“Genius to order. An easy way to find out-of-the-box solutions and ideas.” Mark Levy

Vitaly Kolesnik. The other day I bought Mark Levy's book Freewriting: A Modern Technique for Finding Creative Solutions. There was an occasion to generalize own experience and recommendations of the author.

The meaning of freewriting for me is to condense and fix my scattered thoughts on paper. I write two or three pages in a special notebook. Or, according to my mood, I write using a computer. I designate a certain point of concentration, which is not always expressed by a question or a problem. Sometimes it's just a word from which I start writing.

It is important to start and write, trying not to stop. Then the sentences, as if pulled out of the subconscious, one idea after another. This method helps me to “voice on paper” the voice of intuition, to find solutions that do not lie on the surface, to revive curiosity and the desire to work when the blues attack.

Levy gives 6 secrets of freewriting.

1. Don't overdo it.

For me, this is expressed by the absence of any specific purpose of prescribing. I am only confident from experience in the usefulness of this lesson for me. It is helpful for me.

I limit myself either by time or by volume. In the Write or die application, I set indicators for 700 words in 20 minutes. When I write in a notebook, I try to finish the pages. If it is not written, I limit myself to one or two.

The process is important, not the result, so it’s easy to relax and reduce the importance of classes.

2. Write quickly and continuously.

This is a really interesting feature of freewriting. We must try not to stop. When I don't know how to continue the previous sentence, I start writing what I feel at the moment. "It's snowing again and it seems to be getting colder." "Neighbor through the wall, knock yourself on the head with this hammer." “Why the hell am I writing all this” - this is only part of the thoughts that flashed through my head now when I decided to look for examples :)

3. Work to tight deadlines.

I already mentioned the Write or die application. Sometimes I do super-hard freewriting, setting a goal of writing 1,000 words in 20 minutes.

It may seem that this recommendation contradicts the first. This is not true. The time limit allows you to start the process of "cling" one sentence to another. If you take your time and make long pauses for reflection, the inertia that pushes ideas out of the subconscious disappears.

4. Write the way you think.

Freewriting is not pure writing; it is a way of keeping track of your thought process.

The advice is easy to follow. To do this, it is enough for me not to think that someone will read my text.

5. Develop thought.

Again, just cling to the previous thought. I often use the 5 why method.

6. Refocus your attention.

Attention switches are simple questions you ask yourself (in writing) to refocus your mind on the unexamined elements of a situation.

I use this technique when I analyze an event or a day as a whole. After reading the book by Mark Levy, he began to make his own list of such questions. From those given in the book, I took the following:
How can you make it exciting?
- how to increase value?
What am I missing here?
What did I do wrong here?
What other problems like this have I encountered?
- what solutions to the problems that have taken place before can be used in relation to this one?
If I wanted to make a big mistake here, what would I do?
- what necessary data I do not have here?
How can I best use the information I already have?

Effective tricks.

I only list the ones that I use myself.

Use a piece of paper to consider out-of-the-ordinary points of view and bring together ideas that don't seem to fit together.

Let's get thinking.

You start the session not with what comes to mind, but with a specific phrase (it is called a tip) that determines the direction of the letter.

It's easier to have a hundred ideas than one

Very reminiscent of a quota of ideas from Michael Mikalko's books and lists of 100. We write possible solutions and ideas without criticizing or evaluating their feasibility.

Have a conversation on paper

This exercise is used in coaching when the client is asked to imagine a conversation with an imaginary interlocutor. Everything is the same here, you are just transcribing the conversation.

To effectively have a conversation on paper, a fictional conversation with someone, during which you find out what the imaginary interlocutor thinks about your situation, you need to do two things: 1) put meat on the character (clearly imagine it) and 2) do so that the interlocutor encourages you to speak (answer his short and open questions).

These phrases should be short and logically open. “Two things I could do today to make my life more interesting…”

Using Assumptions to Break the Deadlock

Give written answers to the following 4 questions.

1. What problem am I trying to solve?
(It is desirable that the wording be general. No need for specifics. Here are examples of good wording of the general problem: "How do I create a permanent contingent of fans of something little known?", "How to sell a product to customers who mistakenly believe that they have a complete understanding of the product ?”, “How can I cut costs while increasing coverage?”)

2. Who had to solve a similar problem?
3. How was it solved?
4. How can their solution be applied to my situation?

Writer's Marathon

A short freewriting session will help you find the answers. But to get really fresh thoughts, try doing a series of these sessions for a total of several hours. Make sure that each session starts in a new direction - even if it seems unnatural and difficult.

