Getting it Write: 5 Reasons You Should Try Freewriting

You’re likely familiar with writer’s block. That perennial complaint of writers, and people who would rather do anything but write, plagues nearly every literate person. In fact, please, raise your hand if you’ve never found yourself staring at a blank page wondering how to fill it—I’d love to know your secret!

Sometimes the best remedy in those blank moments is to just write anyway. It doesn’t matter what you write, simply put words down on the page. You can use a pen and paper, a typewriter, a voice-to-text system, or a word processor. It really doesn’t matter what tool you use, what matters is that you let the words flow.

By writing down whatever comes to your mind, you can unleash your brain. This exercise is called freewriting and it’s a useful tool for a number of reasons. Taking the chains off your thoughts and just accepting whatever comes out can be an effective method of beginning a new writing project or helping you go to sleep.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider adding this practice to your writing repertoire .

Freewriting can help unlock your brain.

Many times a topic or a structure is lying just out of reach. Freewriting can allow your brain to circle around until it lands on exactly what you want to say. Get out all your thoughts by treating this writing moment like a brainstorming session. No matter what comes to your mind, write it down. Once your brain gets used to saying what it thinks, you may find the right idea comes to you.

Use freewriting as an organizational tool.

Maybe your topic is solid and you’re ready to explore it, but you have no idea where to begin. Write down all your thoughts and look at them together. Don’t worry if the page is a mess. Sometimes just seeing your thoughts on paper can do the trick to help you understand what order, and what content, is important.

A freewrite can help you “brain dump.”

I spoke to an author a few years ago who told me she begins every day of writing by filling 3 pages of a notebook with whatever comes to mind. In these 3 pages, she gets out her frustrations, concerns, insecurities, and, essentially, her trash text. After she’s finished, she feels ready to start the day. Words that come after the brain dump are often far more useful than they would be without this freewriting exercise.

Freewriting can boost your mental health.

If you’ve never kept a journal, consider it. In my opinion, it’s not only the most optimal space for freewriting, it’s a sacred space. A therapist once told me that a journal is a direct line of communication between you and the divine. I love this thought. I use my journal frequently as a processing tool. It helps me release the happenings of the day so I can lay them, and myself, to rest. Expressive writing is a similar, though slightly more focused, form of writing that you can use to support better mental health.

Freewriting can provide surprising bursts of creativity.

Do you want to be a writer, but feel like every time you sit down to write something, you fail at it? Try freewriting. Take the boundaries off your brain and just let the pen flow. When thoughts are allowed to flow freely, often creative ideas will float to the top. Sometimes story ideas arise from a mashup of coinciding thoughts you never would have considered together without this exercise. And if they don’t, that's fine too. By allowing your brain to speak what it wants to speak, you’ve begun to develop trust within yourself that your ideas can exist without judgement or harsh criticism. As you develop your freewriting practice and trust your own creativity, you may find great ideas rise to the surface more quickly.

Whether you’re in business, heading back to school this week, or ready to reduce your stress level, I encourage you to try out this week’s tip. Use freewriting to prime the pump and reap the benefits that come from a freer, more focused, headspace.

I use freewriting to prepare for these blog posts frequently. Please feel free to share other benefits you’ve discovered in your freewriting journey!