What is a free write? It is essentially writing without conscious thought.
Most free writes go like this:
You write down whatever comes into your mind for 15 straight minutes either as a word purge (no topic at all) or on a prompt.
There is no right or wrong way of doing a free write, but here are some tips with the way I do it:
I find a place where I am comfortable writing
To completely drown out any unwanted sounds, I put on some soothing instrumental music
A timer is very helpful so I set my timer for about 17 minutes
The best time to do a free write is when you are relaxed so I allow myself a little relaxation time of about 2 minutes – a nice short song length
Then I start writing – anything that comes into my mind, remembering that it does not need to make sense
When the timer goes off, I will either round off the sentence or if the thoughts are flowing I will keep going for a line or two more. Remember there is no absolute 15 minute rule, but as a start 15 minutes is a good length and initially it will feel like a pretty long time.
Once I’ve finished. I go back and tidy up the grammar, punctuation and paragraphs but other than that, keep the writing untouched.
I remind myself it’s not a competition. The idea is not to feel ashamed of what I write but to have some fun and maybe a chuckle or two.
Once you get the hang of a free write, it is quite easy to do and it always amazes me how it turns out.
So for today, let’s do a free write either as a word purge (just letting your thoughts ramble) or pick a prompt for yourself – a word, phrase, quote, song, book, anything you want to write on (and naturally the prompts below) and let your fingers fly for 15 minutes. You can add any videos, pictures etc to your post once you have finished so that’s not counted in the 15 minutes.
Some Don’ts
Don’t sanitize your work – post as you wrote it (you can tidy up the grammar, punctuation and paragraphs)
Don’t worry about the length of your post.
Don’t plan or procrastinate on anything, just go for it and let your fingers do the writing.
Don’t worry about how it will turn out – have faith that whatever you write will be great – you’ll be surprised what turns up. Trust me on that.
And some Dos
Do try out free writes as often as you can. You can tag me (Suzy) and Write Tribe on Twitter if you want us to take a look at them.
Do have fun.
PS: We have repurposed this post because it is so good. To learn how to repurpose your old posts here this.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Free Write today with @suzyq1810 and @writetribe #FridayReflections” quote=”Free Write today with @suzyq1810 and @writetribe #FridayReflections”]
#FridayReflections
If you are new to Friday Reflections, here’s what it’s about. It’s the end of the week, you’re probably exhausted with work, and all you want to do is sit back, put your feet up, sip on some fancy cocktail or wine, and write away. Sanch and Write Tribe give you writing prompts and all you have to do is choose any one of those prompts to blog about and link up between Friday and Monday. After you link up, be sure to spread the love by visiting other bloggers who have linked up too.
Feel free to add our Friday Reflections badge to your post or sidebar! Follow us on Twitter @FridayReflect and join our Facebook Group. Share your post on social media with the hashtag #FridayReflections.
Our featured writers for last week is Eloquent Mind who shared the sights, sounds and memories outside her window.
Prompts for this week
1. Write a poem that is about a brick wall – whether literally or figuratively.
2. Write about a point in life where things turned for the better or worse.
3. A well-loved toy from my childhood.
4. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, This is my Story. Use this is a post of your own
5. Picture Prompt (copyright Living my Imperfect Life)
Payal Agarwal says
August 14, 2016 at 4:17 pmWonderful post. Free write is really helpful. 🙂
Shweta Ravi says
August 12, 2016 at 10:22 pmHi – can i link my Free Write post to Friday Reflections? I wasn’t too sure as you guys had separate prompts for Friday reflections…
corinnerodrigues says
August 13, 2016 at 4:22 pmHi Shweta – Yes, the #FridayReflections posts are all prompt based. Please feel free to add your post to the #WritingWednesdays post which is meant for posts from the week.
http://writetribe.com/memoir-writing/
Shweta Ravi says
August 16, 2016 at 10:11 amThanks! Per your instructions on the post I tagged you on the free attempt posts on twitter 🙂
bEllybytes says
August 12, 2016 at 5:37 pmWow ! This post did generate a ton of comments . I’ve never tried a free write. Perhaps I’ll do it this Monday and tag you guys for a feed back. Thanks for these great tips .
corinnerodrigues says
August 13, 2016 at 4:53 pmYes, it is a very popular post, Sunita. Look forward to reading your post.
Suzy says
August 12, 2016 at 12:00 pmThanks for featuring my post again.
corinnerodrigues says
August 13, 2016 at 4:52 pmAn absolute pleasure, Suzy!
Marika says
October 1, 2013 at 1:53 pmYep, automatic writing, it’s great actually, I’ve tried it a while ago and it’s fun.
vishalbheeroo says
September 23, 2013 at 4:46 amThe prompt was so much fun to write Suzy. Sulekha commented on my blog and I wanted to reach out to her, unfortunately, her blog is not opening. Can you please do something about it, Sulekha? Thanks.
Suzy says
September 23, 2013 at 11:09 amThanks Vishal. Glad you enjoyed my prompt.
Jeyannathann Karunanithi says
September 22, 2013 at 5:59 pmHoping to surprise myself with your ‘Free Writing’ idea .
Suzy says
September 23, 2013 at 11:10 amThanks Jeyannathann. Look forward to your post.
Jeyannathann Karunanithi says
September 22, 2013 at 5:57 pmSuch an amazing idea for bloggers to keep writing and over come the much dreaded writer’s block.
Looking forward to meet fellow bloggers here. Much to learn and the much to cover on this long winding road.
