 Short Stories: March 19, 2014 Issue [#6160] |
  Short Stories
This week: Free Write - But there are some rules! Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI back on Jan 4  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
I attended a workshop in which we were given several free-writing exercises, with rules or guidelines to follow. I was surprised at what emerged for me. |
| ASIN: B07NPKP5BF |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
Hallo Reader!
I attended a writing workshop recently, and we were given a lot of free-writing exercises to do. To my surprise, I heard that free-writing has rules attached to it! I didn’t know that before – and if you did know that, wow! I mean, I always thought that free-writing just meant ‘write whatever comes to your head’. Well, it does, but the ‘rules’ (or, let’s call them ‘guidelines’) help to make the exercise more meaningful.
Our facilitators gave us topics, and then time-limits, and we had to write on that topic for that much time, keeping these rules in mind:
1. Keep the hand moving. Trust the process and it’ll start to make sense. If you can’t think of anything to write, write that – “I can’t think of anything to write just now.”
2. Don’t cross out. Let the free-writing be pure expression. If you think of a better way to say something – write ‘I mean ...’ and write what you’d like to. But don’t cross the original word or phrase out.
3. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar or punctuation.
4. Lose control.
5. Don’t think too much or get too logical.
6. Be as specific as you can. (For example, don’t just say ‘car’ if you can, just as easily, say ‘blue Ford Anglia’.)
7. Go for the jugular. If you feel uncomfortable about a particular line of thought and want to avoid it, that’s probably where the energy lies. Don’t beat it away, dive right in.
8. You are free to write the worst junk in the entire history of writing.
Here are some free-writing exercise samples:
A. Write, for twenty minutes, on “The first kitchen I ever remember being in.”
B. Become someone who is critical of you. As that person, write a letter to you, offering advice. Five minutes. (Once that is done, write your response to that person, as yourself, for five minutes.)
C. Make a list of your fears and desires. (Ten minutes.)
Let’s discuss what could happen when you write the first one. The first kitchen you ever remember being in was probably when you were very small, most likely with your parents. Aside from the description of the kitchen, and the food cooked there, you’d probably bring out a lot of early childhood memories. Most likely, your early memories of food are wrapped up in the way your parents presented it to you, and that’s going to lead to a reflection of the way you were brought up. Don’t knock it – it happens. If you really keep the hand moving, be specific and go for the jugular, and keep at it for twenty minutes, you’re likely to start out ‘earliest kitchen’ and end up ‘upbringing’.
As for the second one – believe me, it’s hard. It’s hard to follow the ‘don’t avoid discomfort’ route. It does shake you up a bit, though, and it kind of turns you inside out and either has you laughing at yourself, or shrieking hysterically – or – at least – gaining some insights into your own character. And believe me, the ‘response’ comes as a blessed relief once the ‘advice’ is done!
I personally found it hard to spell out my own fears, and I was tempted to avoid discomfort here. Desires were easier, though I sometimes say I don’t know what I desire! Still, it was easier to make a list of ‘desires’ than that of ‘fears’.
Try it. Try free-writing as yourself, or as your character, or as whoever you want. It may help spark an idea or unblock a block!
Have fun!
Free-write On,
Sonali
|
Here's another neat little writing exercise!
If you haven't participated in an interactive story yet, try it! Add a chapter, or two, or more, once you get hooked!  It's great fun!
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1973952 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1974698 by Not Available. |
| | | Steam (13+)
An Exhilarating Narrative Featuring The Technological Wonders Of Our Modern Age Of Steam!
#1971954 by Eric the Fred  |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1972184 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1856077 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1776526 by Not Available. |
And here's a poll that you may want to peek at!
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
| ASIN: B07B63CTKX |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
