🌀 Ever feel like your virtual group discussions almost hit the mark, but something more was waiting to surface?
That used to happen in one of my favorite Zoom workshops with young teachers-in-training here in Spain.
We’d run small-group improv games 🎭
Then gather in the main room to reflect, share, and connect the dots.
It worked pretty well. Or so I thought…
But this year, I tried a tiny 4-minute tweak.
And wow—it made a massive difference 👇
✍️ I added 4 minutes of silent “Free Writing” time.
If you haven’t heard of Free Writing before, it’s a technique I learned from my brilliant facilitation mentors at PYE. (If you’ve read The Artist’s Way, it’s a bit like Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages.)
Here’s how it works👇
You set a timer and write without stopping – no editing, no second-guessing. Just letting your thoughts, feelings, and ideas spill out on the page.
It’s technically a writing exercise.
But it’s also one of the most powerful facilitation tools I know for helping people reflect, reset, and go deeper – surprisingly fast.
Here’s how I used it:
I gave the group a simple prompt:
👉 “How I felt during the improv exercises…”
And one rule: don’t stop writing.
They grabbed a pen and paper. I put the Zoom timer on and played some instrumental music. I gave them a 30-second heads up before time was up.
💡 And here’s what happened next
When it came time for the group discussion, they shared honest and surprising reflections.
These young teachers almost got misty-eyed talking about:
✨ Letting go of their inner critic
✨ Feeling vulnerable—and surprised how easily their creativity flowed
✨ Realizing creativity could be inclusive, not intimidating
People who normally were shy to speak up raised their hands. Every person in the group participated. The discussion was full of insights.
👆All of that came from just 4 quiet minutes.
🤔 Why does this tiny tweak work so well?
Most live sessions rush reflection.
Especially on Zoom, silence can feel risky.
You’re never quite sure—are they writing, or checking email?
So instead, we throw people straight into sharing before they’ve had time to process.
And what happens? Overtalkers jump in. Introverts hang back. People latch on to the first idea. And fresh insights get lost.
But Free Writing does the opposite.
It gives everyone a chance to:
🧠 Capture their thoughts and ideas
🎯Get clear on what’s true for them
💡Spark lasting insights that translate into action
And that’s where the ✨real magic✨ happens.
🛠 Want to try this in your session? Here’s how:
After an activity or concept, pause for a Free Write.
Prep your group:
I try to remember that the idea of “Free Writing” can send some people straight into their panic zone.
So it’s important to reassure the group:
- They don’t need any previous writing experience.
- They don’t need to worry about grammar or spelling.
- And what they write is just for them. No one will see it.
The goal? To simply capture what’s swirling around in our heads before it slips away.
Set up:
🖊 Use pen and paper (if possible)
👉 Give a prompt, like “What surprised me about X is…”
⏳ Set timer: 4 minutes
🎵 Play soft instrumental music
Set the rules:
– Keep the pen moving
– If stuck, write “I don’t know what to write…” until the ideas return
Wrap up:
Add 1 minute after the Free Write for participants to silently re-read and highlight 2-3 sentences or ideas that stand out.
And then start the group discussion. People can draw ideas from their writing or share something else.
By adding Free Writing to your live session, you’ll turn a good conversation into a deep discussion that feels real, reflective, and full of meaningful insights.
Big thanks to my visionary collaborator and Quest reader Mamen Salcedo for encouraging me to experiment!
🙋♀️ How about you?
Got a session coming up where this might fit? Try it—and hit reply to tell me how it went. I’d love to know!
This Week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools that I’ve found super valuable — and I think you will too!
Just one for this week👇
1/ 🎙️Facilitating with the Brain in Mind. A 60-minute Workshop Works podcast with host Myriam Hadnes and guest Amanda Cookson with fascinating insights from neuroscience – like how to support the group to find their own insights.
2/ ✍️Stop Asking “Where are You Joining Us From”. I loved this LinkedIn post from Jacub Michalski with 12 fresh opening prompts for online workshops and webinars.
3/ ⚒️7 Verbal Tools for Group Facilitation. A LinkedIn post from yours truly 😀with a breakdown of how I use Session Lab’s 7 verbal tools like probing, paraphrasing, redirecting, bridging and more.
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
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