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Make Your Writing Run Free!
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

Writing is like swimming; it's like being in the water. You either sink or you swim. You either struggle against the tide or let the waves lead you.

Your struggle begins with your inner Critic -- if you let him control you at the beginning. This exercise will even help you to put your inner Critic in his proper place. He'll know that there is a time and place when he is to be called upon, but not during the process of creation. Not when you are in the water and wanting to let the waves take you wherever they take you.

Take two blank sheets of writing paper. Start on the first page and write everything you are feeling, seeing, hearing right now. Begin where you are. If you're on your bed in a stuffy room, write about that. Describe the place you are in, the noises, the atmosphere. What are you thinking? What is the state of your emotions right now? Write about anything and everything. Do NOT censor yourself. There are no right and wrong answer to this exercise.

This is freewriting -- letting your writing run free.

If you feel like being petty, go ahead. If you want to whine, fine, do so. If you feel like you want to be questioning, go ahead. No one is going to read what you write anyway so why restrain yourself?

Write down everything that crosses your mind. Do NOT stop. Let yourself feel the connection between your pen and your paper. Hang onto the page. Don't stop until you've filled out both pages. Stop when there isn't any more blank space left for you to write.v Congratulations, you have just let your Creator run free and create!

Copyright © 2001 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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