“Writing in Flow” is a chapter by Susan K. Perry from a book called The Psychology of Creative Writing, edited by Scott Barry Kaufman and James C. Kaufman.
Susan K. Perry is building on the research of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and she uses the same definition of flow: a state in which a person loses track of time and becomes immersed in an activity. Perry’s research focuses on the experiences of writers – this chapter summarises findings from her interviews with authors and her reading about the experiences of others.
Notes
Perry argues that entering a flow state is a psychological skill, which writers can improve with knowledge and practice.
Key factors that can improve our chances of reaching flow while writing are:
- Being engaged with the writing for its own sake (that is, finding “intrinsic motivation”) and ensuring that any external influences such as deadlines or rewards don’t become discouraging. In particular, a feeling that other people are trying to control us is likely to reduce the chance of reaching flow.
- Sensing that the work is going in the right direction. This makes it more likely that the challenges posed by the writing will seem manageable, or at least nearly manageable.
- Imagining a supportive, encouraging reader.
- Establishing a ritual before starting work, to avoid distraction and procrastination.
- Learning about the practices of other writers – we may need to experiment with different approaches before we find one that works well for us.
Perry notes that some writers can sustain the flow state for long periods of time, while others only experience short bursts of flow.
Reflections
I’m particularly interested in the point about determining whether the work is going in the right direction. It makes sense that self-doubt and self-criticism are likely to get in the way of flow, but I think this may be the most challenging barrier to overcome for many people.
Perhaps, in times when flow seems unusually difficult to achieve, it could be worthwhile spending some time in quiet reflection about the current direction of the work, before attempting to start writing. Our inner compass may provide some guidance about whether we should look for a different direction.
Related
My notes on a related book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: On “Finding Flow”