Direct Writing

Peter Elbow's Direct writing process is best used when you have plenty to say, but a deadline is approaching fast.

1. If you have a deadline, divide your total available time: half for raw writing, half for revising.
2. Bring to mind your audience and purpose in writing but then go on to ignore them if that helps your raw writing.
3. Write down as quickly as you can everything you can think of that pertains to your topic or theme
4. Don't let yourself repeat or digress or get lost, but don't worry about the order of what you write, the wording, or about crossing out what you decide is wrong.
5. Make sure you stop when your time is half gone and change to revising, even if you are not done.
6. The direct writing process is most helpful when you don't have difficulty coming up with material or when you are working under a tight deadline