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Most writers agree that their best writing takes place when they lose themselves in their work. In this unself-conscious and highly creative state, the words flow effortlessly and the writing seems to shape itself. In this new book, psychologist Susan Perry reports on the process of "flow" and suggests ways in which you can open yourself to this process as well. If you occasionally (or often!) suffer from writer's block, she suggests five keys to becoming a more fluent and creative writer: 1) have a compelling reason to write; 2) open yourself to all possibilities; 3) loosen up and allow yourself to play with words; 4) focus on your writing, rather than on you-as-writer; 5) let the writing take you where it wants to go.
What Perry says rang generally true for me; I know that my most productive writing occurs when my story takes over and tells itself. I also enjoyed (and learned from) the testimony of other writers, who speak freely in her book about the writing process. But I found the best advice of all in three words on page 168: "Just do it." To my way of thinking, the only way to become engrossed in your writing is to write...and write...and write. As you write, you'll discover your own techniques for getting lost, opening up, loosening up, focussing, and going with the flow—wherever it takes you!
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