Free Writing: An Ultimate Guide (Tips, Benefits & Prompts)
Free writing is all about keeping your pen moving and not pausing to edit or second-guess yourself.
It’s an incredible journaling technique that ignites your creativity, boosts your confidence and moves you past perfectionism and self-doubt.
But it’s also not as easy as it looks.
Free writing is spontaneous and liberating. But it can feel awkward and ridiculous when you’re first starting out.
Because (let’s face it) most of our everyday thoughts aren’t exactly profound. And forcing yourself to throw those repetitious worries and ramblings onto paper feels pointless and embarrassing.
But if you stick with it, free writing becomes a powerful force that propels you past anxiety, self-doubt and writer’s block. It unleashes a powerful creative force that you probably didn’t even know you had.
It’s one of my favorite journaling techniques – and my secret weapon whenever I need to get past any insecurities.
So what exactly is free writing?
Free writing is a technique in which the author writes continuously for a set amount of time – without worrying about grammar, spelling or conventions.
Free writing is similar to brainstorming (but it’s less structured). And it’s often used in academia for students to generate new ideas without the fear of self-censure. It’s used to collect initial thoughts and brainstorm on a topic before more formal research begins.
Though free writing has now spread outside of the universities to become a widely popular journaling technique. It reached peak fame in The Artist’s Way, when Julia Cameron recommended writing three full pages every morning with stream of consciousness thoughts (aka Morning Pages).
The benefits of free writing
- clears up confusion and indecisiveness
- combats self-criticism and the fear of failure
- generates new ideas
- releases stress
- gets you over the fear of a blank page
- helps clarify mixed feelings
- makes you a better writer
- releases self-judgment
- unlocks suppressed emotions
- puts you in touch with your uncensored self
- helps you overcome trauma
- boosts creativity
- helps with self-acceptance
- lets you find your authentic voice
- reduces perfectionism
- builds self-confidence and self-trust
How to free write
Set a timer from 10-15 minutes and let your thoughts flow, unedited and unscripted, onto the page.
Or set a goal to write continuously for a specified amount of pages. The Artist’s Way recommends filling up 3 full pages every morning.
If you run out of ideas, you just keep writing whatever comes to mind.
Do not go back to edit or fix mistakes. Let yourself write badly and take any pressures off yourself.
Whether you’re thinking about your grocery list or a colleague at work, free writing is all about writing whatever comes into your head – without letting your inner critic silence you. Keep writing and the good stuff will come.
Don’t stop writing until you reach the time limit. Keep your hand moving and don’t pause to stare into space or read what you’ve written.
If you run out of ideas, write about whatever comes into your head. Or write about why you feel uncomfortable, bothered or apathetic.
The more you free write, the more accepting you’ll become of your own thoughts and let them spill out without judgement.
Free writing is all about getting things out – not about making yourself sound acceptable or polished.
Won’t it all just turn into a ramble? Some of it will. But the point is to release your thoughts – not to compose a brilliant essay.
Free writing tips for beginners
Free writing assumes we all have something to say but we’re often hampered by self-criticism, anxiety or fear.
When you’re free writing, the momentum of the ticking clock or page number pushes you past those blocks.
Who cares how ridiculous you sound when your only goal is to just fill up those pages? Done is better than perfect.
Don’t set any goals for your free writing session except to keep the pen moving and fill up the pages. Let go of any hoped-for goals or outcomes.
Dorothea Brande, one of free writing’s earliest proponents, advises writers to sit and write for a half hour every morning as rapidly as possible.
The technique was very influential on writers like Jack Kerouac and his concept of spontaneous prose.
How to start free writing:
- Start small and aim for a page a day, or 10 minutes of continuous writing, in the beginning.
- Start with writing about how you’re feeling. Do a brief check-in and write about what’s bothering you and what’s going well. Jot down any worries or anxieties currently on your mind.
- Use real paper (and not a keyboard) for best results. There are many proven benefits of writing by hand vs. writing on your computer.
- Turn off any distractions (TV, notifications, emails).
- Use some journaling prompts if you’re completely new to writing.
- Get comfortable. Snuggle up with a blanket, put on some music, light a scented candle. Make the process enjoyable.
When to use free writing:
When you’re just waking up:
Use free writing in the morning to gather your thoughts and jot down any goals, hopes and worries about the day ahead. A free writing session in the morning gives you immediate confidence as you push through perfectionism to get your writing done.
Going to bed:
Free write at night to reflect back on the day and vent without limits. An evening writing session helps you sleep better and fights stress.
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed:
Free writing when you’re anxious puts your fears into perspective and helps you come up with new solutions.
Needing fresh inspiration:
Free writing silences your inner critic and gives your mind space to wander and explore new possibilities. Use free writing to unleash all your thoughts on any given topic without censure or fear of criticism.
Facing a big project:
A free writing session loosens your writing muscles and prepares you to face longer and more demanding writing projects. Treat it like an artist’s sketch before painting.
After your free writing session
You can read over what you’ve written but don’t expect any glorious literature. Don’t get discouraged if it all sounds rather ridiculous.
The process is far more important in free writing than the result.
Don’t analyze or critique what you’ve written.
If you find your inner-critic too loud to handle, then set your journals aside and give yourself some time before you read them again.
Read next:
One Line A Day Journaling: Tips, Prompts And How To Start
51 Inspiring Quotes About Journaling (To Get You Writing!)
Nature Journaling: An Essential Guide (+8 Tips To Start)
Reclaim your life from the digital noise.
Join my one-day Analog Workshop to get practical resources and interactive sessions to help you close the screen, defeat distraction and design an intentional life.
