Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

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.

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 .

Do not use this tag to ask about writing for psychology, such as when writing a psychological guide, or when asking about psychological aspects of your in your writing.

67 questions
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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 casual writing) Writers please help me: What process…
thedancingqueen
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12 answers

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 all of this is standing simply written down as…
Bojilov
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35
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15 answers

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 down seem wonderful. But just recently, as soon as…
robertcday
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34
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12 answers

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. Being a very unstable, stressed out, and prone to…
Liquid
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14 answers

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 chapter might be portrayed in a light mood, while…
Clangorous Chimera
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9 answers

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 really not that good, what if I am simply an…
kom
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11 answers

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 down the story to kind of remind the player that…
Kale Slade
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8 answers

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-Briggs personality tests and many of us with the…
Seanchaí
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28
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14 answers

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 writing material that you're pretty sure no one else…
Chris Sunami
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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 story in discovery writing way. At the moment I…
The White Cloud
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10 answers

Act 3 totally broken...keep writing?

I'm ready to enter the final act, Act 3, of my (first big) story and by now I'm pretty sure I'll have to rewrite 50-70% in ACT 1 and 2. I outlined the whole story but it is clear that my main hero is boring, his motivations (and story arc) change…
Tim Dams
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5 answers

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 issues: When I am working on my (longer) writing,…
Chris Sunami
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8 answers

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 my beta readers on the first scene in which I was…
Dawn Kelli
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17 answers

What should step one in writing a novel be?

I have had an interest in writing for years, but I don't know where to start or how to organize the process of "becoming a writer." I have plenty of time, but don't know what to do first. This past week, I decided that I want to try to write…
user153
16
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7 answers

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 have a list of what I consider the major plot…
White Eagle
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