Questions tagged [psychology-of-writing]
This tag should be used for questions that deal with the psychological aspects of the task of writing something, such as when asking about the feelings you have before, during and after your writing or about the psychological background of getting yourself to work by for example setting goals and treating yourself to for example cookies after you have finished your current writing goal.
66
questions
1
vote
2
answers
193
views
How can I write like Fyodor Dostoevsky?
I want to write a book like Fyodor Dostoevsky.
If you read "Crime and Punishment", you know he does not describe his characters with clothes and appearances, he describes their minds.
I don'...
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to push through your inner critic
I'm a real perfectionist and the cringe I often feel at what I write is quite strong and distracting. It's taking the enjoyment out of writing and I'm finding it hard to avoid focusing on how bad my ...
- 617
5
votes
1
answer
620
views
What is this linguistic device called?
Consider these two sentences:
I was considering taking a taxi, but realized that Uber was cheaper and more convenient, anyway.
I was considering taking a taxi, but then I was like, "Hey, Uber ...
- 51
2
votes
3
answers
172
views
Does making a young protagonist necessarily mean that it is a children/preteen book?
I don't know why I always like to write things where my MCs are young, and when I say young, I mean from 7 to 14 years old. Maybe it makes it much easier and more comfortable for me to write, ...
- 956
2
votes
4
answers
273
views
How do you write a character that has a different worldview than your own?
I'm trying to figure out how to write a character that has a radically different worldview from my own while still keeping it logically consistent. I know there are a lot of questions about how to ...
- 4,647
9
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How to avoid overdoing deconstructive tendencies in writing?
The Issue
I'm a person who likes to take things apart to see how they work, and someone who likes to poke holes in ideas. As a result, it's not surprising that I've always been drawn to a writing ...
- 4,647
2
votes
2
answers
438
views
Expanding ideas into novels
A lot of tiny ideas come to my mind but I don't know how to work on them and expand them into "valuable, satisfying, and worth of reading novels", and as a result, I lose motivation and give ...
- 956
3
votes
4
answers
181
views
How to deal with fears of author mortality when writing?
I have a story that I have been working on on and off since 2011. It's a plot idea that I really find interesting and it really means a lot to me.
I also struggle a lot with treatment-resistant ...
- 4,647
0
votes
2
answers
61
views
Aside from military, how do I write strategy in seemingly ordinary settings (something going on beneath the surface)?
The question says it all, but the only results I'm getting are battlefield scenarios that wouldn't translate well into the themes of my own story--which is more about escape, scheming, tactics, ...
- 1
0
votes
5
answers
212
views
How can I overcome that paralyzing fear that my writing isn’t good enough
I've written a large section of my book. The questions that keep haunting me are: Is this story unique? Will people like it? I think it's becoming repetitive. Will the characters be loved? And a lot ...
- 476
9
votes
4
answers
657
views
How do you get feedback when sharing your ideas makes you not want to write?
I have a problem in that if I ever tell people about my story ideas, I lose motivation and eventually stop working on them. If I do not tell them I feel like I have pressure to get the story "out ...
- 4,647
15
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Doubt on the trope "power trio": what are their psychological basis?
I will gather some non-standard characters in this question. Suppose then the Powerpuff Girls, Team Sonic, Totally Spies, Kanker Sisters (Ed, Edd n Eddy), and so on.[1]
Every time we can identify some ...
- 683
0
votes
2
answers
69
views
Creative evolution of the craft of writing [closed]
What according to your understanding liberates a writer from the constraints of a restricted imagination and a restrained style arising out of naïve reverence and limited cognizance of the aesthetics, ...
- 11
11
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How do you prevent a character from being a creator's pet?
I have a character that I really like. They were originally intended to be the main villain for a particular story arc and then get killed off for good at the end, but I felt they were really ...
- 4,647
1
vote
4
answers
212
views
How to deal with fan's wants/criticism with a series?
This is particularly aimed at those who have written/published a series. So, a lot of my ideas involve serious commitment over several short volumes, To make one ultimate story. However, while much of ...
- 2,653
3
votes
5
answers
235
views
How to write about a character adversely different to you
So, I am very naturally a nice person. I respect everyone unless they have well and truly wronged me. I go out of my way to help those who need it. Stuff like that. I am naturally a helpful and nice ...
