This episode is the first in a short series about the psychology of writing. What stories do we tell ourselves when we tell stories? How can we write more, write better. and be a little bit happier when we do those things? Drawing on months of conversations with neuroscientists, psychologists, psychiatrists and nearly 200 episodes of podcast, I try to zero in on some answers. More importantly, I give some practical suggestions, based on studies, of what you can do to get the most of writing. Later episodes have contributions from previous guests as I have a look at the mindset side of writing, the thought distortions that can creep in, and how to keep morale up when you run into trouble. If you'd like some further reading after today's episode you might enjoy FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: https://wordery.com/flow-mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-9780061339202#oid=1908_1 Here's my upcoming event in Norwich with a ticket link: Tim Clare – DEATH OF 1000 CUTS LIVE Friday 1 November National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall 7 - 8.30pm https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/tim-clare-death-of-1000-cuts-live/ Here's my upcoming event in Bath with a ticket link: NOVEL NIGHTS The Three Pillars of Writing Bliss Wed 6 Nov 2019 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Burdall's Yard, 7a Anglo Terrace, London Road, Bath https://www.novelnights.co.uk/the-three-pillars-of-writing-bliss/ 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