Can Understanding Psychology Really Help You As a Writer?

To go along with yesterday's book review by a psychotherapist, today we have a site with tons of resources for writers who want to tap into psychological information to improve their characters. It's called Archetype: the fiction writer's guide to psychology.

The site is run by Carolyn Kaufman, who has a doctorate in psychology. Kaufman has also written a book, The Writer's Guide to Psychology. This site is so chock full of information, it's difficult to give you the entire scope. But I'll give it a try.

Using psychology in your writing. The more I read on this site, the more I want to read. So many articles that will strengthen my story. How about things like: what will your character do when disaster strikes? Of course, we plan trials for our characters. Understanding how they ought to realistically react will help the story resonate with readers. Another great article is: the other in fiction--creating wonderfully wicked villains. There are many more articles on this page. Articles for writing romance, understanding archetypes, and forensic science & forensic psychology. And if you've ever wanted to feel comfortable using "shrink lingo", this is the place to practice.

Villains and Heroes. Hopefully, your characters have some depth. You've thought through their backstory and have created realistic internal issues that cause their external motivations. The Archetype site helps you visualize some of that with a psychological analysis of media characters. Ever wondered what Anakin Skywalker's diagnosis would have been? Check out the fascinating case study. How about the villains in the Batman movies? You'll find profiles of them, as well.

Writing Essentials. The writing essentials page collects articles on strong stories, characterization, and genre writing. It includes an 8-part series on finding your novel's pulse by the fabulous Holly Lisle, and a 3-part series on urban fantasy.

You mean there's more? Yup. You can ask questions specific to your story, or read the questions others have posted. Things like "What would it take to set off a killing spree in two angry teenage misfits?" There are story starters and idea generators. Visual prompts and help for those struggling with writer's block. Information on editing your story, how to query and find an agent or publisher, and even a fantastic blog.

So, I'd better stop blogging and finish reading some more articles. How about you?