Free Writing for Bloggers: A Miraculous Tool for Content Creation

Have you ever heard of timed writing practice, or free writing?

Shortly after I moved to Boulder in 1998, I discovered the work of author and writing teacher Natalie Goldberg. Ms. Goldberg teaches timed writing practice (also known as free writing) as a major part of her informal writing curriculum, and the technique has helped millions of writers be more productive (and more free) with their writing.

If you’re a blogger, free writing can help you, too. Let’s dig into the specifics, and talk about how you can use this powerful technique.

Here are the rules for free writing:

• Give yourself a time limit (say, 10-20 minutes). Set up a timer for that amount of time, and begin writing.
• Keep your hand moving until the time is up. Don’t stop, don’t edit, don’t read over what you’ve written – just keep your pen moving (or keep typing) until the timer goes off.
• Pay no attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, neatness, or style in your writing. Nobody needs to read your timed writes, and the only thing that counts is that you keep writing. The correctness and quality of what you write do not matter; the act of writing does.
• If you get off the topic or run out of ideas, keep writing anyway. If necessary, write nonsense or whatever comes into your head — anything to keep your hand moving.
• When the timer goes off, put your pen down, or stop typing.

Creativity and writing coach Cynthia Morris (of OriginalImpulse.com) describes free writing this way:

Free writing is a method that can be used for all genres of writing, for both seasoned and new writers. Free writing allows for a safe, fun exploration of your true voice. Modeled after Natalie Goldberg’s free writing methods in her book, Writing Down the Bones (Shambhala Publications, 1986), free writing allows you to get your words out without judgment or concern for correctness.”

I’ve used free writing to complete blog posts, copywriting projects, personal essays, and major sections of my book on Pinterest marketing. It’s a huge reason I was able to complete a major 30,000-word writing challenge last August. I absolutely LOVE free writing.

Cynthia Morris teaches a class a few times a year called the Free-Write Fling, which is a month-long course in which students do free writing for 15 minutes, every day, for 30 days. Free-Write Flingers get structured support and accountability from Cynthia and the other members of the group.

I’ve been hearing about this course for years, but last year one of my blogging clients (Linda Tate) signed up for the program and got some AMAZING results from it. I was amazed at what she was able to do during her month of free writing, and I decided I wanted to share her story with my community.

It’s not often I get to feature one of my favorite clients (Linda) AND one of my favorite teachers (Cynthia) in the same post, but today I get to do just that! I conducted little mini-interviews with Cynthia and Linda about free writing (and the Free Write Fling program) and how bloggers can use free writing to create content. You can see those interviews below.

Cynthia’s next Free Write Fling starts tomorrow (April 1, 2016). I highly encourage you to sign up – as you’ll see, the program can be incredibly beneficial for any blogger or online content creator. Note: I am a proud affiliate for Cynthia’s business, so the links to the Free Write Fling in this post are affiliate links.

Even if the Free Write Fling isn’t your thing — keep reading! I think you’re going to be really inspired by Cynthia’s insights and Linda’s incredible success story, and they both give helpful advice about how bloggers can use free writing to create content.

Questions About Free Writing (and the Free-Write Fling) with Cynthia Morris

1. Why is free writing a good practice for writers, in general?

Free-writing is a great way to:

• Listen to our truth
• Develop our unique voice
• Get a lot of writing done
• Work on an existing project
• Explore new topics
• Push creative boundaries

2. Do you have to be a fiction writer to get the benefits of free writing?

Free writing is a method of writing that is useful for ALL kinds of writing. I have written non-fiction books, blog posts, marketing copy, coursework and my novel using this method.

3. How can free writing help bloggers?

Free writing can help any kind of writer, both seasoned and newbies. Bloggers who must generate fresh, insightful content need to shake off the pressure of looking good, smart and authoritative, and free writing helps you do that.

Blogs also require a fresh voice, and with the inner critic sitting on our shoulder, it’s hard to tap our authentic voice.

4. How can a structured program like the Free-Write Fling help bloggers?

Bloggers need to generate a lot of consistent writing. The Free-Write Fling is designed to help writers sit down daily to get their thoughts out of their head and onto the page.

