Give any two free writing techniques and explain them with example

Freewriting is a technique in which the author writes their thoughts quickly and continuously, without worrying about form, style, or even grammar. Alongside brainstorming, freewriting is typically used early in the writing process to collect and manifest one’s thoughts. The resulting writing is usually not intended for the final draft. 

Freewriting can be a liberating, albeit intimidating approach especially in creative writing, journalism, and academic writing. It means to write at your best, you first have to write at your worst! 

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Freewriting is invaluable for organizing your thoughts and overcoming creative hurdles like writer’s block. But there’s a little more to it than just “write quickly, badly.” Here’s a quick guide to answer all your questions and determine if freewriting will help your process. 

Benefits of freewriting

When we write, we never just focus on the writing itself. We’re focusing on what the reader will think, whether they’ll understand it, and how certain parts fit into the big picture, all while avoiding spelling and grammar mistakes. The goal of freewriting is to wipe away all those secondary concerns and return to a focus solely on the writing. 

Of course, the final product won’t be “publication ready.” The point is to reveal your writing’s pure and distilled essence without worrying about those distractions. 

The benefits of freewriting revolve around organization, brainstorming, and inspiration, as well as beating writer’s block and relieving certain anxieties. Just getting anything written, even if it is imperfect, can jump-start creativity.

Freewriting can also defuse some of the writer’s own internal obstacles: self-criticism, apathy, fear of failure, maladaptive perfectionism, or even deadline dread. 

Just like brainstorming, freewriting produces a handful of ideas that you can later rearrange and develop further. However, unlike brainstorming, freewriting also adds insight into the optimal order of your topics and structure as a whole. It can also help cultivate your unique writing voice. Not to mention, it can inspire some ideas you may not have thought of otherwise. 

Furthermore, because you’re actually writing, you may generate some words, phrases, or sentences that you can carry over to first draft—after a proper polish, that is. 

How to freewrite

Typically, a writer will set aside a certain amount of time—the standard is 15 to 20 minutes— and write without stopping. If you have a topic already, you can start with the most basic thoughts on that. If not, write about whatever comes to mind . . . literally. When you make a mistake, keep going. Don’t worry about what your reader will think or what the next sentence will be, just keep going no matter what. Embrace the flow.

Freewriting is supposed to be sloppy, disjointed, and full of errors. That’s how you get those raw and unfiltered ideas. Give yourself permission to write poorly; you’ll be surprised at how much good writing comes to you when you take the pressure off. 

Forcing yourself to write under these conditions creates a certain mindset. It taps into the part of your consciousness that’s not weighed down by distractions like fretting what the reader will think or puzzling over how to spell “occurred.” When you’re blocked creatively or paralyzed by too many ideas at once, freewriting is just what the doctor ordered. 

To see it in action, check out these freewriting samples from Lumen Learning. You can also look into the works of known writers Peter Elbow and Natalie Goldberg, who both helped popularize the freewriting technique. 

Freewriting tip: Always be writing

Freewriting doesn’t have a lot of rules (that’s why it’s called freewriting), but there is one you must follow: Don’t stop writing until you’ve reached the time limit. Your hand should always be moving, whether you’re typing or writing it out freehand. This is part of what makes freewriting useful; it forces you to write something, urging you past any resistance, especially from yourself. 

What if you don’t know what to write? Freewriting uses whatever is in your head, even something like, “Help, I don’t know what to write.” After a few minutes, your brain will come up with something—those are often the moments when inspiration is just around the corner.

When to use freewriting

As we’ve mentioned, freewriting is a handy technique for the first stages of the writing process. However, there are many other times to embrace it.

You’re stuck creatively (writer’s block)

Freewriting is a popular cure for writer’s block and other creative hindrances. More often than not, writer’s block stems from fears and anxieties—sometimes, these are subconscious. freewriting alleviates those fears by providing a safe environment where mistakes are not only forgiven, but also encouraged.  

You’re overwhelmed

“There’s so much to write about, I don’t know where to start!” If that’s the case for you, freewriting is where to start! 

Freewriting is ideal for getting one’s thoughts on paper, like an intensive brainstorm. Often the stress of getting started is enough to prevent us from getting started, in which case freewriting gives us a loophole. 

You want to practice stream of consciousness

The literary technique “stream of consciousness” has a lot in common with freewriting. It’s used in narrative writing to mimic how one “sounds” in their own head, made famous by writers like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. If you think stream of consciousness would suit your project, freewriting is a natural gateway to get your feet wet and get into that mindful flow. 

You’re learning another language

Speaking another language isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary and usage—reaching fluency also requires thinking quickly and conjuring up the right words as quickly as possible. Freewriting in your second language strengthens these time-sensitive language skills. Even if you make grammatical mistakes while freewriting, it’s a powerful way to practice organic expression in a new language. 

You’re new to the writing process

Writing is a skill that gets better with practice. If you’re just starting out, you can use freewriting to train the fundamentals. Treat it as a literary warm-up exercise. Try doing a freewriting session every day and watch your writing improve after just a couple weeks! 

Want help freewriting? 

What do you do after freewriting, when you’re left with a meandering draft full of mistakes? Grammarly can instantly identify all the spelling and grammar mistakes in your freewriting sample, and even suggest the best fixes for clarity, tone, and conciseness. Download it now to make sure everything you write is polished, easy to read, and mistake-free.

What is freewriting and how can it help you become a better writer?

Freewriting is one of the most effective writing techniques I’ve come across. You don’t need to learn any special skills either. Anyone can use freewriting to improve their craft. 

What is Free Writing?

Freewriting is the rapid and non-judgemental capturing of ideas as they occur.

