A unique and indispensable reference guide for writers.
Writers frequently write about mental illness and psychological
motivations, but all too often they use terms and concepts that are
clichéd, outmoded or just plain wrong. Written by a clinical
psychologist who is also a professional writer and writing coach, The
Writer's Guide to Psychology is an authoritative, accessible, fun,
and easy-to-use reference to psychological disorders, diagnosis,
treatments, psychotherapists' work and what really makes psychopathic
villains tick.
Did you know that serial killers are almost never psychotic? That modern
electroshock therapy doesn't cause convulsions? That many
psychotherapists think examining your childhood is unimportant--or even
irrelevant--to therapy? Those are just a few of the hundreds of
myth-busting facts in The Writer's Guide to Psychology. The only
reference book on clinical and counseling psychology designed
specifically for the needs of writers, The Writer's Guide to
Psychology presents specific writing dos and don'ts to avoid the
psychobabble clichés and misunderstandings frequently seen in popular
writing. The book's extensive sidebars include Q&As from real writers,
information on controversial treatments and issues, tips for using
realistic psychology to create complex and compelling characters, and
Don't Let This Happen to You! boxes that humorously expose mortifying
mistakes in fiction, film and TV--and teach you how to get it right in
your own writing.
Written in an approachable, easy-to-understand style that's perfect for
both in-depth study and quick answers to specific questions, The
Writer's Guide to Psychology is a unique combination of accurate
psychology, myth-busting information and practical guidance that belongs
on every writer's reference shelf.
