One of the methods of learning writing that I've found both challenging and rewarding is freewriting. I learned about it for the first time in a high school English class, where my teacher instructed us to write continuously for 10 minutes without regard for grammar, spelling, or even making sense. At first, it was uncomfortable— I kept erasing and doubting myself. But with practice, it became a means of overcoming writer's block and finding ideas I didn't realize I had.

Freewriting operates by avoiding the "inner critic"—the critical voice that critiques what we say as we are writing. In the topic, we studied prewriting strategies, and freewriting is a natural fit here. It's like brainstorming but less structured. With rapid writing, we access our subconscious, where novel ideas and connections tend to reside. For instance, when I freewrite around "family," I may begin with a recollection of my mother's kitchen and find myself looking into how generations connect through food—a subject I had not considered.

Another term from the section is revision. Freewriting isn't creating a flawless draft; it's creating a "messy first version" that we can revise later. I return to what I've written after freewriting and circle good phrases or ideas, and then sift them into an organized essay. Through this process, I learn that writing isn't linear—we can start with mess and make it better.

I once believed that good writing was about being "perfect" in the beginning, but freewriting has shown me that fluency (being able to write smoothly) and flexibility (being willing to change) are the keys. It's made me more self-assured, too-I no longer dread blank pages because I know I can always use freewriting as a starting point to get the words moving.

In short, freewriting is a simple yet powerful approach that combines prewriting, creativity, and revision. It’s not just a technique, it’s a way to embrace the messy, wonderful process of writings. Whether we're stuck on an essay or just want to explore our thoughts, giving freewriting a try might surprise us with what we can create.