Okay, here it is: the coach’s secret weapon. The one tip that works for all of his clients, whether they’re grinding out a college application essay, slogging their way through the dystopian wasteland of their Y.A. novel, stuck in the third act of their screenplay, or trying to encapsulate their entire lives into a readable and engaging memoir. What is this CIA/KGB/Mossad-worthy weapon? It's called freewriting.
(I know: some of you have already heard of this. But unless you instantly fell in love with it and use it all the time, I’m wiling to bet you didn’t do it right.)
So what is freewriting? Simply put, it's the best technique to get you writing freely, without worry, thought, or censorship. And best of all, without delay.
It starts with a writing prompt. I usually provide my clients with one after interviewing them about their project (or their lives, if they’re working on a college app or memoir), but you can easily come up with one yourself. Just follow these simple rules.
The prompt should be in the first person: “I first became interested in orthodontia when I looked into my little brother’s mouth and felt…” If you’re writing fiction, write from the point of view of one of your characters: “Every night when I put on the bat costume and leave Alfred behind in the cave, it makes me feel…” Whatever you’re working on, your prompt should feature the word “I”.
Focus the prompt on emotions rather than intellect. We all hide behind words and “art,” to distance ourselves from emotion. Sometimes it can lead to interesting work. But right now you’ve got writer’s block and you need to bust through all that thinking to find the emotional core. So you want prompts that come from the heart. “What I love about orthodontia is…” “The thing that excites me most when I see the bat signal is…” “When I faced the Joker I felt…” A particularly potent prompt is “I want…” Whether it’s our characters or ourselves, our wants define us.
The prompt should be an incomplete sentence. The prompt’s job is to nudge you down a path. To get you going. A complete sentence gives you an excuse to stop.
If all else fails, write about your fears of writing. Sometimes the thing that’s keeping you from writing is the very thing that you want to write about. So go ahead and explore it. “The thing that scares me most about this project/essay/script is…”
Okay, so now that you’ve got your prompt, what do you do?
Write!
Finish the prompt sentence and CONTINUE WRITING WITHOUT STOPPING FOR FIVE MINUTES. Don’t consider, don’t correct, don’t judge and DON’T STOP. Not even for a second. Let your mind wander where it will, but keep circling back to your prompt. If you draw a blank, write that you have nothing to say. If you’re distracted, write how annoying that barking dog outside is. Write what an !@#!&!! Charlie, The Writing Coach is for making you do this, but DO NOT STOP WRITING UNTIL YOUR TIME IS UP.
Now, take a breath. And read what you’ve written.
Look for the seeds of a revealing story, phrases and insights that truly reflect you, or, if you’re working on fiction, for windows into your character’s soul, new insights into her quest. I’m willing to bet that you'll discover things that you would never have found any other way. Certainly not in five minutes.
One interesting addendum: The coach showed this blog to his father, a psychiatrist (insert crack about psychiatrists’ kids here), who instantly recognized the technique. “But that’s Freud’s free association!” he exclaimed, delighted. “Freud’s idea was that if you let the brain go where it wants, without thought or censorship, it will find the truth.”
So there you have it.
Freewriting.
Endorsed by American Psychiatric Association.
HAPPY FREEWRITING EVERYONE!!!
Let me know how freewriting works for you! Click on the comment button and share your brilliant prompts!
(I know: some of you have already heard of this. But unless you instantly fell in love with it and use it all the time, I’m wiling to bet you didn’t do it right.)
So what is freewriting? Simply put, it's the best technique to get you writing freely, without worry, thought, or censorship. And best of all, without delay.
It starts with a writing prompt. I usually provide my clients with one after interviewing them about their project (or their lives, if they’re working on a college app or memoir), but you can easily come up with one yourself. Just follow these simple rules.
The prompt should be in the first person: “I first became interested in orthodontia when I looked into my little brother’s mouth and felt…” If you’re writing fiction, write from the point of view of one of your characters: “Every night when I put on the bat costume and leave Alfred behind in the cave, it makes me feel…” Whatever you’re working on, your prompt should feature the word “I”.
Focus the prompt on emotions rather than intellect. We all hide behind words and “art,” to distance ourselves from emotion. Sometimes it can lead to interesting work. But right now you’ve got writer’s block and you need to bust through all that thinking to find the emotional core. So you want prompts that come from the heart. “What I love about orthodontia is…” “The thing that excites me most when I see the bat signal is…” “When I faced the Joker I felt…” A particularly potent prompt is “I want…” Whether it’s our characters or ourselves, our wants define us.
The prompt should be an incomplete sentence. The prompt’s job is to nudge you down a path. To get you going. A complete sentence gives you an excuse to stop.
If all else fails, write about your fears of writing. Sometimes the thing that’s keeping you from writing is the very thing that you want to write about. So go ahead and explore it. “The thing that scares me most about this project/essay/script is…”
Okay, so now that you’ve got your prompt, what do you do?
Write!
Finish the prompt sentence and CONTINUE WRITING WITHOUT STOPPING FOR FIVE MINUTES. Don’t consider, don’t correct, don’t judge and DON’T STOP. Not even for a second. Let your mind wander where it will, but keep circling back to your prompt. If you draw a blank, write that you have nothing to say. If you’re distracted, write how annoying that barking dog outside is. Write what an !@#!&!! Charlie, The Writing Coach is for making you do this, but DO NOT STOP WRITING UNTIL YOUR TIME IS UP.
Now, take a breath. And read what you’ve written.
Look for the seeds of a revealing story, phrases and insights that truly reflect you, or, if you’re working on fiction, for windows into your character’s soul, new insights into her quest. I’m willing to bet that you'll discover things that you would never have found any other way. Certainly not in five minutes.
One interesting addendum: The coach showed this blog to his father, a psychiatrist (insert crack about psychiatrists’ kids here), who instantly recognized the technique. “But that’s Freud’s free association!” he exclaimed, delighted. “Freud’s idea was that if you let the brain go where it wants, without thought or censorship, it will find the truth.”
So there you have it.
Freewriting.
Endorsed by American Psychiatric Association.
HAPPY FREEWRITING EVERYONE!!!
Let me know how freewriting works for you! Click on the comment button and share your brilliant prompts!