marathoner452

Below is a technique I present to my writing students so they'll relax a bit and get used to their journals. Some people come to composition class with great fear in their hearts- and a hatred of writing! My hope is that freewriting allows people to see that writing does not have to equal red pen, criticism, intimation! Writing can be and often is a relaxing way to communicate with yourself.
This week, try to do at least one ten minute freewrite.
Freewriting is the most basic of journal writing techniques. When you freewrite, you give yourself space to just write.
Freewriting Steps:
1. Set a time limit for your writing
2. Pick up your pen
3. Start writing
4. Keep the pen moving. If you think you’ve run out of things to say, don’t stop writing. Write “I’ve run out of things to say,” and keep that pen moving. (You may use variations, such as: “I have no idea what to write next,” “My mind is mush,” or even “I hate freewriting.” It doesn’t matter, as long as you keep on writing. You‘ll get bored eventually, and you‘ll write something else.)
5. Follow your thoughts wherever they lead you
6. When your time is up, stop writing...
7. Unless you’re on a roll. If you are, feel free to...
8. Keep writing
Freewriting can help you to discover ideas you didn’t know you had. It also helps free you from the fear that can keep you from relaxing while you write. Remember, no one will judge the content of your journal. You really are free to relax, write and explore in this space.
The following are the only freewriting rules:
Don’t worry about spelling
Don’t worry about punctuation
Don’t critique your writing and
Definitely don’t put yourself down as you write
Just write

Here I go.

My car decided late last week that it doesn't particularly like changing gears to go more than 10 miles an hour up hills. This resulted in several freak-out moments that hopefully are behind me now that Dad and I changed the oil and added more transmission fluid and power steering fluid and good stuff like that. Okay okay, just keep going. It feels good to be able to do things like check my car for problems. Makes me feel relatively independent, like I can take care of myself.
I need to get back into a regular running program. No more of this "I don't feel like running because it's too cold outside...I don't feel like it...I'm too tired...this bed is too warm" etc. It'd be really nice to get back into the pattern I fell into last summer-running every evening for an hour or two, getting up at 5 am to run on weekends, maybe even throwing in some speedwork. To do that and keep up with the 50 book challenge, I'm going to need an MP3 player or an ipod or something. Anything to keep those miles from getting too boring. I know I used to make fun of people who needed music to keep themselves entertained all the time and I still do feel that way about most times...but given that I spend 2 hours a day in the car if I'm going to spend another hour+ running, I'm going to need something to keep my mind busy.
-Because I'd like to actually improve on my speed and my distance. (Did you know that the word my fingers automatically type from "dis..." is "disaster"? That should tell you something.)
-Because I'm tired of being complacent and not pushing myself to do my best. I think that if I can do that with running I can do that with other things too. It'll help me be more focused.
-Because I miss being able to run 12 miles at a stretch and have it not faze me, as opposed to running 12 miles and still hurting 2 days later. I miss being in that kind of shape.
-Long runs Saturday mornings, starting after my races the next two weekends. Preferably with people. Speedwork at least once a week, probably on Wednesdays. Running somewhere new every once in awhile.
I also really need to start working on that letter to preschools and kindergartens in hopes of scheduling some more presentations. Besides the fact that my job here at the Red Cross is to give disaster education presentations to kids, I enjoy working with kids that age and I need more to do around here. Besides, after that fire on Main Street in Westminster last weekend, I feel even more motivated. Remember when I wrote about our "Girl's Night" back in January? Well, we went out to eat at a very feminine place called the Fat Cat Cafe. There was a fire in a third floor apartment above the restaurant last weekend. The lower floor where the restaurant was is okay (no windows broken which means the fire didn't get down there), but I'm sure the smoke and water damage is horrendous and I'm almost as sure that they'll have to tear down the whole building. What a shame. :-(

Wow, it's amazing how much I can write in 13 minutes. I'll have to try that more often. :-)

~Bethany