Aditi says
September 20, 2013 at 9:03 amFabulous tutorial Suzy. Free writing can sometime surprise your own mind!! Weekend will give some time to just let go and let it flow. Looking forward! 🙂
Suzy says
September 21, 2013 at 10:26 amThanks Aditi – Yes free writes produce amazing posts. At least for me my best writings are free writes. Look forward to yours.
Rekha says
September 19, 2013 at 10:21 pmWow! That’s a nice idea. Will try it out over the weekend.
Suzy says
September 21, 2013 at 10:25 amI look forward to your post Rekha.
Sheela says
September 19, 2013 at 10:19 pmThanks Suzy for introducing such a wonderful idea…It was relaxing…really. Hope to have many more.
Suzy says
September 21, 2013 at 10:24 amHi Sheela, so glad you enjoyed the experience and a free write is relaxing as there is really no pressure to make it sensible!
Sumi says
September 19, 2013 at 8:07 pmI came across this website when browsing through blogs.. and just loved it! 🙂
I have written my first “Free write” and loved the experience..
Hoping to write more..
Suzy says
September 21, 2013 at 10:23 amHi Sumi, glad you stumbled upon this website and so glad you loved the free write experience. Will be visiting your blog shortly.
preethi says
September 25, 2013 at 9:02 amhi suzy…wow!! great concept. tried it for the first time. submitting my post too 🙂 never thought i could do it…thank you 🙂
Talya Tate Boerner says
September 19, 2013 at 7:49 amI free write every morning. I start by writing the date, where I am, the time and the number of days I’ve written consecutively. Today was number 290 for me. If I miss a day, I have to start over with Day 1. Freewriting jump starts me each morning. Sometimes it leads to a blog or short story. Sometimes not.
Suzy says
September 19, 2013 at 1:16 pmOh wow Talya that’s quite a commitment Free writing is fun.
confusedhumanity says
September 19, 2013 at 7:37 amI just tried mine…it was nit actually a free spree of thoughts but a running commentary of what my daughter was doing…unfortunately I nowadays don’t have the luxury of shutting of unwanted noise and to write undisturbed :)…yeah I have added an incident or two from my memory lane…but i loved the prompt..may be I will try doing a serious from the heart rant later this week….may be when my little one is sleeping
Suzy says
September 19, 2013 at 1:14 pmSo glad you liked the prompt Confusedhumanity. Loved your very sweet post.
Richa Singh says
September 18, 2013 at 6:59 pmI embark on free write almost every two weeks and send the writings to some friend whom I know will make some sense of it. Its one of my favourite writing activity! Excited!!
Suzy says
September 19, 2013 at 12:58 pmGlad you enjoy it too Richa. Look forward to reading your post.
Rainbow Hues says
September 18, 2013 at 4:37 pmExcellent Suzy!! Surprisingly, I do most of my posts as a free write….I did’nt even know that’s what they are called 🙂
Thanks for the tutorial!
Suzy says
September 19, 2013 at 12:57 pmThanks Kajal. Good to hear you also do free writes. So much easier than planned writing.
Bhavya says
September 18, 2013 at 2:30 pmYou had me right the moment I read the post. What a novel idea (at least for me, as this is the first time I’m doing a free write, after knowing that this form of writing is called free write 😛 ) Thanks for this great write up Suzy. As for my post, I have not read it after I wrote, submitting it raw, just like most of my other posts 🙂
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 3:39 pmGlad you enjoyed the prompt Bhavya. Loved your post and thank you for sharing your day and for taking part. Hope it was therapeutic for you.
Bhagyashree says
September 18, 2013 at 1:45 pmDone!! 🙂 Had fun Suzy. Do not know whether what I wrote makes sense. But the point is I enjoyed.
Thank you
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 3:31 pmGlad you had fun Bhagyashree = that is really the point of the free write and wow what an awesome write you did.
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 1:25 pmIt is fun Shilpa. I’m looking forward to reading all the posts. We’ll be amazed at what turns up.
Say Cheese says
September 18, 2013 at 1:25 pmI free right a lot. As a matter of fact, I free write everyday. I have made a habit to free write at least one page a day.(I believe that ‘one page a day, goes a long way’) A journal is specially bought for that purpose. Today morning I wrote my 125 page and it really really helps in honing your writing skills. I mean, sometimes I’ve found ideas to blog from my free writing stuff. My submission for ‘Truly Alive’ was a free write too. 🙂
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 3:59 pmI love free writes too. It’s a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Thanks for joining in. Loved your post.
Shilpa Garg says
September 18, 2013 at 1:09 pmThis sounds so much fun! Thanks for sharing about Free Write, Suzy.
Am looking forward to write freely… 🙂
sulekha says
September 18, 2013 at 1:03 pmLook forward to sharing my uncensored post 🙂
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 1:24 pmI look forward too Sulekha – the uncensored version – that made me chuckle.
Shiva says
September 18, 2013 at 1:02 pmWow… This is Niiceeee..>Free flow of thoughts.. I am already excited..Thank you Suzy
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 1:23 pmThanks Shiva. I can feel your excitement. Have fun with this one.
kalpana solsi says
September 18, 2013 at 12:31 pmSuzy , loved the free writing idea and the wonderful tips of do’s and do not’s.
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 1:22 pmGlad you liked it Kalpana. Look forward to reading your post.
Vidya Sury says
September 18, 2013 at 12:19 pmVery nice. My big takeaway tip here is “Don’t sanitize your writing”. 🙂 Looking forward to participating, Suzy!
Suzy says
September 18, 2013 at 1:20 pmThanks Vidya. I’m looking forward too, to read all the posts. Yep, the trick is not to sanitise. It’s great fun sometimes a nice giggle too.