freewriting

[free-rahy-ting]

noun

1. the practice of writing out ideas on a particular topic as they occur to the mind, in prose form and without stopping to reflect or self-edit: used as an exercise to increase fluency in a second language or to stimulate thinking while generating a first draft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of freewriting¹

First recorded in 1970–75; free ( def. ) + writing ( def. )

Example Sentences

This is a “freewriting” exercise that I assume could also be applied to visual media.

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Which pedagogical approach works best: freewriting or grammar lessons?

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“Freewriting, hoping that children will learn or gain a love of writing, hasn’t worked,” Dr. Hochman told the teachers, many of whom work in low-income neighborhoods.

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In classrooms where practices like freewriting are used without any focus on transcription or punctuation, “the students who struggled didn’t make any progress,” Dr. Troia, the Michigan State professor, said.

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So-called process writing, like the lesson Lyse experienced in Long Island, emphasizes activities like brainstorming, freewriting, journaling about one’s personal experiences and peer-to-peer revision.

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