Writers in the Storm

by Kris Maze

My last post at WITS went in-depth on the aspects of Flow and how to use the psychology of writing to get into the Creative Zone.  How does that apply to our misconceptions about getting into the mood for writing?

Here are a few scenarios common to writers.  What do you think? Do you agree?

Take a look at this video, if you want a quick refresher on How to Enter the Flow State . If you are ready for a mini quiz, see how Getting Into Flow can get you past these common writing issues.

Pop Quiz Time!  Let’s see what your opinions are on these typical writer ideals about getting into the Flow Zone.  Fact or Fiction?

1. Writer’s Block doesn’t really exist.  It’s only in your mind.

FACT

The parts of the brain that use to function daily can trip up our flow in many ways.  Research shows that we override our self-consciousness, worry and anxiety, and social expectations, we are more likely to experience Flow than when we sit at our desks with those thoughts competing for our mental bandwidth

2. Writers are creatures of habit and need a perfect writing space for optimal flow.

FICTION

According to the studies on Flow, it turns out that having the perfect setup isn’t as important as we may think. The way to get into Flow is to understand what makes your mind relax, focus, and find a balance between the task at hand and the skills you apply to it.

Some authors are very successful at catching a creative wave spontaneously and can tease out the words on the spot. But when a creative burst doesn’t drop out of the sky into our literary laps, we can and should intervene to create those circumstances. 

We all relate to when the words are just not flowing.  Consider this mini-checklist of common factors writers can use to optimize their chances of Getting into the Flow:

____ Healthy Snacks on hand

____ Warm or cold beverages near by

____ Slight caffeine boost

____ Ambient music or white noise

____ Sound cancelling headphones (a new favorite of mine)

____ A ‘do not disturb’ sign on the literal and digital door

3. When writers stick to one genre or type of writing, they experience more flow.

FACTION Yes, both. Let me explain! This can depend on a few factors.

FACT

There is a reason genre fiction writers seem more prolific than their literary counterparts.  Writing within the constraints, tropes, and requirements for the genre can free the writer's mind of some of the heavy decision making.  The framework has been largely created for them and they are carefully constructing new stories from those rules.

Literary novelists, who by contrast may take years to produce works have more pieces of the creative puzzle to solve in order to create something new and palatable to readers.

In an article on Creative Blockages, assistant professor of Psychology, Baptiste Bardot, describes well-known authors and how prolific they are.  For example, horror writers like Stephen King and Anne Rice have limited choices as to themes, setting, and plot.  Their literary counterparts have fewer formatting constraints leading to more solutions to resolve in their novels.

FICTION

Creativity by definition is not just creating new ideas, but the novel creation of ideas that make sense. Creativity requires lateral thinking and when writers tackle new types of writing they approach the new rules and constructs in ways that expand their thinking.

This study by Arne Dietrich, dives into the types of thinking writers use.  They may be deliberate and follow prescribed steps or follow decisions made in a more spontaneous way. This may sound more familiar to those who consider themselves Plotters of Pantsers, since those preferences demonstrate a writer's favored type of thinking.

The key to using flow to be more creative is to understand that writing lots of words does not equate creative output.  There are several computerized idea generators available to writers, but these apps cannot craft best sellers without the gifter authors who knit plots and characters into meaningful works of art.

4. Writers should feel the emotions in order to write a convincing emotional work.

FICTION

According to the research on Flow, emotions can block a writer's access to Flow since emotions are one of the cognitive processes that can detract from unfettered thinking that characterizes freedom of thought.  

Other ways emotion blocks our writing are due to possible affliction from one's inner critic. It can also project one’s self more onto the page, which has an adverse effect on using Flow.

Channeled emotional energy can help a writer if they are able to “make sense” of the words and build up the rest of their work. If it does, add that spice and make it naughty or nice.

How did you do? Did you agree with all of these?  I hope your writing life is productive and fulfilling, but if not I hope you find ways to get back into your writing groove soon!  What hacks and helps do you have for our writing community today?

About Kris

Kris Maze is an author, freelance writer, and teacher. She enjoys writing twisty, speculative fiction with character driven plots.  After years of reading classic literature, mysteries, and thrillers, she began to write and publish her own  books. She also writes for various publications including a regular post at the award winning Writers in the  Storm Blog. 

When she isn’t spending time with her favorite people and pets, Kris Maze is taking pictures, hiking, or pondering the wisdom of Bob Ross. You can follow her author journey at her website at KrisMazeAuthor.com

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My Free short story, The Detour, has had a makeover! Not only has the text version been updated and beautified, there is now an audio edition.

Many of you have joined the newsletter to try out the audio version. If you prefer the PDF and haven’t gotten it yet, this link will take you to your free PDF download.

A few times a year we throw open the virtual doors of WITS and offer up the comments section for your shameless self-promotion. This delightful takeover usually doubles the size of our to-be-read piles with all the great books we find in the comments section. With this pandemic, more reading material is a great bonus.

