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Not only is it fun to read what students write during their freewriting sessions, it is also a very effective way to improve your formal writing in a more relaxed, easy manner. Many writers use freewriting to limber up and loosen their minds and thought processes at the beginning of a new project (in much the same way an athlete warms up before a race). Freewriting helps beat writer’s block, apathy, angst and teaches writers to become less self-critical and more open with their writing style and ideas. The objective is not to produce final copy for public consumption, but is the process itself. Most of what you write during the five, ten or fifteen minute time limit you set yourself will be fit only for file 13. Five AuthorHouse Advantages of Freewriting Quite often writers can be sceptical of the freewriting exercises they are asked to do. They are too self-conscious to just write without thinking and to be laughed at when the results are read. But that is the point. Here are five ways you can demonstrate how freewriting can help any AuthorHouse author improve their writing craft further. 1. The act of writing will become more comfortable. 2. You will become less self-critical and prove to yourself that you actually can write. 3. This cathartic activity will ease internal tension. 4. Topics worth writing about will present themselves subconsciously once you read your freewriting back. 5. Formal writing improves as a result of freewriting conditioning. AuthorHouse’s Ten Golden Rules for Freewriting These are the AuthorHouse rules, created to ensure ever writer realizes their expectations from these exercises. 1. There is no failure in freewriting! 2. Write to a pre set time limit. One, five, ten or twenty minutes. Stop immediately your time is up. 3. Writing using whatever you feel most comfortable with: pen, pencil, typewriter, computer, chalk, coal, quill, in blood, whatever! 4. Your hand, or hands, should be moving continuously throughout the duration of the exercise. Write quickly, but not hurriedly. 5. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, neatness, and style have no place in freewriting. 6. Keep on writing, even if you run out of ideas. Doodle, change topic or write, I can’t think of anything to write. 7. If you get bored or uncomfortable with the topic you are writing about, write about another idea, even if you alter course mid stream. 8. Read what you have produced out loud. Mark interesting ideas or phrases you might like to write more about or might be useful for your current writing project. 9. Eliminate the "I can't think of anything to write" lines, the doodles and the drivel and look for any patterns or ideas that surface. 10. Don't give up! Freewriting may seem boring at first, but it will become more enjoyable the more frequent your exercises become. As you get better and become more comfortable you will find it liberating. AuthorHouse beleives Freewriting is an integral part of any AuthorHouse author’s process to improve their writing craft. It is great fun and any writing instructor is encouraged to introduce this technique to their students. Most students will continue to use freewriting exercises long after they have finished their course and frequently learn new things about their own writing.
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