Ramblings of a Writer: The Art of Freewriting

Freewriting is a technique used to allow a writer to literally, get something down on paper. The technique is often times used to help overcome writer’s block or to see what ideas come to mind when one allows themselves to turn off their natural critic side of the brain and give full reign to their creative side.

Let’s explore:

Lately I haven’t been publishing as many blog articls as I would like to but I’ve been so busy lately with wriint and editing and Friday flash fiction which I reallt enjoy doing because it has helped me to learn to write faster and it also helps me to stay in a constant frame of creaitivy which I think is important to any writer. I hope to get back to a regulear schedule because I miss my blogging companions but it is also important to keep on writing and writing and writnng. I really don’t like seeing all the red underlines but I also like turning of muhy internal cridict and not worrying about changing every little word as I write-

That is freewriting in a nutshell. No need to worry about sentence structure, grammar, spelling or if it makes any sense. I let my mind type what I was thinking and the words just flowed out. Now it’s your turn, go ahead and try it! What did you discover?

The first couple of times I attempted freewriting, it was very difficult to turn off my critic. I constantly wanted to hit the backspace button and fix the word or add a comma or edit its meaning. One day, I got an idea to make a deal with Mr. Critic. I agreed if he allowed me the opportunity to just let my creative side run with their ideas, I would come back later and let him do his job, and it worked!

When I find times where I feel my writing is stalling or the story needs to find its way, I go into freewriting mode and let my creative side do their job. Not only has freewriting been an amazing experience for me, it has also helped me to improve the speed at which I write.

Lesson learned? As with any story, there are two sides to writing. The fun side and the working side. By allowing your critic side to take a vacation while your creative side works is the fun side of writing; the artistic side if you will. Then once you have something down on paper, whether it’s a story or a blog article, it’s time for your critic to go to work. That is, the working side of writing. 

Unfortunately for the creative side, it never really gets to take a full vacation like Mr. Critic, it gets more of a restful nap. After all, Mr. Critic may be good at polishing, but he’s not so good at plotting, creating characters or twisting!

Although freewriting is a technique, it can have a profound effect on the content of your writing. In other words, you may surprise yourself by what is hiding deep down inside of you when you’re not constantly monitoring your every word. Some writers consider themselves to be a vessel for which the words can flow from, rather than the creator of the words. No matter which side of the fence you are sitting, it is worth finding out what you say when your critic is on vacation!

If you’ve never tried freewriting, or if you have but it’s been a long time, take a little time during the week to set aside twenty or thirty minutes to just sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about what you say, how you say it or whether your “T’s” are crossed or your “I’s” are dotted. Then set it aside for a day or two before revisiting it. You just may be surprised what was hiding inside wanting to come out!

Until next time,

Keep on thriving, keep on striving and keep on writing!

T.K. Millin

The Unknown Author

Character Development Part One: To Sketch or Not To Sketch?

If you were to ask any author where they get their ideas for characters from they’ll most likely tell you, “they just come to them when they write.”  However, if you were to ask them how they make their characters seem so real; they’ll most likely say, “because I write who I know.” 

 There are many techniques authors use to get to know their characters.  Some authors I know talk about how their characters have been “floating” around inside their head for some time (even years!) so they feel like old friends, some create characters by meshing together appearance and personality traits from actual people they know while others build their characters using character sketches.  I’ve even met an author (who has over 90 published books!) who told me they actually “interview” their main characters to “get inside their head.”  Is any one of these techniques the right way when it comes to developing characters?  In my opinion, I’d have to say no.  I believe whatever format an author uses to bring a character to life is the right way for that author.

 

Which technique does The Unknown Author use?  Actually, I have used a little of each of the techniques mentioned above, with the exception of an interview; however, I am open minded to the possibility!  In my writing experiences, I’ve found certain stories dictate how my characters are born.  Most the short stories I’ve written the characters have been inside my head knocking to come out and come alive, while the two novels I’ve written (both between 50K and 120K words) I used character sketches to develop my characters.  Why the difference?  For me, it’s because generally I write my short stories off the cuff and my novels I follow an outline (one reason being is editing and re-writing a 100,000 word manuscript can be a nightmare without one, but, we’ll discuss this in a future posting for this is a topic within itself!).  How about you, do you have a special technique when it comes to creating characters?

First, I think it’s important to point out that character development should be proportionate to the importance of each character.  In other words, you don’t want to write page after page of character description for an extra that shows up in Act Three and is never seen again and only have one paragraph for the Protagonist.  The same applies to your supporting cast versus characters that only have a bit part.  Otherwise, you run the risk of your main characters not acting consistently or realistically.   

What kind of attributes should you put in a main character’s character sketch?  A physical discription, their sex or perhaps educational and financial background?  Sure these types of attributes help to establish the character, but when it comes to bringing them to life they’re unimportant.  Let’s explore: 

Why is the color of eyes or hair unimportant?  Basically, when it comes to your protagonist it helps to eliminate physical appearance altogether, unless it is vitally important to establishing why they are the way they are.  Why?  Because did you know most readers like to actively put themselves in your protagonist’s shoes and picture them as the hero/heroine?  Think about the last book you read in which you had a vivid description of the protagonist?  Go back and reread the book and I bet you will find only a brief, if any, description of their physical appearance.  However, when it comes to secondary characters giving physical descriptions can help the reader keep track of who is who. 

How about sex?  (Okay all you Austin Power fans out there that’s not what I meant!) Unless you are using a name that could be cross gendered your reader will most likely get the picture.

 

What about their educational and financial background?  Again, unless it is important in establishing their backstory it’s probably not that important to your reader. 

So then, what kinds of attributes are important to add to a main character’s character sketch?  In my experience, the most important attributes I’ve found which help me as an author “write who I know” is their name, their flaw, the goal that motivates their actions and their history.  How about you, what attributes help you to get to know your main characters?

Next week, we’ll explore each of these attributes and why I have found them to be important in bringing my main characters to life!

Until then,

Keep on thriving, keep on striving and keep on writing!

T.K. Millin

The Unknown Author