I work on large articles in a similar way when I sit down to write my book. For example, today I have 5 "approaches" to the book for 20 minutes each.

I liked the idea of ​​a "talking" letter.

To create such a document, you can use one of two methods (or a combination of them): write a letter to a friend or colleague about what you are thinking about; make a collage of freewriting fragments. Make sure in advance that the person you are writing to has the desire (and time) to read your document. Tell him what kind of feedback you would like to receive.

"Stories only happen to those who can tell them." Lou Willetta Stanek

Freewriting is about recording the flow of thought without criticism. Automatic writing technique.

They say it helps

• Get into a creative state.
• Relieve stress.
• Find solutions to business problems.
• Overcome the writer's fear of a blank slate.

Let's check on me.

Practice

Practiced the method for 2 weeks.
Volume - sheet A4. It took 50 minutes a day.

Instruction: take a sheet of paper; write down thoughts without stopping until you hit the bottom edge. Everything.

It is better to limit the time, not the volume - 30 minutes is enough for freewriting.

It is important that you not only not be disturbed, but that you do not see anyone at all while recording. The brain is distracted by every rustle. Music or a movie / series from the next room will turn freewriting into a transcript of what you hear.

Freewriting Feedback

The main discovery is that I worry a lot! I realized: I think a lot about the future of this project, but this is not a process of thinking, but I'm just worried: “What will happen to him? What else to do? What will it lead to?

Every day on paper - the same questions! I give myself the answer in the afternoon, but I myself do not accept it and continue to bathe. Daily freewriting didn't help relieve that stress, but it did help bring it out - it's more important.

More conclusions:

1. Finding solutions to specific problems is difficult. You have to criticize thoughts if they deviate from the topic. And this is no longer freewriting, but, for example, brainstorming.
2. I did not experience any creative state.
3. I think faster than I write. I'm testing "Freespeaking" - voicing the flow of thoughts without criticism.
4. Using freewriting, I wrote about in 40 minutes. Improved for another 4 hours. It helped to start writing on a complex topic, but it is necessary to crystallize ideas.

I repeat: a lot of thoughts during the day - just strain, no use. I decided for myself: if you want to think, think in writing; plan - write plans on paper.

If I think about an idea for 5-10 minutes and don’t draw any interesting conclusion, it’s time to change the subject. Productive thinking - generates ideas that you want to record. Otherwise, well, you understand - I'm worried.

Personal experience transforms information about freewriting into knowledge. Practice!

A white sheet of paper drives the most brilliant writers into a stupor. Getting started is always difficult. The "inner censor" twists his mouth and chuckles at any attempt to start. "Is that all you can do?" he seems to be saying.

People in creative professions face this problem on a regular basis. Yes, almost every day. More N.V. Gogol in his letters to F. Sologub recommended starting work with the words “Something is not written to me today”. This technique helped him overcome the "fear of a white sheet." The French poet André Breton used "automatic writing" in order to create works that, even today, "blow up the brain" with their freedom and creative courage.

The American writer Kenneth Makrory was the first to introduce the concept of "freewriting", which in English means "free writing". In Russia, they started talking about this technique after reading the bestseller by Mark Levy “Freewriting. Modern technology for finding creative solutions.

Freewriting - what is it and why is it needed

Freewriting is a technique of free writing text with a time or volume limit. During the writing process, it is prohibited:

• analyze;
• criticize;
• watch for errors;
• correct mistakes;
• doubt;
• stop;
• think;
• hurry.

You must throw out on paper your entire stream of consciousness on a topic that excites you, or just like that, without a specific task. Let the text turn out to be stupid, funny or scary. Nobody will read it. No one will take apart what you wrote, poke a finger at punctuation marks, laugh at unsuccessful turns.

The realization that the resulting text you can throw away, burn, erase or even eat will help you:

• get rid of the "internal censor", blocks, fears, perfectionism;
• overcome the creative crisis;
• become more free to express your thoughts;
• find a new point of view, techniques, ideas;
• deal with the "cockroaches" in your head;
• Take a broader look at your options.

Freewriting gives you the courage to express your thoughts. It opens up new opportunities not only for writers or journalists, but also for copywriters who have to write about reinforced concrete structures every day and are in dire need of fresh ideas.

Basic Freewriting Techniques

If you decide to use the “free writing” technique, allow yourself the most important thing - do not try to create a brilliant or even just a good text. Allow yourself to be a "loser" who knows nothing about spelling and punctuation. Rediscover the language.

Secret techniques from Mark Levy's book

You will need paper and a pen (or laptop) and a timer. Mark 15-20 minutes and write everything that comes to mind on a topic that excites you.