This class helps people know their writing flow, when their ideal writing time is and what the length of their writing sessions is. It doesn’t take long before bloggers get into their groove. Using free writing generates more ideas so bloggers never run out of content.

Questions About How to Use Free Writing to Create Blog Content, with Blogger Linda Tate

Tell us about your blog. What kind of blog posts do you write?

StoryWeb: Storytime for Grownups is a weekly blog and podcast. Each week, I feature a different storyteller and story. Visitors to StoryWeb will encounter novels, poems, films, songs, and more!

Each blog post (and podcast episode) gives background on the storyteller and the featured story. At the end of each blog post, there’s a multimedia clip. Visitors might be able to listen to E.B. White read from “Charlotte’s Web” or watch a clip from Julie Dash’s film “Daughters of the Dust.” And for a bonus treat, sometimes I read from the selected work. It’s great fun!

What got you interested in free writing, to help with writing your blog posts?

I found that I was always putting off writing my blog posts. I post a new “episode” every Monday morning, and when I was depending on inspiration or waiting until I “felt” like writing, I’d find that I had often waited until the last minute.

I was a university English professor for 26 years, and I knew the power of free writing to unlock stalled writing. I thought it was worth trying free writing to see if I could get over that initial hurdle of sketching out a post.

Why did you sign up for the Free Write Fling?

The Free Write Fling makes me accountable. I know that I “have” to write every day. It’s just for 15 minutes, but it has to be every day.

Of course, Cynthia’s not holding a gun to your head. There are no real consequences to not following through on your commitment. But just knowing that I’ve made a commitment and that Cynthia (and others in the Fling Zone, as it’s called) will notice if I don’t post keeps me on track.

Also all participants who complete every single day of the Free Write Fling are entered into a random drawing for a free hour of coaching with Cynthia. I would love to win that free hour, and that usually motivates me to write even when I don’t feel like it. I haven’t won yet, but I will keep trying!

Can you tell me about your experience during the program?

I have done the Free Write Fling four times, and each time I generate tons of ideas for my blog and podcast. At the beginning of the month, I create “prompts.” That is, on an index card, I jot down a storyteller and story I want to feature. I create about 35 of these cards, so that I can pick a storyteller and story at random. I put the index cards in a box and draw one each day, then set my timer for 15 minutes.

Often, I look at the prompt and think, “I don’t have anything to say about this topic! Why did I include this as a prompt?!” But then the free writing takes over, I’m off and running, and more often than not, I’ve generated good material when the timer goes off.

One other fun note: When my timer goes off after 15 minutes, I often keep writing. This always prompts my husbands to imitate a schoolmarm. He says, “Pencils down!” Cracks me up every time.

How did the FWF help you, as a blogger? What benefits did you get from the program?

I do the Free Write Fling twice a year. This allows me to generate raw material for a full year’s worth of blogging and podcasting (note from Beth: Holy crap!).

Of course, during the 15-minute free write, I don’t come up with a finished blog post or podcast episode – but I do get over the initial hurdle. Then when I sit down to craft the blog post and podcast episode each week, I’ve got the raw material I need. I move right into revision and polishing – because the material I develop during the Free Write Fling is usually pretty much right on the money.

There are 30 days in most months, and I do the Fling twice a year. That gives me 60 chunks of raw material (each chunk on a different storyteller and story). I only need 52 episodes, so that gives me some room for “clinkers!”

Would you recommend free writing and/or the Free Write Fling to other bloggers? If so, why?

I would highly recommend the Free Write Fling for bloggers. It’s such a relief to know that I’ve got lots of material to draw from as I face my blog post and podcast episode each week. Besides, it’s fun! Cynthia’s Fling Zone is a very welcoming place.

You don’t actually share what you’ve written – but you post “about” what you’ve written. Cynthia always chimes in with great cheerleading support. Her enthusiasm keeps me going!

Try Your Hand at Free Writing

Whether you join a program like Cynthia’s, or try free writing on your own, a timed writing practice can add a major boost of adrenaline to your blogging efforts.

So grab that timer, set it for 20 minutes, and prepare to change your blogging journey forever!