Psychology for Writers

Insights for the writer and the writing

by Carolyn Kaufman, PsyD

Do You Get Defensive When You Get Feedback?

If you get defensive when you get feedback, maybe what's really getting in between you and a great story (and publication) is a bruised ego. Read on to find out if you're undermining yourself! Read More

Finding a Good Therapist

So you (or your character) are looking for a therapist. What should you look for? How will you find a good one? (Conversely, if you want to portray a rotten therapist for your character, have her ignore all of what follows!) Read More

Personality Tests for Your Characters

Learn how to use psychological personality tests to construct unique character profiles and better understand why your characters do what they do! Read More

Nonverbal Communication and Your Characters

Though most people appreciate that information is communicated through body language and vocal tone, they don't usually realize just how much. In fact, words are only part of the message in face-to-face communication; vocal tone and nonverbals are also extremely important! As a result, we often give away more about ourselves than we intend to. Read More

What Should I Write About?

You want to write a new book, but you're not sure what to write about. Use this 3-step process to get unstuck! Read More

Confronting Terror

Why is Halloween so alluring? Maybe because it provides people with a safe way to confront existential fears about death and personal darkness. Read More

A Wrong Answer is a Creative Answer

One of the biggest barriers to creativity is this notion of the "right" answer. We spend our lives being taught to look for and respond with a predetermined answer some other person discovered or delineated, so of course when we want to come up with something original, we're stymied. Find out how to get unstuck! Read More

What Really Drives Your Characters?

There are a lot of Character Outline guides out there, but few dig deeply into what really drives a character to the point of obsession. In this post, learn how to suss out your character's terrible secrets, fears, and flaws to create more compelling stories! Read More

Writer's Block and Burnout: Getting Unstuck

Interview with Emmy award-winning writer Gene Perret on beating writer's block and burnout and getting your book written now! Read More

Where Can I Get Ideas? That's the Wrong Question

Mental sets are thinking patterns that keep us stuck, and wondering where others get their ideas is part of a mental set that keeps us from being productive with our own. Read More

Music Therapy for Writers: Q&A with Kimberly Sena Moore

How music can help writers—and their characters. A Q&A with board-certified music therapist Kimberly Sena Moore. Read More

All You Need to Know is I'm a 2 x 5: Sexism in Satoshi Kanazawa's PT Post

I have an issue with Satoshi Kanazawa's now-infamous Psychology Today post for reasons beyond its racism, and that's its sexism. Women's looks are seen as paramount in our society and as such, they're constantly being rated. Women who are seen as lacking are slurred mercilessly. Read More

Triggering the "Warrior Gene" in a Villain or Hero

More and more research is suggesting that your villain's (or hero's) coldblooded aggression may be due to biological priming. And specific kinds of training and pressure can encourage people to indulge that tendency. Read on for more about the MAO-A "warrior gene" and psychological triggers for aggression. Read More

Should Your Character Really Get A Diagnosis?

A lot of writers are eager to diagnose their characters with a disorder when a diagnosis might be either too extreme or misleading for the story. The problem appears in all types of media! Read More

Fighting Hidden Assumptions About Psychology in the Media

Everyone relies on assumptions to save time and cognitive energy in familiar situations. We can adjust those assumptions when we get new or conflicting information, but only if we realize the existing assumptions are flawed. Here are some ways to weed out and eliminate hidden misconceptions. Read More

What You Think You Know About Psychology May Be Wrong

Real psychology and the psychology you see in the media—in books, on television, and in movies—aren't always the same thing. In fact, sometimes they're totally different. As audiences get savvier, all those little misconceptions are becoming big, glaring inaccuracies that have the potential to stop the reader or viewer cold.

Writers sometimes send their (anti)heroes to therapy just to prove how badass the character is -- a cliche that overlooks the ways a more realistic portrayal might up the stakes and add conflict to the story. Read More

Should You Keep Personal Issues Out of Your Writing?

When we write stories, we exorcise relevant life themes onto the page, sometimes over and over. So how do we avoid doing that -- and should we? Read More

Psychotic or Psychopathic? on the Vampire Diaries

On a recent episode of the CW's Vampire Diaries, heroine Elena Gilbert's sneering insult fell a little flat when she accidentally called antihero Damon Salvatore "psychotic" rather than "psychopathic." It's a mistake lots of writers make -- here's info on how the two terms are different so you don't fall prey to the same error!

One-dimensional villains are far too common in fiction. You know the type: arrogant, slick, evil, and therefore psychologically unbalanced. But like a cardboard cutout purchased in a novelty shop, the one-dimensional villain is disappointingly easy to knock over. Here's how to flesh out your villains so they have a lasting impact. Read More

The Problem with Haunted Asylums

"Haunted" places are popular Halloween attractions, but seasonal haunted asylums draw fire from mental health advocacy groups, who argue that they contribute to stigma by encouraging false stereotypes. Writers, seeing how popular such attractions are, may be tempted to grab a scary but worn stereotype when they're better served by delving beneath the cliché. Read More

Carolyn Kaufman, Psy.D., is an Assistant Professor at Columbus State Community College and author of The Writer’s Guide to Psychology.

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About Psychology for Writers

Psychology for Writers provides insights for the writer and the writing: here we delve into how writers can use psychology effectively in their stories, as well as how they can improve their creativity, writing process, and productivity