"That's not the essence of free-writing."
Structure.
Poise.
Sit up straight and end your sentence with a period
No.
The whole entity of a journal is to pull from the depths of your mind, no your heart and soul, to pull from inside you and sometimes it doesn't need to be pulled, sometimes it
just
flows
out.
And you can't stop it.
But don't try to stop it!
You already know this is what makes you feel better. Let the thoughts and feelings and precious moments be poured out from the tip of your pencil onto the blank page like words from your mouth only this is easier for you. The permanence is comforting and you can't stop it. Throw out the perfection and let your handwriting be sloppy, oh but it's too late. Your hand is cramping and you can't remember what is written in the rest of these old pages but it doesn't matter because you are here and it's okay to spill and scrawl and breathe.
Breathe.
One entry turns to three pages and you don't want to stop.
Stop the real world for a moment because people will come looking for you and when they find you crumpled up between the pages of this journal, ink-stained and grinning, they will whisper.
And not the good kind of hushed voice that lovers share, oh no. You can't stop them, but you also can't stop from retreating to these endless lines and binding.
The very essence of freewriting-- is it writing freely, or is it writing that sets you free?