Thread: "The Zone"

Some people 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?

Thank you.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

How does a writer get into "The Zone"?

Thank you.

Jor-El blasts you with his giant projector, then you go spinning through space on a two dimensional square thing, screaming.

The Phantom Zone anyway. Other sorts of Zones may differ.

I listen to Britney's "In the Zone"

For me, it's just a matter of focus, though I use the phrase "hitting on all eight cylinders."* I focus on the scene I'm creating, mentally put myself into my POV character's head and the real world just fades into a vague backdrop. I wish I could be more specific, but even though I know what I do, I haven't a clue about how I do it.

*If I'm having trouble getting started on a particular day, I say I have a "low-end rolling miss."

If people could figure out how to get into the Zone, we'd never leave.

I think it's like the positive end of ADD--the inability to shake what you're focusing on, the exclusion of the real world. The problem with writing is often that there are too many things calling for the writer's attention--phone calls, kids, people wanting to chat, chores, bills, itchy socks, who-cares-what-else. Distractions kill The Zone.

If anyone knew, don't you think they'd be making money right now telling you how to?

Simple answer: You don't.

The "zone" is a recherché place that writers are loath to leave. I reach it at least once on every novel, usually towards the beginning or end, and I have no explanation or advice on how to get to it or stay in it.

It's a tenuous place. It could last for an hour or, as it did with me earlier in the year, it might last a whole day. But some people don't ever get there because they try too hard. I'm thinking that might be your problem, OX. As the old idiom goes: When you stop looking for something, that's when you find it.

So, the drugs option looking pretty good again?

bleep

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

bleep

Right back at'cha, Oxie-baby.

Was it Henry Miller that said it's cigarettes, booze, and lack of sleep?

I personally think it's keeping the idea fresh and fun, even through writer's block, plot/character frustration, and edits...however the heck you do that.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Some people 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?

Thank you.

As a serious chess player, my experience tells me that you can increase the chances of being 'in the zone' by taking a break after a lot of studying/tournaments, and then the adrenaline rush when you're back in the melting pot can highlight your abilities. It's also worked for tennis (social). In other words, you work so hard at things until your mind is tired but excercised and bored, then you have a break and get back into it. You can feel superhuman!

I've seen this (and experienced it) with tennis and chess. Sometimes a simple change of tack in writing can induce this, but only if you've been plodding about for the previous few pages or paras.

The only time I was ever in "the Zone" was when I had been sick for 2 weeks straight. My head was stuffed thick with mucus so my raging headache kept me from sleeping. Since I couldn't even lay down, I sat at my laptop for 5 hours, until 7 AM, just writing the first two chapters of a story. In the blink of an eye, the sun was up and I finished two chapters. It was crazy, but I've never been able to do that since then.
It seems to me that the circumstances depends on the person. For me, it's no sleep and an extreme bout of inspiration.

I personally find that not being depressed, sick or suffering from insomnia helps a lot.

Now if I could just find a way to avoid all those things, I might actually get some writing done. ><

Some people 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...

Ah. You lost me right there.