In a recent writer forum, someone asked: “I’ve heard writers talk of being ‘in the zone’ regarding their writing, which I take to mean being in an altered state of extreme creativity. But how, without drugs, do you get into that state?”
Of course, the first comment was: “You mean you can do it without drugs?”
In fact, we hear the term “in the zone” used often, not only with writers, but athletes, artists, and just about any activity that requires skill, creativity and concentration.
So what is “the zone”, how do we enter it, and why is it so hard to remain there for extended periods of time? Another forum comment said, “it’s a matter of focus” while another said it was the “positive end of ADD; the ability to hold on to what you’re focusing on with the exclusion of the real world.”
Being in the zone can last for a few minutes, a couple of hours or a whole day. For those that never seem to enter the zone, it might be because they try too hard to do so. Sort of like when we stop trying to solve a problem, the solution suddenly comes to us through our subconscious.
Let’s try to define what being “in the zone” means, especially when it relates to writing. For me, it’s a mental state where time seems to disappear and my productivity greatly exceeds normal output. It might start after I’ve finished lunch and sat down at my PC to work on a new chapter. Without any feeling of the passage of time, I suddenly realize a couple of hours have gone by and I’ve produced 2000 words or more. I don’t remember the passage of time or anything that deals with my surroundings. I only remember “living” or becoming immersed in the story’s moment, having the words flow from a deeper source, and “awakening” from the writing as if only a few moments have passed.
I’ve never been hypnotized, but I can assume that being in the zone is not unlike self-hypnosis. My body remains in the here-and-now, but my creative senses somehow finds a hidden room inside my mind, a place normally under lock and key. And I’m able to enter it for a short time to let what’s there emerge into the light of day.
It can also feel like driving down the Interstate on a long trip, deep in thought and suddenly realize I can’t remember the past few miles miles.
I’ve also never been athletic, but I bet it’s a similar scenario: a golfer is able to tune out the surrounding crowd of tournament spectators, the dozens of HD network cameras, the worldwide audience, the cheers from the distant gallery as his opponents make a great putt, and he’s able to enter a place where only his game stretches out before him. The rest slips by in a blur. Personal mind control.
So what is a good method for getting into the zone? For me, the biggest obstacle is distractions. Because of that, it’s important to reduce interruptions and distractions by creating an environment where they are minimized. This means shutting my office door, closing the drapes on the windows, unplugging the phone, disconnecting Internet access, and most of all, choosing a time to write when these things can be fully managed. Doing away with distractions is no guarantee that I will enter the zone at will, but it does give me a fighting chance to at least knock on the door to one of those dark, hidden rooms upstairs and let my story flow out.
What about you guys? Is your definition of “the zone” the same as mine or do you see and feel it differently? Have you ever experienced the zone? Are you able to enter it at-will? What are your tips to do so? And what about those drugs?
Download FRESH KILLS, Tales from the Kill Zone to your Kindle or PC today.
FRESH KILLS, a killer collection of short stories from the Kill Zone authors. Download to your e-reader or computer from 
Posts
15 comments:
I read the previous day's dreck and fix the obvious. I think about the next scene. I play a few games of Backbone or Beetle solitaire. I put on my writing playlist on iTunes, and then I start writing.
Normally, I find the zone later in the day, once I've got all the routine stuff done and there aren't likely to be interruptions. But I'm not working on deadline, either.
Great question, Joe. I think the feeling of "the zone" was described well by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his seminal book Flow. The main aspect of the feeling is "time quickening." The hours fly by.
I don't know how to get in it. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't--and when it doesn't, you still write.
Shutting out distractions, as you described, is probably a good first step. Michael Connelly has an office with a beautiful water view, but also black curtains that shut out all light so he can write "with his head down."
Good stuff Joe. For me, I know I'm there when I can't think of anything else but the next chapter, a conversation between two characters, or even a scene. It can come as a thought, a visual or those damn voices in my head.
Those times usually come shen I'm on a long walk, or when I'm bored with the world around me at the time.
You've described it perfectly. I never notice when I'm in the zone while writing, possibly because I'm in an altered state of reality, anyway, writing fiction. I used to recognize it when I was a musician. It never lasted too long, but while it did I knew I could try whatever I wanted, because I couldn't miss. Everything I did was going to sound good.
Alas, I have never figured out how to get there. I'm just grateful when it comes.
For me it takes awhile to get into the zone. Usually 20-30 minutes of really digging in and focusing on the task at hand before my imagination takes over and runs the show. But I can't always seem to find the zone. Some days my mind is too filled up with other concerns to be swept away into that other realm of existence.
