If you've ever wondered about freewriting, then this blog post is just for you!
Freewriting is a practice that helps to liberate your writer’s voice and connects you to a luminous stream of creativity you may normally struggle to access. Tapping into the freedom that freewriting brings can be empowering and eye-opening.
It's also something that makes an appearance in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way in the form of something called "morning pages", which I absolutely, to this day, believe transformed me as a creative being, 100%. And it is a practice, that when I feel lost in any segment of my life, I put back into play.
With freewriting, the beauty lives in that you can just WRITE. No editing. No thinking. No searching for the "right" words. You just set yourself up and GO.
You can use this process for just about anything, and acts as a creative tool for when you are struggling to put words to the page.
And yes, you guessed it, this includes creating content and copy. Your writing prompts can be directly related to the copy you are looking to create for your website or content to share in a blog or on social media. There are no limits, and that's why it completely rocks as a creative process for finding your voice.
So without further ado, let's just jump into the freewrite process (p.s. shout out to thebookdesigner.com for serving as the inspiration for these guidelines below!).
Use a prompt. As mentioned, define what areas you need to develop content/copy for and use it as your prompt. (i.e. Who am I? Who do I serve? Why do I do what I do? How can I help my clients? What is my experience and story?)
Set a timer. Using a timer, set it for ten or fifteen minutes. If you are moved to do so, continue writing after the time has expired until you complete your thought.
Keep your pen moving (yes, you are doing this pen to paper). Don’t stop writing until the timer goes off. No exceptions.
Write quickly. Write a bit faster than your thoughts can form, even if it’s uncomfortable. Don't be surprised if some of what appears on your page are phrases and segmented thoughts, that's completely okay. Just keep writing and do it quickly. Messy handwriting is welcome.
Use the first word. Don’t search for the perfect word, just use the first word that comes to mind. Every time. Don’t worry about paragraphing, subject-verb agreement or even if what you are writing makes sense. Just write.
Write crap. No seriously. Give yourself permission to write a bad first draft. You can always edit it later, but this permission allows you to do something new. Try to avoid any thoughts about what you are writing. You are just there to propel the pen. Telling yourself it’s okay to write crappy first drafts is liberating and necessary. (I do it ALL the time!)
Just go for it! If the first thing that pops into your mind is ridiculous, go for it. Be open to the unexpected. Our job is to honor the thoughts as they come, allow them into the light and then unearth the gems and jewels hidden inside. AKA your voice!
Give it a try! I would love to know how it works for you, or if you have questions, as always please don't hesitate to reach out!
