lørdag, februar 03, 2007

Like tiny 15-minute coaching sessions

Yes, freewriting. Not as in I'll be doing it here, but as in I want to rant and rave and marvel over the fact that it actually works. Here's the deal: If I start my thesis-writing day (which starts soon after I get home from work, or whenever I finish with breakfast on days off) with 15-minutes of freewriting, about how I'm feeling, what I think I might write about, where I'm feeling blocked, that sort of thing, then I'm able to go on and do 1 or 2 regular thesis writing sessions (I follow a 45-minute working, 15-minute break cycle) with pretty much no problem. If I don't start with freewriting, I often can't get any writing done, or at best find it hard to focus for a whole 45-minute session.

I know this is old news to many, but I'm amazed. How did it take me so long to figure this one out? Today, as I have more of the day, I plan to try it twice, so freewriting, then a couple of writing sessions, then lunch, then freewriting and a couple more writing sessions (my focus seems like it can use a boost after 2 sessions). You wouldn't think one person could have so much psychological gunk that needs cleaning out before writing, but it's possible, and I'm the proof.

And yes, my resolution to finish a draft of my thesis in January has now become a resolution to finish my draft in February. It is highly possible that I will in fact do this. All other resolutions are well under way to being carried out as planned.

15 kommentarer:

Devil Mood sagde ...

That's such great news, thank you! I'm amazed too. Why didn't they teach me that in University? I could've really benefited from that.
I'm also amazed at your planning of writing sessions, you are such a Virgo ;)
Well, even if things were a little delayed, with this freewriting tool you will get there even faster! :) I'm happy for you!

Anonym sagde ...

And the results of these free writings will be blogs? I'm looking forward to them! vi ses.

i'm marion sagde ...

That sounds amazing! I'm soooo behind with a paper I should have submitted in the end of january... I definitely need to try if it works for me!!

kimananda sagde ...

Ms. Mood, I'd blame my Virgo nature, too, but the 45/15 schedule was not my idea...I was coerced into it by my Aries boyfriend!

Annemarie, nice to see you in this context! :-) You won't see any freewriting here, it's pretty unreadable. You might see some more blogging though, after I've written another, oh, 20,000 words or so! :-o

Marion, try it and see how it goes. And how're the sea monkey babies?

erin sagde ...

It's amazing how well it can work sometimes. I was surprised when we had to start doing it in highschool.

Devil Mood sagde ...

lol oh okay! I'm sure he thinks he knows best ;) And he probably does.

Anonym sagde ...

Good luck with the writting...

Scholiast sagde ...

Oh, you're supposed to stop freewriting after 15 minutes...? I see.. Hmm. Maybe that's why my teachers seemed to think I was slightly off target sometime in my rantings...

x sagde ...

thanks for your advice. i am going to let M know. He is also writing his thesis and suffers from a huge block. That's a great idea.

HB sagde ...

Det er sånt som man egentlig vet, men som det likevel krever disiplin å gjøre. Fint at det fungerer så bra for deg! Lykke til videre i arbeidet!:-)

HB sagde ...

Glemte å si takk for påminnelsen! Jeg har tenkt å videreformidle dette til mine studenter på skriveseminaret:-)

Daphnewood sagde ...

my daughter often speaks of this "free writing" exercise. You have me wondering....

Daphnewood sagde ...
Denne kommentar er fjernet af forfatteren.
Anonym sagde ...

This I will have to try. Normally I have no trouble writing (the quality and relevance is beside the point) but currently have no motivation to even fill the smallest of postcards with more than "Hello, blahblah is lovely. *insert stick figure drawing of me looking at a palace/cathedral/tall blond* Weather is cold. Bye"

Free writing shall be undertaken! Expect to hear about it . . .

kimananda sagde ...

Erin, yep, I would have liked to have learned that one in high school...though I might not have appreciated it.

Ms. Mood, yea, he does normally know best, but let's keep that between us, as it will certainly just go straight to his head.

Angela, thanks!

Scholiast, hmmm...could be. ;-)

Mr. American, it works if you stop in the middle of a section too. I like that one!

Chloe, let me know how it works!

HB, fedt at du ville fortælle ideen til studenter!

Daphnewood, has everyone learned this in school except me? :-o

Gondul, hey, I should probably just reply to you directly as you're about a foot away...but that would be against the spirit of the social web, no?