- 2,653
4
votes
5
answers
242
views
Is writing about your childhood in creative writing/fiction class necessary?
I have the same teacher for both a Journaling autobiographical class and a fictional writing class. While I expected to have to write about my personal life with one, she seems determined to have me ...
13
votes
4
answers
337
views
Getting an editor after the second draft
Losely related with my latest question: Should one invest in a professional editor before querying?
I've finished - not without sweat - my second draft. While I'm satisfied with the overall result, I ...
- 15.8k
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Does writing regular diary entries count as writing practice?
One of the most common pieces of writing advice I hear is that you should write frequently and often. Writing regular entries in a diary should fit this criteria, but I'm hesistant to call my years of ...
- 103
28
votes
14
answers
5k
views
What's the point of writing that I know will never be used or read?
Writing can be a very difficult, frustrating, stressful and effortful process. It can also be very isolating to the writer. Given that writing is a form of communication, what is the point of ...
- 56.5k
24
votes
6
answers
5k
views
How do discovery writers hibernate?
I am 20% outliner and 80% discovery writer, (I know many will object that this is not possible) meaning, I have a very brief outline of what is going to happen in the end and then I go on filling the ...
- 2,419
14
votes
6
answers
3k
views
How important are the author's mood and feelings for writing a story?
How important are the author's mood and emotions while writing a story or describing a scene?
For example, while writing an erotic scene, is it important for the author to feel the same way as they ...
- 1,223
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
How can I efficiently write down my personal problems for further auto-analysis? [closed]
When I have some personal problems in relationships or there are worrying issues about life in general and I am really upset about the situation, in order to “solve it”, or efficiently think about it, ...
- 111
5
votes
1
answer
114
views
Why is it that when I get to the end of writing my book, I get discombobulated and want to give up? [duplicate]
I've noticed this about most of the books I write, except for my short stories/novellas. When I get close to writing the end, my thoughts become a chaotic mess, and I don't know how to properly ...
- 1,075
17
votes
8
answers
3k
views
I wrote a scene that the majority of my readers loved. How do I get back to that place while writing my new book?
I wrote a scene that I put my heart and soul into. It was received well by most of my readers, but I'm struggling with crafting a new scene for a book I'm currently writing. Here's some comments from ...
- 1,075
31
votes
11
answers
9k
views
How to detach yourself from a character you're going to kill?
So, in a WW2-ish story featuring a co-ed military, I have a female soldier who is very kind and caring. I'm setting her up to be a mascot and somewhat of the postergirl. Trouble is, she dies further ...
- 2,653
2
votes
1
answer
200
views
Can one start the second draft when the first lacks a proper ending?
I'm close to ending my first draft, literally being to the last or second-to-last chapter. I'm suffering from a strange form of writer's block, though, since I can't seem to come up with a satisfying ...
- 15.8k
31
votes
9
answers
6k
views
How do you cope with rejection?
I know that Bradbury was rejected about 800 times. I know the famous JK Rowling story. Yet the question is lurking in my mind, becoming stronger and clearer with each rejection: what if?
What if I am ...
- 475
6
votes
4
answers
744
views
Writing about oneself objectively
I was recently updating some of my Stack Exchange profiles and I remembered how much I hate writing about myself. It isn't just Stack Exchange profiles either. It's resume cover letters. It's college ...
- 4,451
11
votes
5
answers
1k
views
If you're not a professional, what motivates you to keep writing? [closed]
Writing.
There comes a time in my daily routine. I get a striking idea. A topic to write in my blog. A pondering about a specific event that happened hours ago. As a working professional (not as a ...
- 880
54
votes
7
answers
7k
views
How do I go from 300 unfinished/half written blog posts, to published posts?
Goal: To publish a blogpost 2 times/month (from once in 4 months)
Currently: 300 blog posts in drafts/unfinished. I even have three 20k word unfinished novellas gathering dust. (Over 5 years of ...
- 645
4
votes
1
answer
162
views
Avoiding burnout
As a writer, I sometimes have trouble seeing a project to the end. Sometimes it is because I reach an impasse. Sometimes it is because I choose to scrap it for whatever personal reason. And sometimes ...
