Writing for Play

I take my writing students through a freewriting exercise at the beginning of every semester. The idea is to let their creative minds have free play without their critical minds interfering. Writers at every level can benefit from freewriting. It involves setting a timer and writing nonstop for a specified length of time, not letting your hand stop moving across the page, not letting your critical mind interrupt the flow of your writing with negative messages. This exercise can free up writing blocks and loosen up creative muscles. Freewriting encourages impulsive thought because there is no opportunity to police your thinking while engaging in freewriting. Writing in this way promotes focus through the intensity of being in the present moment. It encourages new thoughts and associations and gives you access to serendipity. Freewriting, ironically, creates a sense of control over the creative process; but it's a positive control. It's the kind of control that allows language play and new forms of expression to emerge. Because the critic is not engaged during freewriting, the creator has full rein and there are no limits or boundaries or rules. If you find yourself stifled or suppressed in your writing, give freewriting a try. It just may liberate you from what is holding you back and open the door for you to enter the next level of your creative life.