Free writing is a form of writing used to open the creative channel and bring what is within you to the surface. The vast majority of my poetry comes from free writing or variants of free writing. It is an excellent way to explore your own inner landscape. You may find, as you do more and more free writing, that it offers access to a wellspring of wisdom that emerges from the unknown depths in you and often without your conscious intercession. 

 Here’s how to do free writing:

1.  As general rule, it is useful to start by bringing yourself into the present, into your body, relaxing and “centering yourself.” Take at least couple of minutes to just breathe.

2. Set a timer for 10 to 30 minutes depending on your available time and attention span. 

3. Write continuously, in a kind of stream of consciousness, for that time period. Throw out the rules of grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and logical flow. If you do not know what to write, write that you do not know what to write. If you think it is silly, write that down as well. Repeat the same words, if needed. You can do this without any context or you can start with a topic or a writing prompt. You will receive many writing prompts over the next few weeks to use in free writing or for your own inspiration to write in any way that works for you.

4. After you are done, review and reflect on what you wrote or on the process. Sometimes, I simply let the process work on its own and do nothing with what arrives. Sometimes, I pick out key words or phrases to hold in mind as I go through the day. At other times, I actively edit the writing into something serviceable to me or presentable to others. The goal is the process itself, not to create an end product.