6b Try freewriting or looping.

Freewriting is a method of exploring a topic by writing about it for a period of time without stopping.

  1. Write for ten minutes or so. Think about your topic, and let your mind wander; write down whatever occurs to you. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling. If you get stuck, write anything—just don’t stop.
  2. When the time is up, look at what you have written. You may discover some important insights and ideas.

If you like, you can continue the process by looping: find the central or most intriguing thought from your freewriting, and summarize it in a single sentence. Freewrite for five more minutes on the summary sentence, and then find and summarize the central thought from the second “loop.” Keep this process going until you discover a clear angle or something about the topic that you can pursue.

Freespeaking

CONSIDERING DISABILITIES

If you are better at talking out than writing out your ideas, try freespeaking, which is basically the talking version of freewriting. Speak into a tape recorder or into a computer with voice-recognition software, and keep talking about your topic for at least seven to ten minutes. Say whatever comes to your mind—don’t stop talking. You can then listen to or read the results of your freespeaking and look for an idea to pursue at greater length.