Unit-2 Communication Peter Elbow

 

Now read the following essay about freewriting as another way to brainstorm a

general topic in order to arrive at a specific focus in writing.

The most effective way I know to improve your writing is to do freewriting exercises

regularly. At least three times a week. They are sometimes called “automatic writing,”

“babbling,” or “jabbering” exercises. The idea is simply to write for ten minutes (later

on, perhaps fifteen or twenty). Don’t stop for anything. Go quickly without rushing.

Never stop to look back, to cross something out, to wonder how to spell something, to

wonder what word or thought to use, or to think about what you are doing. If you can’t

think of a word or a spelling, just use a squiggle or else write, “I can’t think of it.” Just

put down something. The easiest thing is just to put down whatever is in your mind.

If you get stuck it’s fine to write “I can’t think what to say, I can’t think what to say”

as many times as you want; or repeat the last word you wrote over and over again; or

anything else. The only requirement is that you never stop.

Freewriting exercise is important. It must be a piece of writing which, even if someone

reads it, doesn’t send any ripples back to you. It is like writing something and putting it

in a bottle in the sea. The teacher less class helps your writing by providing maximum

feedback. Freewriting helps you by providing no feedback at all. When I assign one,

I invite the writer to let me read it. But also tell him to keep it if he prefers. I read it

quickly and make no comments at all and I do not speak with him about it. The main

thing is that a freewriting must never be evaluated in any way; in fact, there must be

no discussion or comment at all.

Here is an example of a fairly coherent exercise (sometimes they are very incoherent,

which is fine):

I think I’ll write what’s on my mind, but the only thing on my mind right now is what to write

for ten minutes. I’ve never done this before and I’m not prepared in any way—the sky is cloudy

today, how’s that? Now I’m afraid I won’t be able to think of what to write when I get to the end

of the sentence— well, here I am at the end of the sentence—here I am again, again, again, again,

at least I’m still writing—Now I ask is there some reason to be happy that I’m still writing—ah

yes! Here comes the question again—What am I getting out of this? What point is there in it?

It’s almost obscene to always ask it but I seem to question everything that way and I was gonna

say something else pertaining to that but I got so busy writing down the first part that I forgot

what I was leading into. This is kind of fun oh don’t stop writing—cars and trucks speeding by

somewhere out the window, pens clittering across peoples’ papers. The sky is still cloudy—is

it symbolic that I should be mentioning it? Huh? I dunno. Maybe I should try colors, blue,

red, dirty words—wait a minute—no can’t do that, orange, yellow, arm tired, green pink violet

magenta lavender red brown black green—now that I can’t think of any more colours—just

about done—relief? Maybe.

Freewriting may seem crazy but actually, it makes simple sense. Think of the difference

between speaking and writing. Writing has the advantage of permitting more editing.

But that’s its downfall too. Almost everybody interposes a massive and complicated

series of editing between the time words start to be born into consciousness and when

they finally come off the end of the pencil or typewriter onto the page. This is partly

because schooling makes us obsessed with the “mistakes” we make in writing. Many

people are constantly thinking about spelling and grammar as they try to write. I am

always thinking about the awkwardness, wordiness, and general mushiness of my

natural verbal product as I try to write down words.

But it’s not just “mistakes” or “bad writing” we edit as we write. We also edit

unacceptable thoughts and feelings, as we do in speaking. In writing there is more

time to do it so the editing is heavier: when speaking, there’s someone right there

waiting for a reply and he’ll get bored or think we’re crazy if we don’t come out with

something. Most of the time in speaking, we settle for the catch-as-catch-can way in

which the words tumble out. In writing, however, there’s a chance to try to get them

right. But the opportunity to get them right is a terrible burden: you can work for two

hours trying to get a paragraph “right” and discover it’s not right at all. And then give

up.

Editing, in itself, is not the problem. Editing is usually necessary if we want to end

up with something satisfactory. The problem is that editing goes on at the same time

as producing. The editor is, as it were, constantly looking over the shoulder of the

producer and constantly fiddling with what he’s doing while he’s in the middle of

trying to do it. No wonder the producer gets nervous, jumpy, inhibited, and finally

can’t be coherent. It’s an unnecessary burden to try to think of words and also worry at

the same time whether they’re the right words.

