"Think of writing then not as a way to transmit a message, but as a way to grow and cook a message. Writing is a way to end up thinking something you couldn't have started thinking."
"Treat words as though they are potentially able to grow. Learn to stand out of the way and provide the energy or force the words need to find their growth process." - Peter Elbow
I'm currently reading Peter Elbow's Writing Without Teachers and part of the process to become a better writer is practicing free writing. For 10 minutes each day, I will write non-stop. I will not make any edits or corrections as I write. It may seem like garbage, but the exercise is to help me learn to write freely. When we edit and proof while we write, we stop the flow. Free writing practice will help loosen up and stretch out my writing muscle.
I thought I would use my blog to free write and the following exercise is more for me than for you. If you want to read it, feel welcome to. Remember its my crazy brain spewing out of control though!
Free Writing exercise- day 1, time 10 minutes
Knuckles cracked, here I go. be ready for tons of typos, I can't beleive I can't stop. This is going to be so difficult. Why is that kid watchign me do this> he wont' let me stop. Why did i tell him what I was goign to do? Pink domo staring at me, clock ticking behind me. my nose itches. birds just chirped, opps, i went back there. I bet this is easier if you are using a pencil or pen and paper, than tyring to type it. there i had to itch my nose. It was driving me crazy. much like this exercise. I dont' want to use punctionation. it slows me down. deep breath in, deep breath out, i hate this so sunny outside but so cold. i froze my fingers off trying to gas up the car. i wonder what the ladies think of me at the piggly wiggly, i'm in there everyday buying grocories. That's the beauty of living so close to the store though. He's going downstaris. I guess watching me isn't entertaining enough anymore. tomorrow I hope to see my friends. i will have to ask them if they want to plant a live wreath with me. I saw how to make live wreaths using flowers and herbs in a magazine. I wish i could do more gardening. It looks like so much fun and i love getting my hands dirty. of course I find I have to wash my hands too often. I can't seem to have enough lotion on hand. Hand lotion, on hand, ahhhhhh i'm stopping and I can't! Must keep writing, must keep writing. nose itched again. domo still staring. I can hear them downstairs. I know they can't hear me. blah, blah, blah, I should just think of a topic and write about it rather than listening to the voices in my head and trying to keep up with them. lets see, topics, topics, I can't think of one that isn't a downer. Debbie Downer that's me. My family thinks I am too quick to point out bad news. I have to work on that. I am excited I found a group of beleivers like me. Christian universalists! I thought i was the only one. I want to order the book and really study up. I feel like i've been in the closet but finding this group makes me want to come out. I have to be able to defend my beleifs though and I dont' know if I'm ready for that. I suppose this is why I've stayed away from organized religion. Too many judges, judging me. Yumi is sleeping in her chair, i can't believe how much fur is flying from her. I brushed her this morning and it came off constantly. I should shave her but she'd freak out I'm sure. No wonder why her tummy hurts her. Too much fur in there. I let her play in the garage for a bit. Boy do we need to clean up in there. Winter's worth of clutter and garbage. We need for it to warm up. When its cold like today, all I want to do is sit inside and drink tea and watch cooking shows. OH! I saw a cool recipe for veggie pot pie. I must remember to go check that out when I finish with this exercise. She also made a butternut squash rosota that looked good.....
time's up
Boy that sucked!! Why did I decide to post these??? I hope after a few weeks, I can see progress in my writing. After reading the above I feel like a terrible writer!! That's part of the process though, getting rid of the garbage to free up your mind. Of course I believe the author intended for us to throw away our free writing. I'm posting it on my blog for all eternity!! LOL!!
6 comments:
This is an interesting process, and I will stay interested as you progress through the exercises! Really! Continue to post and continue to tell us how it feels. Cool!!
What a neat idea though. I thought that you didn't do that bad.
Now, this sounds like a great challenge! I should look up the book too and try the test out. I bet I'd make a bunch of spelling mistakes. I make a lot of spelling mistakes; not because I didn't know how to spell the words but because I spell so fast that it naturally happens that my fingers slip.
Very interesting. I thought you did great. It will be neat to see how you progress.
Free writing is really powerful! I took a class on it once at a really pivotal time in my life, and it unlocked some things in my head that ended up changing the course of my entire life in a major way (I know that's sounds dramatic, but it's true). It's good stuff! I recommend giving it a try with pencil and paper, too, though. :)
Interesting look into your thoughts. ; )
I'm sorry for poor Yumi...our Tiger and Max have hair issues, too...we do shave Max in the summer, because he gets so mad he bites, and that's NO fun. : )
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