Many years ago, we borrowed the name of this event from the glorious Chuck Wendig. Here's how it works:

• Pimp out somebody else’s work – this can be a favorite author, blogger, post or book you’ve read, a wonderful teacher or just someone who had profound influence on you as a writer or a person. Please limit your comments to one work.
  AND
• Promote one of your projects that you’re excited about – a hobby, a blog, a book, or a new direction your writing is taking you. You decide. Just tell us about it in the comments! (Please restrain your enthusiasm to just one of your WIPs.) The rest of us will jump in and “ooooh and ahh” at you, and likely promote your project even further because we’re just so darn excited today.

We'll start you off with some P&P from the WITS Team

From Ellen

Pimp: If you enjoy YA speculative fiction, I recommend checking out WITS team member, Kris Maze, who enjoys writing twisty, speculative fiction with character-driven plots.

Her short story, The Detour, is available for free in text or audiobook.

Promote:

I continue to work on my website: http://ellenbuikema.com/. A sample chapter, Lost in the Museum, awaits you on the Books for Children, Teachers, and Parents page.

My site’s topics focus on family well-being and writing projects. One of the pages on my site is named Ask Frankie. Frankie the Fish, a character in The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon series, is full of snark. People ask Frankie questions and he responds in character. Stop by and subscribe!

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From John

Pimp: I'm excited about this book from L'oste Vineyard Press, releasing in April.

The Blurb:

Stephanie knew she was different from the time she was little. She struggled through multiple failed marriages, and living a secret life. It wasn’t until she was a manager for New York Life, that she decided that it was time to transition into the person she was always meant to be: a woman.

After living life as a male with the privileges of that role, she stepped into her new life and discovered the glass ceiling women experience in corporate America. In Reflections from Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My True Self in Corporate America, Stephanie shares her journey. You can download a free sample of her book here.

Promote:

My book, Max and the Spice Thieves, is releasing on April 20 and is currently on sale (20% off!).

Critically acclaimed, the book reviewers have called it “the best middle-grade fantasy novel they have read in a long time.”

More information and the blog, "Tales from the Saucy Pig," can be found here.

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From Kris (KMaze)

I'm promoting the novels of Jessica Brody (also known for Save the Cat! Writes a Novel) and Joanne Rendell's, Sky Without Stars, The co-authored novel is a retelling of Les Miserables, set in a futuristic far away planet. 

As we discover our ruffian disguised girl stealing from the upper class to feed herself, she encounters a mysterious benefactor... or foe. The writing is quick-paced and detailed and I enjoy reading it as a writer for style.

As a speculative fiction writer and fan of YA Sci-fi, this Young Adult novel is perfect for anyone who likes a dark and twisty tale with echoes of Victor Hugo's great classic.  

Happy Reading and Stay healthy, y'all...
Ellen, Jenny, John and Kris

by Kris Maze

Is your writing in a slump?  Are you having trouble finding motivation to finish your next project?  Have you lost that loving feeling?  (Insert cheesy, singing jet pilots here if that works for you!) Fear not, skilled writers, we are in this together and I hope you will soon find your words flowing like Niagara Falls.

Getting into the Zone, or Flow, has been a popular topic for creatives like writers since the 1990s.  What do you already know about the theory and its application to writing?  Check out your understanding of these studies that clarify the mental process of writing and enhance your satisfaction with life.

The History of "Flow"

The modern granddaddy of Flow is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Me-high Cheek-sent-me-high) and most of his work can be traced to his best-selling book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.

In Csikszentmihalyi's first chapter, he warns that the book is not intended to be a "how to be more creative, to get more output, or to be generally more happy" promise, but these perks could be side effects. Knowledge is power, peeps, and the more you understand why and how writers write, the more satisfying your overall career with written words can be.

Another resource that goes into depth: How to Get Into The Flow, by Steven Kotler. That video link describes how writers can reach their potential with Flow. He explains the concepts underpinning Flow to help writers figure out how to tap into their creative juices and why writing feels so good when it is going well. 

Flow - the Optimization of Creative Experience Summarized

Of the 8 identified characteristics of Flow, the first 3 are precursors to the mental state of "writing Nirvana." Consider these conditions when trying to get into the groove of writing.

1. Have clear, obtainable goals with a timely feedback loop.

Each time a writer sits at their desk they have the same goal - get words on the paper.  One way to increase their productive Flow is to set clear goals.  Having daily goals, such as word count or pages edited, gives the brain less to figure out and allows it to focus more exclusively on the task at hand: Writing. The daily goals can add into overarching goals, alleviating more thinking tasks for the brain.

In general, to get into the Flow, we want to limit the other things our brains want to work on. The subconscious  mind and constant input from our surroundings can detract from our ability to focus.  Can you automate some tasks to free your mind more? Delegate the housework, or cut down the to-do list of unfinished things?  Find ways to lessen the burden on your mind and see your productivity rise.

The Feedback Loop could warrant its own post, it is so important. But for brevity sake, feedback as mentioned here is about identifying the quality of the writing you are doing.  Perhaps your feedback loop includes your critique group or partner.  Some writers use an online editor for quicker feedback.  Self editing after a break can also help you determine how well you are hitting your writing goals.  This feedback informs your future writing sessions as you iterate your process and make improvements.

