Free Writing and Reflecting on the Writing Workshop with Guest Speaker Peter Thomas

This morning we had a Skype Writing Workshop with Peter Thomas. During the session we discussed many different topics is relation to creative and academic writing. One of the techniques that we discussed was called Free Writing. 

Free Writing is a writing strategy developed by Peter Elbow in 1973. It is similar to brainstorming but is written using structured sentences and paragraphs without stopping.

It is used to increase the flow of ideas and reduce ideas being censored or missed out. You are supposed to write down everything you think of in relation to the topic you are writing about. No matter how "crazy" or "wrong" the thought is. You then filter through what you have written later keeping what you like and and cutting what you don't.

You also have to keep the flow of ideas and thoughts constant. If you cant think of anything to write. Just keep writing your topic/idea. The technique is used to generate ideas so nothing is right or wrong. No one is mean't to read what you have written.

Early on in the session after explaining the technique Peter suggested we try it live on the Skype call. He gave us the question "What is Writing?" and told us to Free Write for a timed 5 minutes. 

Here is what I wrote: 

Writing is a way of putting ones thoughts down in a more concrete and lasting way. It allows a person to use the full power of their creativity to expresses how they feel about an idea or a subject. It can be both academic meaning structured and rigid or creative. Sometimes you can get lost when writing. It can have a flow to it like a constant stream of thought. Sometimes you don’t even really have to think about it. It kind of just happens. A bit like breathing or talking. It’s something that is learned by people but that also becomes second nature. The way a person writes also says a lot about that person too. People can be stereotyped or put into boxes because of how fluent or complex their writing is. If someone is illiterate for example they are seen by society as less or not equal. It is a sign of intelligence or social status and has been for thousands of years. 

I have highlighted in bold sentences/idea's that interest me that I would further develop or research if I was going to write a more detailed essay on the given topic.

After using this technique for just 5 minutes I can really see the merits and how I can use it when writing my essays and blogs for the BAPP.

I am also going to do more research on Free Writing and also other idea generating techniques as I am the kind of person who finds them very useful as I get "writers block" regularly. I found the whole workshop very helpful and interesting. I learnt a lot and will be using the knowledge gained to improve my writing as I move through the course.