concerns are not too different from my students and student writers in general. I still am very much of a student of writing–a student of novel writing and that is a large part of my creative literacy.
Anyway, here is how Wikipedia defines free writing:
- Free writing (also stream-of-consciousness writing) is a writing technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but allows a writer to overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. This technique is also used by some writers to collect their initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, and is often used as a preliminary to more formal writing. It is not a form of automatic writing.
Now my free writing might be more focused but I still feel I am finding the book and have to say I ave gotten rid of quite a few lines and passages I find I might not use. But more and more I am finding this weblog or blog or whatever you want to call it as crucial to generating the habit of writing and the generating of choices.
I love how you said, “finding the book.” So many people don’t write simply because they are afraid that what they write won’t be perfect, they are actually afraid of the process. Many people are in love with the idea of “having a book out,” but are more into believing that writing is an act of inspiration more than an act of emotional, mental, and even some physical labor.