How do you get into the "zone"?

i often have this problem. i think all writers probably must sometimes. I always bring a coffee to my desk with me. coffee helps me. i sometimes find it helps to listen to music that matches the mood of what i want to write before i start writing, but if i liten to it while im trying to write, it becomes a distraction. it sometimes helps m to read things other people have written, to sort of put me into the liturate state of mind and think about writing. it also helps me if i make a short summary of the events/details i need to write about in my next few pages of writing. also, i find that if i can force out jsut a couple of sentences, even if they're from the middle of what i need to write, it helps get the creative jjuices flowing and the words will come to me, and then i can go back and fill in the stuff before and after the sentences i wrote. i also have trouble with 'writers' anxiety' where i worry about how i'll write something good enough for my readers, and am a good enough writer to write this ok and such. I can't write until i'v alleiviated these worries. i'd really appreciate some more tips from other writers!

I'm having trouble with this at the moment. I just can't seem to get my head into the right place to write. I write both fictional stories and factual articles, and I just can't get it. Hopefully this discussion will give me some ideas.

I try to write early in the day while my brain is still fresh and no one else is home to distract me! My four-year-old granddaughter is usually here in the afternoon and seems to think it's my job to entertain her! Oh, and plenty of coffee!

I heard it said that writers are the ohnly ones that would rather scrub toilets than write, mostly because the task at hand seems so overwhelming. I am a freelance writer and write about non fiction topics. I don't really get in the zome per se. I have topics assigned to me that i need to cover (with the writing gig that i am working on) and i just sit down and work. By watching tv and reading, I usually get a plethora of ideas for mylot...life is truly stranger than fiction.....if i get stuck for an idea i hit my favourite chat line or go on ebay or hit mylot for a couple of minutes, then i go back...i usually reread the sentance and go from there....... i dont know if this answers your question, but this is what i do...

The "zone" is usually for me after listening to soft R&B songs past midnight. Then, I'll drink some soda, crank out a chapter and go to bed. Or I'll write when I have some free time while waiting at the doctor's office or something like that. For me, when I want to write, I don't need much, but I do enjoy being mentally relaxed. Getting in that state is not difficult for me if I've accomplished what I needed to during the day.

Usually it's just laziness that prevents me from writing. Some days I just need a swift kick in the butt. But if I am having difficulty creatively, I can rectify the situation by going on a walk, drinking more coffee, or some scotch (which is unavailable in my present location).

I've been having horrible writer's block lately, so I need to find a better routine I suppose...I usually listen to music, and stick a random DVD on my TV so a show won't distract me...I'm getting a laptop though which i think will help as I really cannot concentrate when I'm at my computer desk, and get hand cramps after writing for a while...

To get myself to write, I go to places where I have nothing to do but write. This means I end up following my mom to long doctors appointments. If there's nothing else to do but write, I'll write. Its easier to get me to write when I can do other things if the computer is in a private room. I'm glad that my home computer was moved to a bedroom since I can close the door when I'm writing. I feel that if anyone can catch a glimpse of what I'm writing, that they'll criticize me and put me in a bad mood.