I've used this method to write in the past but I didn't go back and edit at all. As I let my mind wander in any and all directions, often simultaneously, I would write as freely as I could hitting the return key as a way to break the lines between thoughts or virtually just whenever I felt like it. At the end of the exercise, I went back over everything I had written looking for little nuggets - ideas, any decently structured thoughts, groups of words or phrases. Those became the seeds for poems - often titles for poems.
I think the 'little nuggets' are the key. Most may be unusable or need a lot of work, but sometimes there is gold to be found, too. I find it helps me overcome the anxiety of putting words down on paper - free writing is less of a commitment and helps me break through my initial hesitation.
+Poetry Show Oh absolutely! There are times the right brain is being drowned out with day-to-day chores, stress and an overworked left brain. Just trying to wake it up to do a little writing can be difficult. I read a quote from Maya Angelou in which she talked about getting herself started writing. She would write the most mundane things like "the cat wore a hat." Just write anything at all no matter how terrible or silly just to warm up and get herself started. Free writing can do wonders!
Thank you for very eloquently explaining free-writing. I can attest that this technique works. I started free-writing what I initially thought was poetry and I went on and on until I had a very short science fiction piece on the screen. I did some minimal editing and it got published in a local literary anthology. Outside of trying to get published, though, I find it very therapeutic.
I tried the technique and, I must say, it's very easy, yet very fun. I used the method and I made some of my own poems using it; the poems, of course, were about free writing! I started with 5 minutes, and I've worked my way up to 8, so far. Thank you very much for uploading this interesting video. :)
+Oliver Garcia You're very welcome; I'm glad it was helpful. Have you considered posting them in a writing community like allpoetry.com or reddit.com/r/ocPoetry to share them with others?
Poetry Show No, I haven't. Thanks for sharing, that sounds like a great way to show people my poems. I'll be sure to try it out. :) Oh, by the way; I'm thinking of poems that I like, so perhaps you could discuss them in an upcoming video. I'll message you when I find my absolute favourite. I don't actually read too many poems myself, but I find them interesting, and I'm studying poems at school right now.
3:00 YOU: "IS OVERCOMING THIS INITIAL INHIBITION, THE INITIAL FEELING THAT YOUR WRITING IS GONNA SUCK, AND, LOOK, IT WILL SUCK AND THAT'S OK" ME: THAT IS WHY I AM WATCHING THIS VIDEO
“Beautiful sentences pop into my head. Beautiful sentences that aren’t always absolutely accurate. Then, I have to choose between the beautiful sentence and being absolutely accurate. It can be a difficult choice.” ~Christopher Hitchens
Thank you for your videos, they are helpful. I was curious if writing letters, love letters, use the same guidelines as poetry? Or are they a completely different kind of genre requiring a different set of rules?
I've used this method to write in the past but I didn't go back and edit at all. As I let my mind wander in any and all directions, often simultaneously, I would write as freely as I could hitting the return key as a way to break the lines between thoughts or virtually just whenever I felt like it. At the end of the exercise, I went back over everything I had written looking for little nuggets - ideas, any decently structured thoughts, groups of words or phrases. Those became the seeds for poems - often titles for poems.
I think the 'little nuggets' are the key. Most may be unusable or need a lot of work, but sometimes there is gold to be found, too. I find it helps me overcome the anxiety of putting words down on paper - free writing is less of a commitment and helps me break through my initial hesitation.
+Poetry Show Oh absolutely! There are times the right brain is being drowned out with day-to-day chores, stress and an overworked left brain. Just trying to wake it up to do a little writing can be difficult. I read a quote from Maya Angelou in which she talked about getting herself started writing. She would write the most mundane things like "the cat wore a hat." Just write anything at all no matter how terrible or silly just to warm up and get herself started. Free writing can do wonders!
+DoubleU I didn't know that about Maya Angelou; that's interesting, thanks for sharing :)
+Poetry Show Anytime. I enjoy your vids. I look forward to more.
Thank you for very eloquently explaining free-writing. I can attest that this technique works. I started free-writing what I initially thought was poetry and I went on and on until I had a very short science fiction piece on the screen. I did some minimal editing and it got published in a local literary anthology.
Outside of trying to get published, though, I find it very therapeutic.
One of the best TH-cam channels out there
are you coming back? do some shorts!
I tried the technique and, I must say, it's very easy, yet very fun. I used the method and I made some of my own poems using it; the poems, of course, were about free writing! I started with 5 minutes, and I've worked my way up to 8, so far. Thank you very much for uploading this interesting video. :)
+Oliver Garcia You're very welcome; I'm glad it was helpful. Have you considered posting them in a writing community like allpoetry.com or reddit.com/r/ocPoetry to share them with others?
Poetry Show No, I haven't. Thanks for sharing, that sounds like a great way to show people my poems. I'll be sure to try it out. :)
Oh, by the way; I'm thinking of poems that I like, so perhaps you could discuss them in an upcoming video. I'll message you when I find my absolute favourite. I don't actually read too many poems myself, but I find them interesting, and I'm studying poems at school right now.
+Oliver Garcia Excellent - it's exciting to discover new poems, and school is an excellent place to start :)
Thanks a lot for your videos! (Do you have a podcast too? It might make more sense than talking in front of the camera?)
3:00
YOU: "IS OVERCOMING THIS INITIAL INHIBITION, THE INITIAL FEELING THAT YOUR WRITING IS GONNA SUCK, AND, LOOK, IT WILL SUCK AND THAT'S OK"
ME: THAT IS WHY I AM WATCHING THIS VIDEO
“Beautiful sentences pop into my head. Beautiful sentences that aren’t always absolutely accurate. Then, I have to choose between the beautiful sentence and being absolutely accurate. It can be a difficult choice.” ~Christopher Hitchens
free writing works but there are also specifics things you are not suppose to be doing when you free write.
Thank you for your videos, they are helpful. I was curious if writing letters, love letters, use the same guidelines as poetry? Or are they a completely different kind of genre requiring a different set of rules?
What if the things I write during free-writing are absolutely amazing and I only need to cut two lines?
You are legend fella
Good advice
Thank you very much! I like your point of views, I so agree :) Blessings with peace to you _/l\_