Mark Levy's tricks will help your brain quickly get to work, find fresh ideas in a short period of time, stop putting off what you started.

Reception "What I see, I sing about"

Start, like Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, your new text with the phrase “I don’t know what to write about.” Let your brain relax and not look for those "magic words" with which your article or sales letter should begin. Write about cacti on your window, about neighbors that keep you from focusing. Make a list of groceries you need to buy tonight. Write rubbish, nonsense, a set of words.

Another secret of experienced copywriters is to start your article with the words “Well, damn it, in short, it was like this ...”. Just be sure to remove them from the final version of your text so as not to stun your customer.

The advantage of this technique is that, by fooling around, you overcome the fear of starting work. Uncertainty in front of a white sheet will disappear, because the sheet is no longer white, it is in your notes, notes, sketches, ideas. And if the beginning is laid, then the end is not far off.

Changed state method

There are legends about the writers who created their "imperishable" podshofe. Do not get carried away with strong drinks, because there are other original ways to approach your text.

Dip your feet in cold water like the German poet Friedrich Schiller once did. Turn on music that will relax you, make you forget about deadlines or a picky customer. Stand on your head - they say, so the blood rushes to the head better. Start writing the text while balancing on one leg. In a hungry state. In a state close to falling asleep, balancing hungry on one leg.

Routine kills creativity. Getting used to solving the same problems every day, the brain relaxes and stops producing fresh ideas. You need to regularly shake yourself up, set new tasks in conditions that are unusual for your thinking.

For example.You need to describe the Kamaz 5490 model for the fifteenth time. Write the text in an extreme mode for yourself. Wake yourself up at 4 am. Take a contrast shower. Turn on the music you hate and set yourself the task of not having breakfast until you describe all the benefits of this model. Write without thinking, without analyzing, without paying attention to mistakes. So you will definitely get off the ground and discover new facets of your writing skills.

Change of angle of view

We get used to writing about products, services, companies from the bell tower of our experience and the format we are used to. Sometimes a change in the angle of view, genre, style of narration helps to overcome a creative crisis.

For example.You need to write about reinforced concrete structures. Imagine that reinforced concrete structures are you. What do you feel? How would you describe yourself? How are you better than reinforced concrete structures of competitors? What would you like to say on behalf of reinforced concrete structures to your customers?

Write a romantic letter about reinforced concrete structures. A story in the style of Stephen King. A note on the fridge to your first grader. Experiment, look for new approaches to the most common topics.

Method "View from the future"

This method is recommended by psychologists for finding solutions in difficult situations. When you face a problem and don't know how to get out of it properly, ask yourself, "If I knew what to do, what would I do?"

Also with text. If you knew what to write about, what would you write? If the article had already been written, what would it be about? What would be its structure, headings, conclusions? Imagine that an article (a book that sells text) is already ready, you have just read it. What is it about?

This technique will allow you to write as if from the future, starting from the final result, and not from that blank sheet that teases you with its emptiness. You immerse yourself in a situation of success, the end result. The text is already there, ready and interesting, it remains to put it on paper. Open your laptop and start writing, as if remembering. Don't let your inner critic interfere. Let him talk when the text is ready.

Conclusion

The most important thing in freewriting is to stop judging yourself, give freedom to your wings and look beyond the horizon of your possibilities, and they are limitless. And even if it seems to you that you have written yourself out and are no longer capable of anything, this is not so. Allow yourself to make mistakes, experiment, write platitudes, stupidity, nonsense in drafts. After all, brilliant ideas sometimes overtake us in the most unexpected circumstances.

There is such a great book about freewriting - “Genius to order. An easy way to find non-standard solutions "Mark Levy, it describes all the technical details, how and what. What is the best way to freeride. That's it, I read it and started working on this technique. It is not much different from keeping a diary, although there are important nuances.

There is also such an interesting person - Armen Petrosyan. A big maniac (in a good sense of the word) in self-development. It was from him that I spied a lot of useful things that I use - 100-day days (I can’t live without them for two years now), I’m just now starting to implement GTD, and other little things. And I've been eyeing freewriting for a long time. He has .

I felt that I was missing something very useful and important, and I should have started a long time ago. And so it turned out. Now my opinion is that the earlier you start freewriting, the farther you will be in a few years. For me, freewriting has become an integral part of my daily life and is very helpful in finding solutions, delving into myself, structuring everything that happens and maintaining a positive stable state of mind throughout the day. I started to deal with it and continue as part of my Stodnevok.

Freewriting can be used in different ways - as your soul asks and your brain asks.