The main thing about freewriting is that it is none-editing. It is an exercise in bringing

together the process of producing words and putting them down on the page. Practiced

regularly, it undoes the ingrained habit of editing at the same time you are trying to

produce. It will make writing less blocked because words will come more easily. You

will use up more paper, but chew up fewer pencils.

Next time you write; notice how often you stop yourself from writing down something

you were going to write down. Or else cross it out after it’s written. “Naturally,” you

say, “it wasn’t any good.” But think for a moment about the occasions when you spoke

well. Seldom was it because you first got the beginning just right. Usually it was a

matter of a halting or even garbled beginning, but you kept going and your speech

finally became coherent and even powerful. There is a lesson here for writing: trying

to get the beginning just right is a formula for failure - and probably a secret tactic to

make yourself give up writing. Make some words, whatever they are, and then grab

hold of that line and reel in as hard as you can. Afterwards you can throw away lousy

beginnings and make new ones. This is the quickest way to get into good writing.

The habit of compulsive, premature editing doesn’t just make writing hard. It also

makes writing dead. Your voice is damped out by all the interruptions, changes, and

hesitations between the consciousness and the page. In your natural way of producing

words there is a sound, a texture, a rhythm - a voice - which is the main source of

power in your writing. I don’t know how it works, but this voice is the force that will make a reader listen to you, the energy that drives the meanings through his thick skull.

Maybe you don’t like your voice; maybe people have made fun of it. But it’s the only

voice you’ve got. It’s your only source of power. You better get back into it, no matter

what you think of it. If you keep writing in it, it may change into something you like

better. But if you abandon it, you’ll likely never have a voice and never be heard.

Freewritings are vacuums. Gradually you will begin to carry over into your regular

writing some of the voice, force, and connectedness that creep into those vacuums.

Peter Elbow

A. The words in the crossword puzzle are from the text. Find them in the

text to solve the puzzle based on the clues given below.

Down:

1. to be preoccupied with a

single topic or emotion- Obsess

3. to move slowly and- Creep

quietly in a particular

direction

4. orderly, logical and- 

consistent Coherent

Across:

2. to utter rapidly or 

unintelligible - Jabber

5. to insert something

between other things- Interpose

6. an unreadable

handwriting- Terrible

B. Use the following words in sentences of your own.

massive- He set the massive hit records in 2019.

 consciousness- Samanta's consciousness helped her to write good stories. 

catch-as-catch-can- He was found in catch as catch can situation in an examination hall

give up-The winner never gives up.

abandon- They abandon their dog in the street

lousy- Rami was lousy in the class. 

Editing- Editing is a must work to refine our writing ability.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Why is freewriting also called ‘automatic writing’?

Freewriting is also called automatic writing because it is a process simply to write for ten minutes (later

on, perhaps fifteen or twenty). While writing one goes quickly without ruching and stopping.

Never stop to look back, to cross something out, to wonder how to spell something, to

wonder what word or thought to use, or to think about what you are doing. If you can’t

think of a word or a spelling, just use a squiggle or else write. 

b. How do you differentiate writing from speaking?

There are differences between writing and speaking. Writing has the advantage of permitting more editing. But that’s its downfall too. Almost everybody interposes a massive and complicated series of editing between the time words start to be born into consciousness and when they finally come off the end of the pencil or typewriter onto the page. This is partly because schooling makes us obsessed with the “mistakes” we make in writing.

c. What is the biggest obstacles in the writing process, according to Elbow? Do you

agree with him? Why? Why not?

According to Peter Elbow, the biggest obstacles in the writing process is to talk an unnecessary burden to try to think of words and also worry at the same time whether they're the right words.

d. How can freewriting overcome ‘writer’s block’?

Freewriting can overcome ‘writer’s block’. It is an automatic writing that's why it serves writer to write regardless of fear of mistakes and editing. Freewriting can overcome ‘writer’s block’ as it is non - editing.

e. What do you mean by ‘voice’ in writing?

The voice is the force that will make a reader listen to the writer, the energy that drives the meanings through the thick skull. Voice is the combination of a sound, texture, and rhythm and the main source of power in writing.

f. Elbow uses a simile to explain that freewriting “is like writing something and

putting it in a bottle in the sea.” What does this mean? Explain.

