Freewriting...

Freewriting is a writing technique that is used by many authors.
Basically, you start writing whatever you are thinking and don't stop writing until you are finished your preset amount of time. You might want to start with 3 to 5 minutes and gradually work up to 10 to 15 minutes or more.
Start writing about whatever is on your mind... or use a writing prompt...(more about those tomorrow)
If you can't think of anything to write, write "I can't think of anything to write about" until your brain thinks of something and then write about that. Follow the rabbit trails that happen as you are thinking. Many authors use this type of writing as an exercise to get them loosened up at the beginning of their writing session. Creativity experts suggest using freewriting as a way to generate ideas for writing, for art, for to-do lists, etc. You essentially dump whatever is in your brain onto a piece of paper. Once the ideas are out there, you are able shape it and enlarge on the idea. You can actually DO something with those idea-seeds and see them start to evolve into finished projects.

For our purposes, freewriting loosens you up and shows you that there is more going on inside than you know! You have more things you could write about than you realize. If you JUST START, you will find that your brain actually enjoys the process and you will begin to think of more and more things you could write about. Writing begets writing.

The rules of freewriting are simple:

• Set a time. Start with 3 to 5 minutes and increase the amount as you get more experience. Write for that amount of time or longer if you are on a roll.
• Once you put pen to paper, don't stop writing whatever comes into your mind.
• Don't correct or erase or stop writing. 
• Follow rabbit trails as you think of them. Relax and enjoy the process.
• If you can't think what to write, just write "I can't think of what to write" until you do think of another subject. Do NOT let your pen stop - keep it going.
• When you are done, go back and highlight or circle thoughts that seem important to you and then you can freewrite more about them, or actually use them as a starting point for some more serious journal writing.

I can promise you, you will definitely be surprised at how this technique will free you up and make you WANT to write! You can use this technique to find writing subjects and to develop new and creative ideas. Once you start writing, you will be surprised at some of the memories you will remember that you had forgotten about. There's a lot more in that brain of yours that wants to be put on paper!

Just write!
Deb E