 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
Nonsense writing
Nonsense writing is writing of a sort but not really. It is a way to trick yourself into writing by telling yourself, "I'm not really writing, I'm just fooling around." Free writing, automatic writing, or nonsense writing is a technique of eliminating the blankness of the page. Like a child's scribblings on a page, nonsense writing doesn't have to make any sense at all. Write anything: words, images, impressions, ideas, thoughts--anything and everything--nothing has to be related to the subject at hand. In fact, no two words have to relate. Especially, don't worry about punctuation and grammar and sentence mechanics--all those rules that make up real writing. Just fill the blank page or two if you feel inclined. Unwittingly, somewhere in all the nonsense, you will necessarily include references to the writing assignment. You won't be able to help it. Nonsense writing is an automatic expulsion of all the thoughts that are at the surface of our mind. If you have been thinking about your assignment, it is normal for those thoughts to emerge. Then, go back and read what you have written. Submerged in all those nonsensical words and thoughts, you will find coherent ideas about the assignment.
Letter writing
It is so hard to formulate the ideas for a formal essay, but isn't it easy to write an informal letter to good friend? Go for it. Write a letter to a friend but, along with all the niceties and the personal information, do tell him about the writing project you have to do for school.
Let's begin.
Dear friend,
How are you?
Now continue with personal news and friendly chatter, as one normally does in letters. For example:
I'm sorry, I couldn't write to you earlier, because I was busy with school. You see I'm taking this course in English where the professor is making us write all these essay. Writing sucks, but I've got to do it, and I've got to do it well, because I need this grade.
Now go ahead tell him what is uppermost in your mind-the assignment:
In fact, I've got to do this essay by next week, and I don't know what to write. Here's what I was thinking about. I would like to write about…I have some ideas…
Before you know it, you will have a five-page letter and a first draft of an essay.
About beginnings
If you have ever asked yourself or the page how to begin an assignment, consider this answer: don't begin at the beginning. Begin writing about point two in the paper. Begin from the fifth paragraph. Begin at the end and work backwards. Very often, the body of a paper is clear in our heads. After all that is where all our research and ideas have been focussed. Work on that.
Sometimes how a particular writing assignment will end is the trigger for the whole essay. In that case, write the end first and see what it suggests. Begin at that point that inspires you; this inspiration will dictate not only the beginning, but also the whole paper. Once you have all the ideas down, revise the paper and organize it. No one will know you wrote the paper backwards or in a zigzag.
The Blank Page
Last revised: March 30, 2002
© 2002 Meena A. Nayak