Writing is a developmental process

In Writing Without Teachers, Peter Elbow talks about the importance of development in your writing.  He believes that writing cannot become MORE developed unless the writer goes through the process of "free writing."  Free writing means that the writer writes without concern for the "correctness" of the writing.  Eventually a well formed piece will emerge.  But, the process means that the writer must be willing to face disorientation and even chaos.  This, Elbow points out is very frightening.  So frightening, in fact, that the writer may insist on the "old" style of writing… outlining first to know what you're going to say before you say it.  There is no learning, no development, from this kind of writing.  But, there IS emotional safety.

So, for Elbow, writing means facing the fear of growing and not knowing where that growing will take you.

His words seem as true today as they were when he wrote them in Writing Without Teachers in 1973, and in a second revision in 1998.  Free writing in 1973 was a novel idea.  Today it is accepted, though not always the standard because of the fear involved in entering into it.

For anyone who has done free writing and stuck with it, you are likely aware of the fruits of that activity.  I agree with Elbow that there are no short cuts to development, and its product… good writing.

"Insisting on control, having a plan or outline, and always sticking to it is a prophalactic against organic growth, development, change." (Elbow, p34)