FREEWRITING CAN LEAD TO COMPLETION

I guess you could say that Peter Elbow had writer's block since he spent two years NOT writing.  He attributes this occurrence to his need to have his writing be perfect the first time around (Writing with Power, p. 43).

It may seem that freewriting and writing to completion are contradictory goals.  Yet, if you're been following the gist of the blogs, it seems that what can happen by freewriting is simply that your writing improves.  It can get to the point that you have a pretty good idea of what you want to say before you have written it down.

If, as per Elbow, you have a reason to write your piece the first time without further editing/revising, the guide he providesFR as not only helpful but necessary, is to allow mistakes to happen.  He suggests that if you don't know how to start, leave a space.  If you don't have the precise word, write whatever comes to mind.  So, in the end you may NOT be able to have your piece stand as is, without revisions.  But, with this strategy your revisions are likely to be kept to a minimum.  Further, Elbow suggests that it is useful to have your goal in mind for the piece so that as you write, you will bring your points to the fulfillment of your.

There are other suggestions Elbow provides for how to write successfully for the first time out.  They can be found in chapter 6 of Writing With Power).