Perfect weather to fly*: Free writing

Perhaps the least elaborate of all prewriting strategies, free writing consists solely on writing. It is frequently called stream of consciousness writing, a self-explanatory term that illustrates how this technique is normally aimed at liberating thought constraints. Free writing is also believed to be of use to ease writer’s block.

Although commonly recommended as a basic step in creative writing, free writing can be helpful in the academic composition process by activating the authors’ knowledge of their subject matter.
There are no set rules for free writing; however, there are a few recommendations that are consistently believed to enhance the process:

1.    Have a central, controlling idea, use it as a heading if necessary, and stick to it.
2.    Set a time limit.
3.    Keep on writing even if you dry out. If that were the case, try writing about it.
4.    Don’t pay attention to form. Grammar, spelling and style are to be taken care of at later stages of the writing process.
5.    Don’t discriminate, categorize or attempt to organize your ideas.

The byproduct of free writing is usually chaotic. Nonetheless, worthy ideas can be sifted for later use, raw text can be corrected and recycled and, most importantly, defective and dubious aspects are likely to emerge from the product, thus allowing authors to further explore and clarify them.

*Garvey, Guy and Elbow (2008). Weather to fly. On The seldom seen kid [CD]. UK: Polydor.