The Beginning

Reading the first chapter of Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow reveals how important freewriting exercises are for putting thoughts on paper. Words must be written before they can be read, and not only does freewriting remove that fear of judgement, but it also gives more time to get thoughts down on paper where they won't be lost by a transition of thought. I've heard that thousands, or even millions, of thoughts cross through the mind every second. If this is true, then the more time spent finding the 'right' word means less time being able to process and be self-aware of each thought which translates into less information being communicated.

The supplemental example in class also showed that freewriting makes one feel as though writing is less of a chore and not just something that needs to get done. Sometimes properly saying what one means seems to conflict with the idea about whether the writing is understood. As long as the meaning has been communicated through writing, it doesn't matter how, correct? For the very purpose of writing to communicate, making writing a means to an end and not an end in itself.

Another idea implied and pressed into fragile minds is that writing must make sense and follow some particular orderly process. There is a reason Elbow named one section "Chaos and Disorientation" in the second chapter. Personally, I question this idea. The real world we live in may be a chaotic place or evenly an orderly place that is incomprehensible to finite minds. However, to assume that order can be made and then communicated in writing may be the big problem with conventional writing. Perhaps the differing assumption--that writing must be chaotic--gives the necessary insight into writing and can be applied by freewriting.

One's own inner voice can keep that inner voice from speaking. The Peter Elbow's quote speaks volumes,

. . . "If only I had education I could write." People with education say, "If only I had talent I could write." People with education and talent say, "If only I had self-discipline I could write." People with education, talent, and self-discipline--and there are plenty of them who can't write--say, "If only . . ." and don't know what to say next.

You already have opposition, so hearing and listening to those negative inner voices will not help writing or anything you do.

The last and probably most memorable word is cooking. If one cooks without burning some fish, learning to cook may take an exceedingly long time and feel like drudgery. While one might think they are taking the 'high-road,' they may fail to realize whether it is worthwhile. If it's not worthwhile, the tough and high road may not actually be the right road.

Freewriting is just one small tool helping people learn to write, yet it serves the purpose of writing, which serves the purpose of communication, which in turn serves your purpose of convincing, persuading, informing, or entertaining. Writing is not some gloomy end, but simply the beginning of a means to an end.