Writing to external SDCard in Lollipop without OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE

I read about how applications can ask the user to select a folder to write data with the new ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE intent in Lollipop. I understood it.

My question is: Is this the only way to get an external memory (SD-Card) write for the application by allowing the user to select the directory with the OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE dialog or are there other ways with the new Lollipop?

I mean I would like to write directly to external storage without asking the user. Or can you just ask for permission to write to an external SD card? (Not all users are familiar with folders, etc.)

Any hints?