This episode continues a short series on the psychology of writing, looking at the stories we tell ourselves when we tell stories. Here I look at the many ways in which we might tell ourselves we're not writing the right kind of story, what we write isn't proper fiction, and we're not proper novelists. I talk a bit about the uncomfortable feeling when our intuitive mental image of what a novel or a novelist looks like doesn't match up to what we're writing or who we think we are. And, of course - because I'm not about to leave you hanging - I suggest some ways through, some strategies by which we might start to explore those feelings and challenge them in a lasting way. If you'd like to read Kirsty Logan's work for yourself click here to get THE GRACEKEEPERS delivered to your door with free shipping worldwide: https://wordery.com/the-gracekeepers-kirsty-logan-9781784700133#oid=1908_1 Or Melissa Harrison's ALL AMONG THE BARLEY: https://wordery.com/all-among-the-barley-melissa-harrison-9781408897997#oid=1908_1 Here's her Costa-shortlisted novel AT HAWTHORN TIME: https://wordery.com/at-hawthorn-time-melissa-harrison-9781408859070#oid=1908_1 And her first, CLAY: https://wordery.com/clay-melissa-harrison-9781408842553#oid=1908_1 Or Aliette de Bodard's THE HOUSE OF SUNDERING FLAMES: https://wordery.com/the-house-of-sundering-flames-aliette-de-bodard-9781473223400#oid=1908_1 If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare