I’m going to tag on to Mary’s last post Finish the Phrase and talk about freewriting, which is essentially what her exercise is.  She gave you some writing prompts and a ten minute time limit then challenged you to finish the phrase.  Let me expand more on the rules and the benefits of free writing.

First, a short definition.  Wikipedia describes it as “a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic.  It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism.”  Personally, I find it as a great way to kill your inner editor and rediscover your creativity.

Freewriting was made popular by Peter Elbow in “Writing without Teachers” and Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.”  I was first exposed to it after (don’t laugh) a psychic’s reading two years ago.  She told me to write three pages a day for a month, pure, complete stream-of-consciousness.  I think I made it to day sixteen, but it brought out a lot of things I hadn’t realized bothered me so much.  I’ve since used it to punch through writer’s block.

Now, the rules:

• Set a timer for five, ten or twenty minutes.  I like to use twenty minutes, because from past experience I know it will produce at least two pages.  Often, at the end of the time, I’m in “the groove” and don’t want to stop.
• Do not pay attention to spelling, grammar or staying on topic.  The easiest way to ignore those squiggly red underlines is to either close your eyes or turn down your monitor’s resolution.
• It doesn’t have to make sense.  The end result is not coherency but the process.
• It’s okay to stray off topic.   Write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s “I don’t know what to write” over and over.  In fact, straying off topic might lead you to an interesting concept sent up by your subconscious mind. Knotty problems unravel and new paths are forged.
• Don’t stop.  Your fingers should move continuously, whether on the keyboard or on the page.  Stopping opens a small crack that your inner editor can slither through, second guessing what you’ve written.

At the end of the exercise, highlight or circle the words, phrases or ideas worth keeping and discard the rest.  Often, there will be a nugget or two you can expand upon.

Here’s an example of freewriting I did this past winter while taking part in a 40K, 35 day writing challenge:

(aargh this is xxawkward) If anyone was going to get the scoop on her story, it would be him.  She might be his way back into the limelight.  Yes, definitely, he saw himself as her manager, her personal handler.

I’ve found a nifty site that comes equipped with a blank box in which to write and a ten minute timer.  You have no choice but to write, write, write because the clock is egging you on.

I’ll be back before the week is out, infringing on Mary’s time, but I don’t think she’ll mind.

Until then, stay safe and free write!

Cheryl

It’s beautiful out, and few of my friends are going to want to spend their day writing when they could be outside in the glorious sunshine, so I’ll make this quick.

If you are stuck, uninspired, or just hating your latest work in progress, choose one of the following phrases to finish with 10 minutes of writing:

I can’t work on my story because—

Even though the dog really had eaten Emily’s math homework, she knew Mrs. Habbernathy would never believe her, so she—

My mother never understood why –

Anna opened the door to find Colin Firth standing on her front porch with –

There you go.  Pick one.  Write fast.  Don’t edit.  And have a little fun with it – it’s Saturday, afterall.  And then send it back to me.

Wishing you all the best,

Mary

I’ve learned a new trick that helps me meet deadlines on time.  In writing, there is always a deadline.  Whether you write articles, ad copy, or any other type of writing, you’ll most likely have a deadline if you’re going to get paid. 

While I’ve never missed a deadline, I have been known to stay up through all hours of the night to make one, and there’s nothing worse than watching your loved ones all traipse happily off to bed when you have hours of work ahead of you. 

You know how some people set their clock ahead by ten minutes to make sure they’ll be on time?  They know that it’s set ahead, but seeing the minutes tick by still makes them hurry to make their appointment.  Well that’s what I do with deadlines.  I set my personal deadline well ahead of my editor’s.  If she wants it by the 21st, I try to have the work done by the 15th.  If she wants an assignment on the 30th, I shoot for the 23rd. 

Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t always make my own deadline.  But when I do, I can usually reward myself with several days of less stressful living.  No pressure.  No last minute phone calls.  No watching midnight come and go with the clack of my keyboard for company.   It helps me avoid those passive aggressive emails about due dates.  And my editor is so happy to have one less article to pester her writers about.  (And that, I believe, helps me get the next assignment.) 

If I’m on limited time for ad copy or corporate communications, setting an earlier than necessary deadline gives me time to put my work away for a day or two and look at it with a more critical eye before presenting it – something that always helps me make it better and gives me more confidence when I deliver my product.

Try it for yourself sometime.  Force yourself to finish early and see if you don’t love that extra time between your deadline and the one set by someone else.

I’d love to hear any tricks you might have for staying on schedule and taking the stress out of deadlines.

Until Saturday,

Mary