Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web.
Of course I am going to like an article on phsychology and writing! But Robert Wood is correct, have some good psychological theories is key to understanding how we interact and how we are motivated. So head on over to Standout Books to check it out. You can lie on your couch if it will make you feel better but don’t blame your mother.
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Psychology 101: Knowledge That Will Improve Your Writing – Part 1
by
For many authors, psychology is a godsend, lending them new insights into the workings of the human mind that take their work to the next level. Not only that, but many psychological theories and experiments make their way into the cultural landscape, shaping what readers expect from their stories and what’s considered realistic in fiction.
Because of this, it’s necessary for authors to have a basic understanding of the most popular psychological case studies and theories. These are the theories that readers are familiar with, in one form or another, and which help to shape the artistic space into which new writing is released.
That’s why, in this article, I’ll be looking at nine cases and theories that authors should know about – a Psychology 101 for lovers of literature. I’ll cover some of the concepts that have most shaped art, or that are most likely to be familiar to readers. Some may help you write more compelling characters, some may help you understand what readers want from your writing, and some will just bring you up to speed with pop culture’s understanding of how the brain works.
Read the full post on Standout Books.
I just attended the Writer’s Digest Conference and as always, I returned home tired and full of inspiration. But there’s something that has stuck in my mind that is nagging at me. Saturday afternoon, I was sitting in the lobby, chatting with several aspiring writers who had a lot of questions about the industry and genre categories among other things. At one point, I overheard a conversation between two attendees adjacent to me. One of the writers turns to another and says, “Isn’t this so great? I’ve met a lot of people, exchanged cards with them.” Etc. Etc. But the other person shrugged and said, “I guess, but I think it’s lame the way these things are all about sponging off of the wannabes to make a bunch of money.”
I’ve spent the last eight months writing a novel, and I’m now closing in on the finish.
If you’ve written nonfiction for any length of time, particularly if you write in a specialized “niche,”it’s possible to reach a point when you feel as if you’ve run out of fresh ideas. You’ve done all the seasonal stories, covered all the breaking developments in your field—and the ideas for your next feature just aren’t coming. You’ve reached what we in the industry politely refer to as a “dry spell,” although when you’re in one, it more often feels like you’ve crash-landed in the desert.
As we’re going deeper into the ten key scenes you need for the first layer in your novel, I want to explore the midpoint some more. I wrote about that 50% mark of your novel in 
by David Gaugharan
What Makes An Iconic Character? (And How Can You Create One?)
Why is it so many new novels are—to be blunt—crap? How can we find an author we love with one book, then all the love goes away with the next? What’s going wrong? What’s missing? Where did everything go wrong?How can we learn and do better?
This question single-handedly turned around my writing career. It has become the first thing I ask my characters as I devise new and better ways to torture them along the road to their happily-ever-after. First, though, let me give credit where credit is due.
One of the things I love to do is go shopping at specialty markets, and Los Angeles has so many great places. The Mexican grocery store down the street carries real bologna, the kind with the red strip around it. My great aunt in Newfoundland used to fry pieces up for breakfast, so being able to do the same for my kids shares wonderful memories. They also have a fantastic deli and bakery. Today I am going to a Chinese market and can’t wait to see what I find there.
Think about some of your favorite series – either books or TV shows. Why do you keep going back for more? 