“I don't think you have time to waste not writing because you are afraid you won't be good at it.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Freezing Up
When the blank page is staring back at me, I freeze. The words jumble in my head. Or even worse, there are no words.
My hands hover over the keyboard ready for action.
Nothing.
My favorite purple pen is poised in hand, ready for action.
Nothing.
Some call it writer’s block. Some call it, “I can’t write.” Whatever you name it, it’s your inner editor voice holding you back, telling you, “It must be perfect from the start or you’re not a real writer.”
It’s time to switch that critical voice off.
Flying Free
I used to think that published “real” writers (like Stephen King) wrote their work in one draft with some light editing afterward. And they were done.
After reading his book, “On Writing” (highly recommend), and other writing craft books, I realized I was wrong.
Yes, every writer is different and their methods will evolve over time.
But they all start with their ideas.
Freewriting is allowing yourself to explore your ideas, those messy, chaotic ideas floating around in your head. OR to generate ideas.
The more you allow yourself to write freely without editing, you will open the stream of ideas, usually when you least expect it.
For me, it’s when I’m showering. I will rush to towel off to grab a notebook or my phone to jot down an idea before I forget.
And many times those brilliant ideas go nowhere, or don’t quite fit with what you’re working on, but keep ‘em. Keep a journal of ideas or a digital file on your phone. You never know when you may need it.
Freewriting Exercises
I’ll be posting free writing prompts and exercises here at Running with Sparklers with the intention of helping you clear your mind and focus on writing what comes to mind.
When I first sit down to write I don’t always have an idea so I allow myself to just write, without stopping, to see where it takes me.
Or I do have an idea in mind but find myself stalling in place because my editor's eye is in place instead of allowing myself to play around with my idea.
Play, before critiquing, is the goal of this game.
✨ Ellie
Free writing is so freeing and we can free write on ot to a prompt as well. then go back and distill the gems. If we send our critic-editor out for mocha, we can relax and dive deep. thanks for this!!!
Very interesting and useful information, Ellie. I always thought I had to be perfect before writing it down, now I know better! Fly free.