The writing/reading zone?

I have a question for you guys. I thought every writer/reader experienced this, until I was talking to a writer friend about it, and apparently she hasn't experienced this while writing, though she has while reading.

When I write or read, sometimes I will go into 'the zone' where the world around me literally cancels out. Sound, sights, awareness-- all gone. It's just me and the story. Then, suddenly, I'll come back, and it's like pulling out of a tunnel and I realize where I am again.

Do you experience the zone while reading? Or writing?

mostly while reading but when I am writing something that I am putting the whole of me in then I leave this world and am living what I write which is very useful for inventing continuations of stories

Yes! I used to be able to read in the middle of the living room, with 3 loud children running around me, a movie on, and people carrying a conversation. Mom'd have to call me four times before I heard my name. I don't know if I can still do that, I haven't tried in a while. But I know I can still get totally lost in a book.

With writing, I can get into the zone even if there's noise... But I can't if they're are other people around. And even if I'm in the zone, if my Mom comes in and bugs me, it's gone with a "poof!"

@Stephen Yes, same here!

@Constance *nods* Yeah! I'll bet you could still go there, if it were a REALLY good book!

Probably. *curious to test it*

I definitely get into the zone with a really good book, though I don't read near people or most other distracting things--I get lost to time. Reading the last half of Jane Eyre, I stayed up til 6 in the morning.

For writing, I have to be in a pretty stimulus-free environment to begin with--preferably dark, with only my writing music playing, b/c I am WAY too easily distracted *goes to play Spider Solitaire one more time*. But when I'm really excited about a scene and get into what may be referred to as 'the ZONE', I don't even hear the music anymore and the words just flow onto the page. These scenes generally end up being some of my best stuff. I wish I could bottle the ZONE and take sips as needed, lol.

I didn't used to get into 'the zone', and I think it may have to do with growing skill, in my case. I always have this list of things I know I have problems with in mind while writing, like description, emotion, was/were's, ect. When I'm having to correct myself too much, I don't quite get into the zone where everything's sunshine and perfection, lol, but after having the items on the list fully ingrained, I tend to not need to think so much on the fixing and write that way naturally. And then I enter 'the zone'. Of course, I'll soon be made aware of another problem and have to go through the integration process again for it, with no zone for me until it's been fully acknowledged.

I think I feel really bad for people who have never experienced 'the zone' because to me, it's amazing. :] That's my favorite part about reading/writing. I get so sucked into the made up world & feel like I'm the MC. For me, it's a way to escape reality, even if it is just for a little while.

@shahira I totally agree with you

@Amanda That's awesome! And yes, I agree with you, I think it comes with growing (while writing).

@Shahira I TOTALLY agree!!

I love 'the zone'! The first time I remember being in it was when I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. It's the book inspiration for me. Every time I read Goose Girl I'm like, I want to write like that. (And of course, my next zone experience was Harry Potter. )

I first entered the writing zone in 9th grade for my short story project. It was such a thrill that I literally got an adrenaline rush, and my hands started shaking. (But that part might've been from exhaustion…heh.) It was like stream-of-consciousness writing, because there was no thought involved, just action. And the product wasn't total crap either, which I was pleasantly surprised with, since it was due in six hours. (I stayed up till 5, and the only edit I did was spell check. )

I've been in 'the zone' a couple times since--mainly when I let my characters rule and do whatever they want. I then forget myself and feel like I am the story. It's awesome.

Renee wrote:I love 'the zone'! The first time I remember being in it was when I read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. It's the book inspiration for me. Every time I read Goose Girl I'm like, I want to write like that. (And of course, my next zone experience was Harry Potter. )

I first entered the writing zone in 9th grade for my short story project. It was such a thrill that I literally got an adrenaline rush, and my hands started shaking. (But that part might've been from exhaustion…heh.) It was like stream-of-consciousness writing, because there was no thought involved, just action. And the product wasn't total crap either, which I was pleasantly surprised with, since it was due in six hours. (I stayed up till 5, and the only edit I did was spell check. )

I've been in 'the zone' a couple times since--mainly when I let my characters rule and do whatever they want. I then forget myself and feel like I am the story. It's awesome.

Is this really Renee? o.O

But that's cool!! I don't think I've EVER been in the zone for a school project... but it's super cool you did. XD

Yep. Especially with reading, but also with writing. It's a side-effect of doing everything too fast.