- 4,451
3
votes
2
answers
83
views
Publishers that drag their feet
How do you deal with frustration over a publisher's choices?
All the stories and art for an anthology are in the publisher's hands—camera ready in digital form—and approved (deadline was 4 months ago)...
- 32.4k
30
votes
8
answers
4k
views
How do you get out of your own psychology to write characters?
What are the best ways you find to get out of your own habitual thought patterns, personality, dispositions, and culture when writing characters?
For example, we are all familiar with the Myers-...
- 661
4
votes
3
answers
287
views
Characters jumping out of their stories
I just read an article online and thought "this is great, I should forward the link to Phoebe."
Phoebe is one of my characters.
I've already had characters tell me how they would speak or dress, ...
- 32.4k
2
votes
3
answers
223
views
Once written down it's set in stone
What's the strange property/disease/habit called in which you need everything you write down to be 'the truth' once it's written down. Even while drafting, resulting in not daring to change past ...
- 422
0
votes
2
answers
120
views
Music & Focus During Writing [closed]
I hate listening to silence while I write, so I usually end up listening to music, but then I lose my focus. I don't really like classical or lo-fi that much and they don't help me concentrate on the ...
user34214
34
votes
12
answers
9k
views
How can you write when you're upset?
I mean exactly this.
Writing needs focus, to some extent. Even if you may fall into a state were words flow naturally on the keyboard almost without effort, you still have to reach that condition.
...
- 15.8k
16
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How to survive editing
I am currently trying to edit a one my most recent novel. Trying is the keyword. I asked a few people to read my book as beta readers, but all of them have been busy, so no progress on that front.
I ...
- 2,232
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Should I take breaks, or focus harder?
I often have trouble deciding whether (or how often) to take breaks from writing, or to "double down" and try to write, and try to eliminate anything distracting me from that.
I am not looking for ...
- 7,743
11
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Fiction Writing - has it all been done before?
It's a simple fact the there are more fiction books in existence now than one person could possibly read in a lifetime. Add to this the supposition that all plots, themes and genres have been ...
- 7,743
6
votes
5
answers
508
views
Concentration whilst Writing
The mental aspect of the physical act of writing is giving me some trouble recently. In other words - I think that I'm thinking too much as I'm writing and it seems to be interfering with my ...
- 7,743
13
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Restarting a Novel
In 2015 I wrote the first two thirds of a novel (as part of NaNoWriMo). I stopped at that point because I had written the 50,000 words required for the 'competition' but the story is not yet complete. ...
- 7,743
13
votes
9
answers
2k
views
Do writers write philosophical essays?
I'm son to two philosophers, and maybe this shaped too much my way of understanding the world. I think a lot, or maybe thinking means a lot to me. And, mainly, I think about art questions and art ...
- 141
35
votes
15
answers
5k
views
The psychology of starting a piece of writing
I have a problem when it comes to writing (blog posts, stories and novels). It might just be me, but maybe other people have experienced it too? When I come to start writing, my ideas before I sit ...
- 7,743
20
votes
5
answers
2k
views
The psychology of finishing a piece of fiction
I have a psychological oddity when it comes to my own writing (particularly fiction, and particularly longer work). Obviously it may just be a personal problem, but perhaps other people have similar ...
- 56.5k
36
votes
12
answers
8k
views
Want to write, have ideas, no story telling techniques or experience, feeling lost?
I have developed a sci-fi/fantasy mixed universe with many characters, good amount of background lore and I have a plot for at least two different stories each for a single/multi novel length. So far ...
- 463
32
votes
14
answers
6k
views
How can I get into the mindset to write?
Depending on the weather, the days events, and other factors, I find myself with a different emotion everyday when I write which I'm afraid is making my novel a little bit choppy. For example, one ...
3
votes
6
answers
241
views
I have lots of ideas to write, what should I do? And what writing groups online that can keep me motivated?
I have three different ideas for three novel series , each one of them needs work on plot holes, world building and reasoning.
My problem is that I wish to do them all but I get overwhelmed and I get ...
- 31
5
votes
6
answers
516
views
What should I do when I'm bored of my story but don't want to throw it away?
So I recently started writing a book and decided that I should plan first because in the past while writing I lost the point of the story and lost interest in writing that particular project.
But ...
- 53