Brave Writer

Friday Freewrite

Freewriting is that wonderful key that unlocks the writer within. It's the vehicle by which we trick our inner selves into divesting the words and ideas that we want to share but are afraid won't come out right on paper if we do. The term "freewriting" comes from Peter Elbow, author of Writing with Power.

Brave Writer is founded on the idea that we are all writers. Becoming comfortable with written self-expression happens naturally when we are given the freedom to make mistakes, explore our thoughts and ideas in a supportive environment and when we have the opportunity to pay more attention to what we want to say than how we are going to say it. Freewriting is the tool that helps novice writers as well as it helps professional writers make written self-expression as natural as speech.

Use the Friday Freewrite as a time to explore new topics, to journal or to draft if you are in the middle of a writing project. Everyone ought to freewrite together, including mom. It really helps!

Another Brave Writer principle is that writing goes better if everyone takes the same risks. Therefore, I strongly encourage that freewriting is done by kids and moms together. Each person has full ownership over his or her writing so you are free to share it or not with each other. But I strongly suggest that moms share as well.

Two principles ought to be enforced in responding to writing that anyone chooses to share:

Notice one thing you like and one thing you will remember from the freewrite. Share that with the writer.
Positive feedback helps kids (and moms!) to be willing to risk again. If we focus on what works, oftentimes what didn't work will simply drop away in subsequent writing.

For more help with freewriting, click here.

For Friday Freewrite prompts, click here.