{"id":30820,"date":"2026-09-04T01:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=30820"},"modified":"2026-09-03T03:50:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T10:50:40","slug":"finding-the-flow-by-catharine-bramkamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/04\/finding-the-flow-by-catharine-bramkamp\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the Flow by Catharine Bramkamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Finding<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back monthly columnist Catharine Bramkamp<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cFinding the Flow.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

What is it like to be in flow?<\/p>\n

You probably know.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

But while we are here, let\u2019s unpack flow in the context of art.<\/p>\n

The Autotelic Experience<\/h2>\n

Flow is an autotelic experience — autos (self) and telos (end or goal) which identifies an activity as one of doing, not producing.<\/p>\n

What is the best part of writing?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Writing.<\/p>\n

What is the most annoying feature of authorship?<\/p>\n

Publishing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back to doing.<\/p>\n

Video game play is one of the best examples of flow.<\/p>\n

Video games are built to exploit<\/strong> the autotelic experience.<\/p>\n

The games are \u201caddictive\u201d because the space is so satisfying — transforming the player into another time and space.<\/p>\n

You can experience flow by playing video games, but a better use of your time is to pursue flow through art.<\/p>\n

Finding the Balance Between Challenge and Skill<\/h2>\n

A satisfying writing project balances challenge and skill.<\/p>\n

If a project or a job is too difficult for us<\/strong>, we experience frustration.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s too easy, we become bored.<\/p>\n

In flow there is a match, like the perfect Pickleball five-minute volley — flow.<\/p>\n

In flow, our actions and awareness are merged.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our minds are not off on the usual guilt trip; they are right here with our body.<\/p>\n

We are engrossed in a new fingering technique, getting the paint color exactly right, carefully wiring the gingerbread house for lights.<\/p>\n

We are not worried<\/strong>, and we are not overthinking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s heaven.<\/p>\n

Flow Keeps Us in the Present<\/h2>\n

Along with merging action and awareness, the flow state forces focus.<\/p>\n

Our minds can\u2019t wander when we are cutting fabric<\/strong>, or learning a dance step, or listening for our cue.<\/p>\n

This kind of concentration keeps us in the present, and out of our worries and regrets.<\/p>\n

Flow means there is no failure; it\u2019s all about process.<\/p>\n

When we are involved<\/strong>, we are all in the present, the doing.<\/p>\n

Afterwards we say, — wow that was fun!<\/p>\n

We also say that went so fast!<\/p>\n

I love how flow disappears my ego.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am so involved in making sure I\u2019m following the dance and listening to the music cues that I even forget to suck in my stomach.<\/p>\n

When you are in flow, you lose complete track of time.<\/p>\n

Time flies by, or it slows<\/strong>; it doesn\u2019t matter; our art stretches and contracts time like taffy.<\/p>\n

What Happens When We\u2019re in Flow<\/h2>\n

When we are in flow, we:<\/p>\n