2. Have a high level of concentration with a limited field.

We have a lot to consider when examining what is stealing our concentration.  

What external distractions infiltrate your writing time?  Identity the things that pull you from your creativity and then, protect your writing time from them. Internal influences are mentioned in later bullet points and addressing them can help writers focus as well.

Ask yourself these questions regarding your writing space.

• Do you have a designated place for writing?  
• Does the setting help your focus?  Perhaps it is quiet that you need. Or background noise to eliminate the distractions.  
• Would headphones for silence, or ambient music to limit out unwanted noise interruptions help in your case?

One personal hack that has worked for me, is turning off all notifications for social media and non-work related apps.  I also uninstalled the games from my phone (even Sudoku!).  When I find myself reaching for a game or to check messages and see none, I give myself metal white space instead.  That has helped me have energy to tackle writing tasks and feel less stressed while getting my work done. It seems that when I was “taking a break” I was actually using up critical thinking that I could be pouring into my writing!

3. The writing task is carefully balanced with skill and interest level.

As a language teacher I find this an important characteristic for growth as a writer.  Choosing writing that both challenges you and is at your skill level is the caveat of this characteristic.  Picking a genre out of your wheel-house or increasing your daily word count, may be a goal to jump start your writing, but be sure it is realistic for you.  If you want to show improvement, set your goals and intentions at what you can do and add only a tiny bit of challenge.

Like learning another language, If you push yourself too hard with language that is too fast or over your level, you will end up frustrated and shut down. Likewise, if a language is below your level you may be bored and disengaged.  

As a writer, we set ambitious goals, especially at the beginning of the year. Think about the writing goals you have set for yourself.  Are they attainable goals and are you comfortable with the work you set for yourself? If your word count or topic is too easy, you’ll get bored and abandon the work.  It is worth the time to reflect on your goals and make sure they are SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-Bound

The psychology of finding Flow depends on this reflection.  The better you understand your writing habits and what makes it enjoyable, the better you can honor and improve your skills.

The remaining 5 characteristics of Flow are indicators of when you have found the sweet spot and are writing like mad.

The more complete your Flow experience, the more of these you could claim.  We have all been in that state of mind, but in case you haven’t, here’s what it is like:

4. A Strong Sense of Control

Unlike the negative connotations the word “control” can bring, this version is desirable.  This version says “I’ve got this!” and isn’t impeded by worry about the past or anxiety about the future.  This relaxation and comfortable feeling are control in a centered way and demonstrates a warm stability when writing.

5. Effortlessness

The words flow like melting butter to the page and you have little brain power invested into this endeavor. ALthough the previous efforts of writing drafts and research are just probably paying off, this characteristic of Flow keeps us coming back for more.  Like an elusive hole in one in golf, watching one happen seems so easy, but is hard to obtain. If you notice it, enjoy it!

6. Time Has Little Meaning

If you have ever stepped away from the desk and wondered where the last hour went, you understand this litmus test of Flow.  The ability to focus on writing alone, can temporarily shut down the writer’s sense of time.  

Brain research shows that parts of reasoning that regulate social norms decrease during Flow.  So the idea that writers are often late to dinner, forget to call, or skip social functions all together is possibly connected to capturing good Flow moments.  It may have merit, but I don’t recommend using that as an excuse!

7. Action melds with Performance

This aspect describes the feeling of being one with the work.  It may apply more to dancers, musicians, or athletes that report not feeling control over their body while performing.  

The research describes this process of losing self as the lack of self- consciousness, worry, and preoccupation with particular social expectations, which allows the person to solely focus on the art at hand.

I like to call this one the “Get out of your way!” mantra.  We sometimes underperform because we allow ourselves to stumble over our own doubts and preconceptions. Identifying this tendency and replacing those thoughts with positive ones can help writers get back into the Flow of writing.

8. Has an Autotelic Quality

Writing that seems to flow on its own without the author. The writing is pouring out and the author is merely a conduit.  The feelings of the goals finishing themselves is both pleasant during the experience and after as one accomplishes the task.  This is a combination of the other aspects working together.   

What tips do you have to get out of your writing slumps?  Have you been able to achieve a state of Flow? When do you have to push through and simply get the writing done the most?

About Kris

Kris Maze is an author, freelance writer, and teacher. She enjoys writing twisty, speculative fiction with character driven plots.  After years of reading classic literature, mysteries, and thrillers, she began to write and publish her own  books. She also writes for various publications including a regular post at the award winning Writers in the  Storm Blog. When she isn’t spending time with her favorite people and pets, Kris Maze is taking pictures, hiking, or  pondering the wisdom of Bob Ross. You can follow her author journey at her website at KrisMazeAuthor.com

My Free short story, The Detour, has had a makeover! Not only has the text version been updated and beautified, there is now an audio edition.

Many of you have joined the newsletter to try out the audio version. If you prefer the PDF and haven’t gotten it yet, this link will take you to your free PDF download.