Can unload the brain- just write, write everything that torments, endure and structure all the chaos on paper. What are the problems, is there a feeling of guilt or irritation, what are you obliged and do not want to do and all that. What plans, what ways, opportunities, where would you like to come after some time. Ask yourself leading questions like Levi teaches in the book, etc.

And you can (well, probably best of all, when all this flow came out and the body unloaded a little), write on given topics and generally come up with new solutions. It's like essays in school.

I prescribe everything in a row .. And so and so.

For example, I am currently reading the book "The Law of Attraction" by Hicks. There is good assignment about goals.

You need to write 3 goals. And for each goal, write down one page - why you want it (to be sure that it is yours and desired), and the second page - why you believe that you will achieve it.

Because when desire is combined with faith + you have positive emotions, then the chances of getting this goal are much higher. Here I recently did this with three immediate goals.

You can write using the tips that are given in the book of Levy. It is highly recommended to give yourself a well-defined time - for example, 10 minutes. Again, just like the book teaches.
For example, “what makes me happy” or “if I didn’t have to do what I do, what would I do” or something else.

In general, it helps to find the way to a happier and more peaceful life)

You can write on paper or on a computer.

On the computer, I usually write a 100-day diary or just a diary (of successes, etc.), copy quotes from books, highlight, think over in writing, mark daily movements in my goals for a given period, etc.

The computer has many pluses and many minuses. It works differently in terms of releasing the flow of the subconscious and there are other differences. On a computer, it often happens that you can’t relax - the Internet, social networks and all that is open.

But on the other hand, for example, on a computer, you can store this data forever in a structured form, select, copy pieces from books, erase, append, and much more useful. Plus I have a diary with a password, and therefore I write there 100% sincerely with myself, which is much more effective than writing for someone or knowing that there is even the slightest chance that someone will see it (Levi about this also says).

And in a large notebook, I sit down quietly in those moments when I know that they won’t interfere with me, and I write, I write what comes out of me.
My handwriting is terrible now, so it makes little sense to keep it all, I just generate ideas, I understand better what I want and what I need to do now in order to be where I need to be, I think everything over with the help of paper, some diagrams and transfer in the plans already in the computer is the most important thing.

In general, I am delighted with this process, my plans have already changed a lot in a short period and a car suddenly appeared with energy. I do not write a lot every day, only when I feel that there is a strong desire. Little by little every day. Many people, like Armen Petrosyan, make such a conscious unloading of the brain a daily morning habit. And rightly so.

Here is a good piece of other people's reflections on the topic "Why is freewriting necessary?"

1. The ability to understand yourself. Many feelings, emotions, thoughts, memories are stored in the hidden corners of our soul. And sometimes it's not easy to get them out of there. They only emerge at the most unexpected moments, crushing the resolute “never again”, “this is the last time”, “tomorrow I start life from a new leaf”. For them, such installations are not an obstacle.

But every day during a quick letter, they show up more and more, and you already see what is stored in you. It is easier to be aware of everything with which you live. See and understand your beliefs. And if they do not bring any positive result or pleasure, you just say goodbye to them, now already.

2. Liberation from mental garbage. Closely related to point #1. By writing down on paper everything that torments you every day, it gradually dissolves into non-existence. And you notice how easy it becomes for you.

Especially, I notice it in the morning. Having written out all the mental rubbish, there is lightness, freshness. Sometimes it's like an elusive breeze during the heat.

3. The ability to safely express emotions. And this point goes hand in hand with the points above.

We explode from the accumulated emotions that make adjustments to our mood, and in every possible way spur on unconscious actions and statements in the most acute situations.

Uprooting all these thickets of weeds, you become like a plowed open field, on which, it is desirable, to immediately sow the seeds you need. They will already bear their sweet and desirable fruits.

4. The emergence of new ideas. There are many ideas around us. But we do not see them because our vessel is filled to the brim. And how to pour in clean, fresh water if it is not freed from stagnant water?

By writing out all your thoughts every day, you let in freshness and a flow of clean air. You start noticing interesting things around you. Sometimes it's so amazing. It seems that there is an interesting idea right in front of the nose, but before it did not appear, and went unnoticed.

By the way, whole scenarios are born during freewriting - comics, dramas, even real action movies. 🙂 But it’s better not to re-read them so that the internal censor does not turn on. You write for yourself, for your liberation, rather than for the public.

And here is a bit from Armen Petrosyan

“Paper and pen, like a spindle, turn thoughts and feelings into a thread. Fabric is woven from threads. Circumstances turn into opportunities. Then you can and should take action.”

“In the morning, I didn’t have time to habitually stretch my consciousness with a half-hour presentation of thoughts on paper. Left home early for meetings. I threw a notepad into my backpack. He wrote his "morning" page in the afternoon, in the office.

