Since starting this blog, I’ve completed two editing courses on SkillShare. Editing is a work in progress.
But the concept of free writing came up in both. Free writing is a great way to ignite your creative process.
One of the best books I’ve read on this is Accidental Genius by Mark Levy. So, I decided to reread it.
Here are two key takeaways from the book this time:
Unlock Creativity
This is my main takeaway. Free writing unleashes creativity and helps generate new ideas. It is about writing whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or organization. No judgment.
Set a Time and Place
Setting a time and place for free writing is non-negotiable. Okay, not non-negotiable, but important. Setting aside a specific time and place establishes a routine. It creates a habit. It lets your brain know it’s time to write. No excuses.
That’s it. Give it a try. Each day, shoot for 15 minutes. And then add five more. And then five more. And then five more. If I did the math correctly, that is 30. Right?
Making free writing a part of your daily routine will change the way you think.
Oh! One more thing. I handwrite during my sessions. Yep. Old school. Well, an iPad and Apple pencil in OneNote. So old school-ish. I’ll talk more about why I do that later.