Writers use this technique to express themselves, to better understand the world around them, and to think ideas through on the blank page.

It’s useful for fiction and non-fiction writers alike who want to refine their writing skills.

In his excellent book, Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best, Ideas, Insight and Content Mark Levy best explains what freewriting is:

Freewriting is a fast method of thinking onto paper that enables you to reach a level of thinking that’s often difficult to attain during the course of a normal business day.

Why Freewrite?

Even if you’re not a business person, you can still use freewriting to generate ideas, practice writing, and improve your craft.

This writing technique can help you if you’re struggling with writer’s block, if you want to push through a boundary in your writing, or if you want to explore creative ideas at the back of your mind.

If you haven’t written that much, freewriting can help you get into the habit of writing, and it will provide you with a fresh perspective on your ideas and what you want to say.

For the more experienced, the practice of freewriting is fun to try if you’re bored with your current writing project or you want to push yourself harder.

I use freewriting for:

How to Freewrite

Freewriting is easy. All you have to do is pick a topic and write about it continuously for a predetermined period. You can use it for blogging, writing the first draft, or for other creative writing. 

1. Write Without Self-editing

Freewriting only works if you don’t question or criticize every sentence, idea and story that you put down on the blank page.

Instead, let the words flow freely from your fingers onto the page without pausing or questioning what you are saying.

Then, when you’ve finished your free writing for the day, spend time polishing, buffing, and making your prose shine.

2. Time your Free Writing Sessions

To get the most from free writing, apply this technique during concentrated, sustained, and timed bursts of creativity.

This practice works best if you’re working against a limit. To do this, I set an alarm on my computer for 25–30 minutes, and I disconnect from the internet.

Then, I start writing and keep going until the alarm sounds.

3. Write What’s On Your Mind

Freewriting enables you to follow a train of thought in new and exciting directions. Some of these directions may be dead-ends, but they’re still worth exploring.

When you’re practicing, record what you’re thinking or if you feel distracted – it doesn’t matter if it’s unrelated to the topic you’re writing about.

These could include:

• The sound of a dog barking
• A desire to get something to eat or drink
• The creaking pipes in your house
• A conversation you had with a colleague recently
• A line of thought you want to explore
• An argument you had with someone
• A conversation you want to have with a friend

If it helps, consider using a free writing prompt.

4. Write for Short and Long Periods

If you’re struggling to achieve a breakthrough, free write for longer periods without taking a break. 

Yes, this is mentally and physically demanding but you don’t have to do it often, and it will help you break through those difficult barriers every writer faces at some point.

The first time I tried freewriting I found it hard to get going, but when I mixed up session durations it became much easier.

5. Keep Your Hand Moving

This piece of free writing advice comes from Natalie Goldberg’s practical book Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within.

An advocate of freewriting, or writing practice, she recommends “keeping your hand moving.”

Self-criticism has no place in a free writing session. When you freewrite, don’t worry about:

• Bad grammar or spelling
• Editing yourself
• Structure or form
• Expressing your ideas logically
• Rules you normally follow
• Fact-checking or research
• Self-censorship

Don’t take your fingers from the keys until you’re finished writing.

If you prefer a pen, this means keeping the pen pressed between your fingers. And if you like to dictate your writing, keep the dictaphone recording until you’re done.

6. Maintain a List of Topics

I use Notes on my Mac to arrange my writing.

Inside Evernote, I keep a notebook of topics that I want to free write about. Examples include ideas for short stories, sentence fragments, blog posts, and ideas that I want to explore.

Then when I want to free write, I pick an item from my notebook and go with it. Keeping these types of lists means I spend less time looking for a topic and more time free writing.

7. Combine Free Writing with Other Writing

Some days, it makes more sense to plan your writing in advance or aim towards a target word count.

Mixing free writing with other types of writing sessions will help you get more from your sessions and avoid becoming bored with the process.

8. Keep Your Scraps

Freewriting produces many leftover ideas and copy that doesn’t immediately belong anywhere. Whatever you do, don’t throw this writing in the bin or delete it. They still represent part of the writing process.

Instead, keep your cast-offs in your journal or a file on your computer.

Later on, you may want to return to these leftovers and extract something useful from them. And even if this time never comes, they serve as markers for your progress as a writer.

9. Expand On Ideas From Your Niche

I read a lot of non-fiction books. This means I regularly come across ideas that surprise me, inspire me or confound me.

Sometimes, I take these ideas and expand on them during free writing sessions. Freewriting about ideas helps me internalize them and figure out how I can apply them.

If you want to do the same, underline key passages in the books you are reading, write notes in the margins, and review these notes when you’re finished with the book (the Kindle is ideal for this).

Then, pick one or two ideas and use these for your next free writing sessions.

While freewriting, record everything that comes to mind during this period.

Free Writing’s Role In Your Writing Process

Don’t worry if you write nothing but garbage. Your job here isn’t to produce a page of immaculate prose that your editor or your readers will love (you don’t have to show anyone what you’ve written).

Instead, this technique should encourage your mind to go in new and exciting directions.

Writing the first draft is all about making messy mistakes.

You’ll know you’re succeeding with this technique when you find yourself writing about things that have nothing to do with your original topic.

When you’re finished, you can always go back and extract what’s useful and turn it into something more readable.

Free Writing FAQ

Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones contains many excellent examples of free writing. Alternatively, a journal entry represents a good personal freewriting example.

The purpose of freewriting is to explore your subconscious and practice writing. It’s also a good technique for combatting writer’s block.

You don’t need any special software to try freewriting. However, a journaling app like Day One is good as it’s private. Google Docs is another nice choice as you can work from anywhere.

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