The meaning of such an exercise during the day is to bring yourself into a familiar position. Lay out current thoughts and experiences on paper in front of you in order to discard the unnecessary and interfering, once again becoming open and relaxed.

No special questions or assignments. I started writing from the first thought that came to mind. By the middle of the page, I came up with a question that turned out to be important today. Despite the confusing first half, the day took on a wholeness and a sense of calm."

“Until the end of winter 4 days. Want to experience the benefits of freewriting? Start a timer for 15 minutes, maybe 30, and write down what changes in your life you would like to achieve by April 1st.

The beauty of writing down your thoughts freely on paper is that it is not planning with rigid deadlines and obligations. Give free rein to your imagination. Write whatever comes to your mind. Do not limit yourself to the calculation of the reality of what has been envisioned and the assessment by others.

Fantasy, create more interesting. Interest will then spread to planning, making your plans rich in emotions, and therefore more attractive.

Who prevents you from believing that March will be a good month for you?”

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The now fashionable word and part-time interesting technique has interested me for a long time. So I decided to find out what's what, and at the same time experience the magic of arbitrary writing.

So, freewriting- a technique and method of writing that helps to find extraordinary solutions and ideas. Roughly speaking, you write on a piece of paper everything that comes to your mind regarding a given topic.

Options

1. Freewriting applied if the creative, workflow has stalled. Then you set yourself a task (question) and for some time (for example, 15 minutes) you write all possible options for solving it. From the most seemingly stupid to the more realistic. All. Kind of like brainstorming. Often, among all the ideas you can find really cool and effective ones.
2. Also, freewriting helps in literary works when you need to write, but there is no inspiration / ideas / mood. Again, sit down and write.
3. Often, the exercise “Morning Pages” (+ similar anti-stress, unloading techniques) is also referred to as freewriting. Its essence is that after waking up, you need to sit down and write down literally all the thoughts that come to mind without setting a topic. The “morning pages” do not indicate the exact time (how much to write), but the proposed volume is 3 pages of text by hand (!).

But, there is an opinion that exercises of such a plan would be more correctly attributed to automatic writing, and not to freewriting. They are even used in psychotherapy (especially by Freudians) as a method of psycho and introspection.

How to freeride?

Classic freewriting is extremely simple:

• You need a sheet of paper / notebook, a pen and a comfortable workplace
• A timer is set (choose the time that is convenient for you, depending on the goal: 10 - 30 minutes)
• Write before the alarm goes off. Do not think about what, how and how beautifully you write. Try not to stop.
• If it was work on an idea, then read aloud (for yourself) what you wrote. Choose the most useful, noteworthy moments. Think about how they can be applied.

But such practical advice is given by Vitaly Kolesnik:

• Starting to master freewriting, do not immediately seek to extract a “useful balance” from what you have written: the main thing at the first stage is the very practice of freeing yourself from self-control when writing. It is better for the first time to consciously abandon any useful result of freewriting and perceive it simply as warming up or unloading consciousness from garbage. When the skill is developed and self-censorship stops, you can try “useful” freewriting.
• If you can't find the right word, write the one that came to your mind at that moment - later you can easily replace it with a more accurate one.
• If at some point it seems to you that there is nothing to write about, write about it. You will be surprised how many interesting extensions there are to the phrase “I don’t know what to write about.”
• If you can't start freewriting, start describing any nearby object - like a nearby red object or your own hands.
• If you feel uncomfortable or bored, ask yourself what is bothering you and write about it.

My experience:

Freewriting, as a written version of brainstorming, I use often. Especially when I plan holidays, entertainment (for example, how to organize an interesting and unusual birthday?) or write large articles / books. I don’t set myself a clear timing, I just sit down and write until I’m exhausted in terms of ideas.

I tested Morning Pages on myself, but somehow I didn’t get involved, I quickly abandoned it. I plan to try again soon.

I really like to literally unload my brain, writing out all the available thoughts on paper. Especially when I'm tired or have a headache, I sit down and just write all sorts of nonsense, not particularly bothering about its poetry and beauty. Often in it I find the reasons for my fatigue.

Verdict: Try it for yourself! It's safe and fun!

• Mark Levy Freewriting. Modern technology for finding creative solutions»
• Peter Elbow "Powerful Writing"
• Julia Cameron "The Artist's Way"

By the way, for those who want to turn freewriting into an exciting activity, there is even a special resource: http://750words.com

Do you have experience in freewriting? Have you tried the Morning Pages? Share your impressions in the comments! Thank you for your time!