How to use Psychology in your Book Writing Journey

The Power of Psychology in Writing Books

Psychology is not just a subject studied in colleges and universities. It is a powerful tool that we can use in our daily lives to understand ourselves and others better and it is certainly useful as a tool we can use in our books. From enhancing our communication skills to improving our decision-making, the application of psychological principles can enhance our personal and professional lives and our storytelling. I've been using psychology for years, having first formally studied the discipline in the early 1990s. 

Improving Communication

One of the key areas where psychology can be usefully applied is communication. By understanding the psychological principles behind how people interpret information and respond to it, we can become more effective communicators. This involves being aware of both verbal and non-verbal cues and understanding how our words and actions can impact others. But how do we bring this into our books and our storytelling? Well, with caution and by using the 'right' principles at the 'right' time in your book. By this I mean, don't just throw in psychological phrases or theories. Ensure they 'fit'. Ensure they are clear. And ensure they are not either outdated or just plain wrong. 

The Role of Active Listening

Active listening is a psychological technique that involves fully focusing on, understanding, and responding to a speaker. It goes beyond simply hearing what someone is saying – it involves showing empathy and understanding, which can greatly improve our personal and professional relationships. Try to use this with your characters and allow them to evolve as your book gathers momentum. 

Enhancing Decision-Making

We can also apply psychology to improve our decision-making skills. By understanding cognitive biases – systematic errors in thinking that can affect our decisions and judgments – we can make more rational and informed decisions. For instance, understanding the confirmation bias (the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs) can help us to be more open-minded and considerate of different perspectives. A great example of this is the Victorian detective, Sherlock Holmes, who always sought evidence, and we see this in modern crime novels. The great crime novel characters (I'm thinking here of John Connolly's Charlie Parker) always look at the evidence and are prepared to both research and change their minds when presented with evidence.  

Understanding the Impact of Emotions

Emotions can influence our decision-making process. By understanding this, we can ensure that we are not making impulsive decisions based on temporary emotions, but making rational decisions based on careful consideration. How often do we see characters acting impulsively when they could have stepped back and more objectively examined and assessed a situation they find themselves in? Of course, sometimes we want our characters to act impulsively as it adds drama and intrigue. But always aim for consistency in this depiction. 

Boosting Motivation and Productivity

Psychology can also enhance our motivation and productivity. Understanding what motivates us, how to set achievable goals, and how to manage our time effectively are all psychological principles that can help us be more productive in our personal and professional lives. This applies to the book writing journey as much as anything else in life. 

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a psychological principle that involves adding a positive stimulus to encourage a behaviour. This could be something as simple as rewarding ourselves with a break after completing a difficult chapter, which can significantly boost our motivation and productivity to continue on in our book writing journey.

In conclusion, psychology is a powerful tool that can be applied in various aspects of our daily lives, including our lives as authors and bloggers. By understanding and applying a range of psychological principles, we can become better communicators, make more informed decisions, and enhance our motivation and productivity. All of us want to complete books we write, and there are easier and harder ways of making this happen. Psychology is definitely my friend in this endeavour.