But when I can free myself from daily concerns and immerse myself in story it is a beautiful thing, and instead of being drained by the creative process, at the end of the day I am energized and excited.
Excellent post.
I agree about losing a sense of time and place. When I am in the 'zone' whether, reading, writing, creating or teaching, time stands still and I move outside of myself.
To get into the 'zone' I usually need a focus, something specific I am working, natural light (a room with a window is very important), a clutter free work area and quiet - no background noise and it will either be early in the morning or late in the day.
I don't turn things off or unplug or close doors. I just ignore them. Log onto pandora.com, go to the techno station and put on my headphones.
Techno music generally doesn't have a lot of lyrics, and what lyrics it does have are often repetitive. The music itself usually has a steady beat. Some people call it 'trance' music, and it's good for writing -- kind of like the dude pounding the drum on the galley while Ben Hur was busy rowing.
Like Largo, I listen to music with no lyrics, but I choose classical soundtracks to movies because it gets me in the mood to write suspense scenes. Some of the soundtracks I use are from Aliens, Last of the Mohicans, Battlestar Galactica, and Indiana Jones. Once I get into the "flow" or the "zone", I start picturing the scenes in my head, as if I'm taking part in the action myself. It's actually the same feeling I get when I'm reading a good book. I forget where I am and get lost in the story to the point where my wife has to call my name several times to get my attention.
Joe,
Normally I spend 14 months working on a book, but I had an amazing experience with The End Of Marking Time. I drafted the book in 6 weeks and had it revised and ready in 3 months start to finish.
The difference for me seemed to be the cohesiveness of the plot and the vivid connection I had with the characters. When I needed an idea, it was there. I typed so fast my forearms were sore.
How did I get there? I have no idea. Tearing my ACL helped. It was really hard to get up!
CJ
I’m with you, Terry. I do my best writing late in the day. 3:00 PM on is a good time for me.
I use blackout curtains, too, Jim. One advantage to them is the lighting remains constant over any length of time. Good advice.
Long walks are great, Wilfred. I do a fast walk twice a day in a nearby wooded park. It really helps to concentrate on the story elements.
I agree, Dana. I’m very grateful when the keeper of the Zone keys lets me in, even for a brief moment.
You’re dead right, Lisa. It’s a wonderful feeling of fulfillment at the end of a great writing day.
Sandy, you’ve described it perfectly. Sometimes it can seem like an out-of-body experience.
Largo Chimp, I’m also a big fan of Pandora. I favor the classical string quartets. But never any lyrics.
Boyd, I have some of those same movie scores. When I’m not listening to Pandora, I have my MP3 player on random playing a large assortment of scores.
CJ, too bad you had to go through the ACL issue, but whatever it takes. :-)
I can truly identify with the "flow" theory by that psychologist guy Jim mentioned whose name sounds like a sneeze.
When I write it goes nowhere until I get into that sublime trancelike state. Once there I see, hear, feel nothing but the story. Prior to taking a shot at writing I had learned to get into that state in many other activities as well. As a musician I have found ecstasy in the moment where the music becomes a single feeling and drums take a life of their own and I am no longer on the stage but rather floating somewhere outside the building.
It also frequently happens to me when I am in the studio recording an audiobook, or doing my weekly talk show. I find myself in this weird place where I am not alone in my closet with a microphone, but seeing, doing, being whatever is going on at the other end.
Writing becomes like that. I am no longer in my easy chair, or at my office, but kneeling in the dust in Iran, landing a Harrier in Myanmar or racing on a snowmachine in the Alaska range. I like the way it works. It's better than drugs, and there's no hang over.
Thanks Joe,
I really needed to hear this today. I've been talking about having lost "the zone" for awhile now. I think it's due to distractions of all shapes and sizes, and a day job.
I also think it has something to do with energy. Not sure about that, because I know we write when exhausted but I would think it's harder to find the zone when tired.
Have you any of you experienced the zone when you're really zapped?
When I hit my zone it's like what I would imagine time travel would be like. One minute you're here and the next minute you're several pages into the future. How'd that happen? :)
aka Jill Nutter. Looks like my pen name has taken over.
Jillian, you know you're REALLY in the zone when your pen name takes you over. Don't let this turn into a Stephen King story, okay?
Thanks to everyone for your great comments. I'd like to say more but I've blocked everyone out as I enter the zone. :-)
Cute Jim, very cute. I'll do my best. Now I think I'll copy Joe and zone out. :)
Post a Comment