Let’s face it. From time to time we have an idea for a writing project, but we have difficulty starting. I call it “Blank Page Paralysis.” You write a few sentences and then you delete them and nothing quite seems to work.
Back in the early 80s, I enrolled in a graduate program in the teaching of writing. Unfortunately, I discovered that most of the teachers who are teaching teachers how to teach writing couldn't write their way out of wet paper bag with a sharp pencil.
However, during that time, I was introduced to a book by Peter elbow called Writing without Teachers. In this book, he introduced the concept of freewriting. Free writing is a technique to do two things. First, it helps you get started writing. Secondly, it is an intuitive technique for organizing your thoughts. I find it to be particularly useful if I'm having trouble getting started writing. Here's how it works.
You can use free writing with either fiction or nonfiction. I'm going to describe how it's used with nonfiction, but the basic procedures are the same for fiction. First, I sit down and review my research. I leaf through all of my cards. I just browse. I'm not doing anything more than getting familiar with what I have read or heard in my interviews. Next, I put away my research and take about a 20 minute break.
At the end of this break, I begin to freewrite for 20 minutes. I set a timer and stop writing when the timer goes off. What do I mean by freewriting? What I mean is to simply sit down and write down whatever comes into your mind and keep writing for the full 20 minutes. I don't stop. I don't worry if it's related to the topic or not. Sometimes I've sat at my keyboard and typed things like "This topic is so boring. Why did I choose it? Why am I doing this stupid exercise? Isn't this an interesting color for a computer screen? I really need to clean my screen. I'm getting paid in two weeks...." Usually, after a few minutes of writing gibberish, I'll start writing about the topic. I don’t necessarily write complete sentences. I simply write down whatever is coming to mind in whatever order it comes. When the timer goes off, I stop writing. I save that file and close the window. Then, I take another 20-minute break.
These breaks are important because they let my subconscious mind work on the project. I come back to the keyboard and write for another 20 minutes. I take another 20-minute break and return for another 20-minute free writing session. By this time, my writing is usually a bit more coherent, and my thoughts are getting more orderly. I put that third draft away overnight. The next day I take out my research, and I begin to use that third draft as the basis for writing my article.
I use this technique when I just need to get unstuck in my writing. It is also useful for getting ready to write. It's like a stretching exercise before a workout routine. Incidentally, Peter Elbow's book is still available. I recommended it for both beginning and experienced writers. I especially recommend it to anyone who is interested in teaching writing. It sets forth a student-centered approach, which is powerful.