Free writing is a rudimentary technique that can be used by even the most advanced writers. Instead of focusing on writing well or writing on a given subject, the writer times himself for two to 10 minutes and writes uninhibited. This is a great opportunity to experiment and play with words, warm up for more advanced writing or be creative without the pressure to be good. This form of practice also can be used to break through a period of writer's block. Learning to write constantly for an extended period of time also helps writers learn to think creatively on command.
A more structured type of free writing is journal writing. Just as in free writing, the writer times herself and writes continuously. However, journal writing draws on real events and experiences from the writer's life. Though ideally constructed in narrative format, a journal also can be reflective and make little narrative sense. Thinking creatively about real events is great preparation for writing about people in narrative form. Even reflective journals are useful for understanding techniques of character writing.
Prompt writing requires a bit more imagination than journal writing because writers are more familiar with events in their own lives than they are with other subjects. Prompts also can be tricky when they are based on single words or other sparse criteria. Learning how to create something with very little inspiration makes it easier to avoid writer's block in the future. As with free writing and journal writing, prompt writing should be timed and focused more on the act of writing than the end result. However, at this stage, it can be useful to read over what is written for clarity and narrative merit. A brilliantly written prompt exercise can turn into a real short story or poem or be saved for later use.
At this stage, it is better to write untimed and for longer periods. However, writing for at least 10 minutes every day is a good habit to develop. With prompts or ideas, the writer starts using characters, dialogue and events to form short narratives. Drawing from reading, life experiences and human nature contributes to the believability of the writing. Since this is still a form of practice, the primary goal is to write regardless of how well it turns out. However, narrative exercises can be reread, polished and developed into finished pieces.