When we’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in our mistakes. We may hyper fixate on whether or not we’ve spelled a word correctly, used the right punctuation, or met a specific word count. While these can certainly be essential to the creative writing process, putting too much focus on those things in the early stages of the writing process can inhibit creative thinking and limit the potential of our imaginations. Allowing yourself to write without restrictions can help you find your own creative writing style and you build confidence in your ideas and writing abilities.
Allowing yourself room for spelling and grammar mistakes can help you find your own writing style. An essential part of the creative writing process is allowing yourself to take risks and break rules. Some of the most respected creative writers including Ernest Hemingway and Virginia Woolf are known for taking risks in their writing. It was their lack of conformity to writing norms and their unique writing style and structure that made them well-respected in the creative writing community. When you sit down to write, let the words flow out of you without placing any restrictions on yourself, and you might be surprised by what you come up with.
Writing without restrictions can also help you build confidence in your writing abilities. When you set aside concerns such as spelling, grammar, and word count, you may not only find that you are writing more swiftly but you might find yourself trusting your instincts more as you write. You might find that you’re second-guessing yourself less and going where your imagination takes you more freely.
Structure and order are central to writing–there’s no doubt about it. However, occasionally allowing yourself to write without restrictions is essential to help you gain confidence in your writing abilities and develop your own style as a writer. So grab a pen, sit down, and write away without a care in the world.