Simile is a weak comparison between two objects using words like; as and like. Elbow uses a simile to explain that freewriting is like writing something and putting it in a bottle in the sea. Which means free writing allows one to write without any feedback and examination.

c. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate adjective or adverb.

i. Pramila is playing …… quietly.

ii. Hari speaks very …… loudly.

iii. Mukesh is a …… careful driver.

iv. The test was …… easy and we finished in time.

v. He is fitting the …… automatic door in my house.

vi. My uncle speaks …… perfect Chinese.

vii. It was raining very …… heavily.

viii. She looked very …… calm, but I am sure she was feeling very

nervous.

Position of adverbs

A. Study these sentences.

a. Perhaps she is not coming to the party.

b. I sometimes visit him in the supermarket.

c. He drove the car carefully.

Here the words in bold are adverbs. Adverbs can be placed at the front, in the middle

or at the end position of a clause or sentence.

B. Rewrite the following sentences with the adverbs in the appropriate place.

a. I watch television. (often)

I  often watch television often. 

b. Have you been to Janakpur? (ever)

Have you ever been to Janakpur?

c. They play football on Saturdays. (sometimes)

 They sometimes play football on Saturdays.

d. The weather is bad in November. (always)

The weather is always bad in November.

e. We have fish for dinner. (seldom)

We seldom have fish for dinner. 

f. Pritam doesn't get up before seven. (usually)

Pritam doesn't  usually get up before seven

g. I was very tired and I was hungry. (also)

I was very tired and I was also hungry .

h. Did you enjoy the flight? (both)

Did you both enjoy the flight?

C. Rewrite the following sentences placing the underlined words in the

right position.

a. I never have understood her.

 I  have never understood her.

b. We are often invited to the parties.

We are often invited  to the parties.

c. We all were tired, so we all fell asleep.

We were all tired, so we  fell all asleep.

d. Rajan drives always to work.

Rajan always drives to work.

e. Pradip hardly ever watches television, but he reads newspapers a lot.

Pradip hardly ever watches television, but he reads newspapers a lot.

f. We enjoyed very much the party.

We enjoyed the party very much.

g. My brother speaks fluently English.

My brother speaks English fluently.

Critical thinking

a. How does the author persuade readers in this essay? What is he trying to communicate to the readers?

The essay ‘Freewriting’ explains how freewriting helps one to improve his/her writing skills. The author has presented his idea with relevant evidence and supportive discussion to persuade the readers.

According to the author, the most effective way to improve one’s writing is to do freewriting exercises repeatedly. The freewriting is spontaneous and accepts no feedback. It must never be evaluated and there must be no discussion or comment at all. The essay reveals that the main thing about freewriting is that it is non-editing. Editing is usually necessary if we want to end up our writing with some satisfactory. The habit of compulsive and premature editing makes our writing hard and dead. The essayist believes that in our natural way of producing words there is a mixture of a sound, a texture and rhythm called a voice. The voice is the main source of power in our writing and carries over into the regular writing.

b. Elbow said, freewriting “is an exercise in bringing together the process of producing words and putting them down on the page.” Do you agree with his statement? Why? Why not?

Freewriting is an exercise in bringing together the process of producing words and putting them down on the page. It can be done in a short period of time without stopping, no matter how coherent or incoherent it is. In freewriting one doesn’t need to be concentrating on spelling, grammar and similar ideas. When we freewrite, we express whatever comes into our mind on the specific topic. Practiced regularly, freewriting undoes the inbuilt habit of editing at the same time we are trying to produce. It will make writing less blocked. It doesn’t matter what we write as freewriting is only for us to read unless we share our work with others. It will solve our editing worries. Practicing freewriting continuously will enhance our writing skill.

c. How did you learn to write? What was particularly difficult in writing? What inspired you to write? What are some of the challenges that you still face while writing?

Writing was one of the most complicated tasks for me. When I was in the intermediate grade, I could hardly manage half of the paragraph on the assigned topic. My work would lose proper grammatical structures, suitable vocabularies and coherence. The most problematic part was generation of vocabularies. When I sat for any piece of writing, words couldn’t come easily. Some of my friends would go through any writing assignment comfortably. Their writings were greatly admired in the classroom. I wished I could write like them. I talked to my teacher about my difficulty. He suggested me not to panic and practise freewriting exercises regularly and encouraged me to read as many English texts as I could. Then, I followed the advice very strictly. I enriched my vocabulary and learnt the sentence structures with correct grammatical rules. Now, I can allow myself to complete any sort of writing easily but I still get troubled with accumulation of appropriate words.