Flow is about getting focused, and my favorite way to get into the flow is to make whatever I’m doing into a game — just add a time limit, personal best or other performance measure. (Ever notice how focused you become in the last 15 minutes before your laptop battery runs out?)

If you’re interested, I detailed 21 ways in my report, “Get Your Flow On!”, at my website. Would love to hear feedback from other flow fans.

Flow is about getting focused, and my favorite way to get into the flow is to make whatever I’m doing into a game — just add a time limit, personal best or other performance measure. (Ever notice how focused you become in the last 15 minutes before your laptop battery runs out?)

If you’re interested, I detailed 21 ways in my report, “Get Your Flow On!”, at my website. Would love to hear feedback from other flow fans.

For me, warm bath + pencil + notebook + silence = creative flow. Paper notebook, that is, for obvious reasons.

For me, warm bath + pencil + notebook + silence = creative flow. Paper notebook, that is, for obvious reasons.

Your point about:

“I’m going to start putting audio books/downloads on my ipod to walk with”

…good idea! I decided to start cycling again, in the various woods/nature parks nearby…that way I kill two birds with one stone – ‘time’ to listen to (and take in) all the audio I download, plenty of fresh air and daylight…and keep fit at the same time

Adele

Your point about:

“I’m going to start putting audio books/downloads on my ipod to walk with”

…good idea! I decided to start cycling again, in the various woods/nature parks nearby…that way I kill two birds with one stone – ‘time’ to listen to (and take in) all the audio I download, plenty of fresh air and daylight…and keep fit at the same time

Adele

Yeah? Well, I didn’t exactly mention that it’s a 45-minute drive for me to get to that Panera…

I traded in proximity to the conveniences of modern civilization for this closeness to nature!

Yeah? Well, I didn’t exactly mention that it’s a 45-minute drive for me to get to that Panera…

I traded in proximity to the conveniences of modern civilization for this closeness to nature!

I agree about powerpoint too. Much as people complain about powerpoint as a presentation tool, as an outliner it does really help get your thoughts in order. I tend to make notes as bullet points anyway, even on paper, so outlining is a natural way for me to write.

I agree about powerpoint too. Much as people complain about powerpoint as a presentation tool, as an outliner it does really help get your thoughts in order. I tend to make notes as bullet points anyway, even on paper, so outlining is a natural way for me to write.

1. Content: Gather your materials (your facts, your interviews, your background materials … whatever you need to execute the article).
2. Structure: First, define exactly what you are writing about, and cut out anything that doesn’t fit. Next, look for a structure that most efficiently conveys the content into the reader’s brain: a how-to, a list, an inverted pyramid, a haiku, a detective story, whatever. Structure helps the reader absorb your content more quickly; it also help you write more quickly. It’s a win/win.
3. Clarity: Use short words and short sentences. Focus on writing so simply, so concisely, so concretly and so clearly that your reader grasps the content on the first read. (When in doubt, study Hemingway.)
4. Style: If you get the first three parts of the process right, style takes care of itself. You define your style by the choices you make in content, structure and clarity.

Some listened; others preferred to bang their heads on their desks until the words flowed. As for me, I prefer process to pain.

Final thought: Lately, I’ve found PowerPoint to be a very useful tool for organizing content and giving structure to articles. Translating content into bullet points accelerates the process. And if you group your ideas by category on PowerPoint pages, and shift the order around, it becomes much easier to identify the proper structure.

1. Content: Gather your materials (your facts, your interviews, your background materials … whatever you need to execute the article).
2. Structure: First, define exactly what you are writing about, and cut out anything that doesn’t fit. Next, look for a structure that most efficiently conveys the content into the reader’s brain: a how-to, a list, an inverted pyramid, a haiku, a detective story, whatever. Structure helps the reader absorb your content more quickly; it also help you write more quickly. It’s a win/win.
3. Clarity: Use short words and short sentences. Focus on writing so simply, so concisely, so concretly and so clearly that your reader grasps the content on the first read. (When in doubt, study Hemingway.)
4. Style: If you get the first three parts of the process right, style takes care of itself. You define your style by the choices you make in content, structure and clarity.

Some listened; others preferred to bang their heads on their desks until the words flowed. As for me, I prefer process to pain.

Final thought: Lately, I’ve found PowerPoint to be a very useful tool for organizing content and giving structure to articles. Translating content into bullet points accelerates the process. And if you group your ideas by category on PowerPoint pages, and shift the order around, it becomes much easier to identify the proper structure.

And Chris, no need to envy. Trust me, I’m not perfect in executing my focused approach. The times I am – I get a ton done. But I’m also human, work at home where my family can interrupt me any time, am often sleep deprived due to my 1 & 3 year-old kids, am busy enough that my own projects fall behind, and some days I just want to get out of my office – making productivity challenging.

These things happen all the time. I’m just fortunate that I’ve found a way to get tons of work done in small blocks.

And Chris, no need to envy. Trust me, I’m not perfect in executing my focused approach. The times I am – I get a ton done. But I’m also human, work at home where my family can interrupt me any time, am often sleep deprived due to my 1 & 3 year-old kids, am busy enough that my own projects fall behind, and some days I just want to get out of my office – making productivity challenging.

These things happen all the time. I’m just fortunate that I’ve found a way to get tons of work done in small blocks.

That’s the problem I have – sometimes I don’t know when to stop and I wind up with less quality plus nothing else around here gets done. Ok. I’m applying those wise words right now and I’m going to fold the laundry!

That’s the problem I have – sometimes I don’t know when to stop and I wind up with less quality plus nothing else around here gets done. Ok. I’m applying those wise words right now and I’m going to fold the laundry!