7 Junior Freewriting

“It’s boring.”

“Writing is dumb.”

“My hand will die and fall off if you make me write for ten minutes.”

These are all complaints I’ve heard through the years from my students, my kids, and oft times my colleagues. Anxiety and fear are running high right now because of Covid19 and all the trauma it is causing for children and adults as well.

Writing can be therapeutic, transformative, and centering - especially for children. It helps them to find their voice, understand their thoughts, and explore their creativity.

I read Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones twenty some years ago when I was a college freshman, and it changed the way I looked at writing. She is the creator and proponent of writing practice to increase your skills and your zen - both of which children will benefit from right now.

Goldberg’s free writing rules are:

• Keep your hand moving. Put your pen on the paper, set a timer, and don’t stop writing until the timer goes off.

• Lose Control. Don’t put anything off limits. Let your subconscious drive your words.

• Be specific. Use descriptive words. If you are writing about a flower then I want to know what color is, what does it smell like, where was it at, etc.?

• Don't think. Don’t take the time to come up with the perfect sentences. Just write.

• Don't worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar. Don’t cross out words you misspelled or misplaced - just keep writing.

• You are free to write the worst junk in the world.  The only person that has to read this is you. Allow yourself the freedom to write whatever you desire.

• Go for the jugular. If you are going to give yourself 100% freedom to create - then create words that cut to the bone. The only person that you have to impress is yourself.