Free (themed) timed writing

 

1. For 7 min. WRITE. Don’t stop. Don't lift pen from paper.
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3. If you spell words wrong, don’t go back to edit. If the idea fades KEEP WRITING. This is crucial to the exercise. 
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5. Even if you have nothing on your mind, write “I HAVE NOTHING TO WRITE.” You can keep writing this over and over because it is okay. What you are doing is freeing your mind, and eventually something will surface even if you have to do multiple sessions of free writing.
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7. When the time limit is finished, STOP. 
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9. Then go back to the page. Read it slowly, and underline all of the ideas that surfaced during the session that pertain to the formal writing on which you are working. If the freewriting is too unfocused to use, take a break. Try a second session later, but try to maintain focused on the subject on which you are writing.