“自由书写（free writing）”就是不按照固定版式的招股书，但这种招股书仍然得符合“书面”形式，书面形式可以是电子邮件、传真、条款清单，甚至录制的电视和广播。形式非常自由，好处是方便企业和承销商向社会公众推销股票，感觉卖股票就像卖保健品一样。

中国应该不允许这种自由书写的招股书，我们还没见到过卖股票的垃圾邮件，电视上也没有推销股票的节目。

来看个例子吧：

Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus and any free writing prospectus, as defined in rule 405 of the Securities Act (a “Free Writing Prospectus”), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.

按照《证券法》的要求，向持有人提供招股说明书的副本，包括初步招股说明书和《证券法》第405条规定的任何自由书写招股说明书（“自由书写招股说明书”），以及董事会合理要求的其他文件，以便于处置其持有的包含在该等登记中的可登记证券。