Freewriting

“An informal method of exploring a subject by writing about it, freewriting (“writing freely”) can help you generate ideas and come up with materials for your draft. Here’s how you do I.

1. Write as quickly as you can without stopping for 5 to 10 minutes (or until you fill a screen or page).
2. If you have a subject to explore, write it at the top and then start writing about it, but if you stray, don’t worry—just keep writing. If you don’t have a subject yet, just start writing and don’t stop until the time is up. If you can’t think of anything to say, write that (“I can’t think of anything to say”) again and again until you do—and you will.
3. Once the time is up, read over what you’ve written, and underline or highlight passages that interest you. Norton Field Guide to Writing, pg. 331.
4. Write some more, starting with one of those underlined or highlighted passages as your new topic. Repeat the process until you’ve come up with a usable topic. Norton Field Guide to Writing, pg. 332.