It may be preaching to the choir, but I’m constantly surprised by how many writers I meet who aren’t sure what freewriting is. I’ve already posted about what makes a successful freewriting session. and who is responsible for “discovering fire” as it were. Now let’s back up and lay out the reasons why it’s important to do it at all. First, a comprehensive definition:
Freewriting is a form of conscious writing that you do for a specific period of time. It’s not trance writing, you’re very aware of what you’re writing. It’s not presentational writing–it shouldn’t be written as though it will be read by others. It can be sloppy, ugly, incomprehensible, ungrammatical, as elliptical as a grocery list: because no one will ever read it, none of that matters. It has only one rule. For the 10, 15, or 20 minutes that you’ve chosen to freewrite, DO NOT STOP.
Freewriting does take a little getting used to since it’s not so much writing as it is a tool for engaging the unconscious part of your mind in writing. Why do it? Very simply because you want your novel to be as alive and authentic as possible, and the unconscious is the source of all good narrative ideas.
If that sounds like a dubious proposition, think: did you ever have a dream so majestic, so rich with ideas, texture, sweep, and power that you wondered who could have created such a thing? Well, YOU created it. More precisely, your unconscious mind created it–while the rest of your mind slept. That’s the calibre of creative potential you carry around in your own brain, so it shouldn’t be any surprise that tapping some of that potential, knowing how to bring it into the (largely) conscious activity of writing fiction, should rank as a supremely important skill for all novelists.
Freewriting is hands down the chief element of this skill, and the reason why is fascinating: Begin a freewrite and, for a few minutes, nothing much seems to be happening. You might have no ideas at all. Suddenly there’s a shift: the unconscious mind has kicked in and begun to supply the words and ideas. As they come, you recognize them as different; you’re amazed, even thrilled by what this material will do for your story. Most fascinating is that “you” don’t seem to be doing it. An unknown part of you seems to be reaching up through the process, guiding the freewrite into productive channels and generating a higher order of creative results than you thought possible.
Sometimes, however, I get this: “That’s a lot of New Agey psychobabble. I’m in charge when I write. I don’t channel anything. Nobody guides my hand.” And in fact, some folks are not comfortable with the notion that there’s a part of their mind they don’t control, aren’t consciously in touch with, and yet that part will power the best writing they do. They feel freewriting suggests ceding control to another entity altogether. Let’s be clear. The process may be mysterious since it originates in a part of your mind not easily accessible to you, but the writer is YOU. Nobody else. Nothing else.
Okay, this post is already too long, so for your convenience I’m going to break it here. Coming soon:
If the unconscious is where the good stuff comes from, how do we get it out of darkness and into everyday consciousness so we can work with it? There are specific tools–that’s what my next post will cover. So thanks for your patience, stay tuned, and check back in a couple of days.
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