The mental side of writing
Writing is a psychological act before it’s a technical one. Every writer I’ve worked with, from first-time authors to executives with decades of experience, fights the same internal battles: imposter syndrome, fear of judgment, procrastination, and the nagging voice that says they’re not a real writer. These articles cover the mental side of writing from someone who has authored 113+ books under his own name, ghostwritten 54+ books for clients, and coached writers through every psychological obstacle that stops people from finishing.
No pitch. No pressure.
Echo chambers and information bias
A multi-part series on echo chambers: how they form, why they’re dangerous, and how writers can recognize them in their own thinking. Covers academic, religious, media, corporate, family, geographic, generational, economic, political, health, relationship, and AI-generated echo chambers.
- ► What Is an Echo Chamber? (And Why We All Live in One)
- ► Academic and Intellectual Echo Chambers: Smart People, Dumb Bubbles
- ► Educational Echo Chambers: When School Becomes a Script
- ► Family and Social Echo Chambers: When Love Keeps You Silent
- ► Geographic and Local Echo Chambers: When Your ZIP Code Thinks For You
- ► Mainstream Media Echo Chambers: When the News Becomes a Team Sport
- ► Online Forums & Niche Community Echo Chambers: Where the Weird Becomes the World
- ► Religious Echo Chambers: When Faith Becomes a Fortress
- ► Search Engine Echo Chambers: Google Isn’t Showing You the World — It’s Showing You You
- ► Workplace and Corporate Echo Chambers: Where “Alignment” Means “Shut Up and Smile”
- ► AI Echo Chambers: When the Machine Learns to Agree With You
- ► How to Avoid Echo Chambers in Nonfiction (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Voice)
- ► Generational Echo Chambers: When Your Birth Year Becomes a Worldview
- ► Economic and Class Echo Chambers: When the Country You Live In Is Invisible
- ► Political Echo Chambers: When Your Party Becomes Your Reality
- ► Cult Echo Chambers: When Belonging Becomes a Trap
- ► Health and Wellness Echo Chambers: When Reasonable Skepticism Becomes a Sealed Room
- ► Relationship and Dating Echo Chambers: Where Loneliness Becomes a Worldview
- ► Workplace and Professional Echo Chambers: When Alignment Becomes Blindness
- ► Literary and Publishing Echo Chambers: Where Awards Go to Die
- ► Conclusion: Escaping the Echo — What Now?
Logical fallacies and critical thinking
Logical fallacies undermine writing credibility. These articles cover the most common reasoning errors writers make and encounter, from opinion writing to public discourse.
- ► 8 Logical Fallacies: Banish Them for Powerful Writing
- ► 9 Common Fallacies in Opinion Writing: Spot & Avoid Them!
- ► 10 Powerful Flaws in Reasoning That Can Mislead You
- ► 10 Logical Fallacies Destroying Public Discourse (Examples)
- ► The Anatomy of Flawed Political Commentary: A Case Study in Logical Fallacies and Cognitive Bias
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Writer psychology and mental health
The psychological obstacles that stop writers from finishing, from imposter syndrome and fear of judgment to procrastination and toxic relationships that drain creative energy. These are the problems I see most often in the writers I coach.
- ► Triumph Over Imposter Syndrome: 11 Essential Insights to Conquer Self-Doubt
- ► Imposter Syndrome and ADHD: Writing 113 Books With a Brain That Fights You
- ► Toxic People & Writing: 10 Steps to Safeguard Your Art
- ► Effects of Gaslighting on Writers: 6 Disturbing Truths Exposed
- ► 10 Powerful Ways to Crush Your Worst Writing Problem: Fear of Judgment
- ► Writers and Catastrophism: 12 Horrifying Consequences
- ► 10 Powerful Strategies to Overcome Procrastination: Unlocking Your Full Potential
- ► 9 Ways to Cause Positive Transformation In Your Life
- ► 📘 The Psychology Workbook for Writers
Emotional expression and human behavior
Understanding human emotion and behavior is the foundation of writing that connects. These articles cover emotional writing techniques, and the book list below includes the reference thesauruses I keep on my own shelf for character development work.
- ► Emotional Writing: 8 Inspiring Techniques for Deeper Connections
- ► 32 Bad Habits to Break to be Incredibly More Successful
- ► 100 Life Lessons I’ve Learned: Wisdom for Success
- ► 8 Compelling Reasons of the Critical Importance of Education
- ► You Can Lead a Happy and Prosperous Life: 21 Powerful Tips
- ► The Writer’s Hidden Laws: How Ancient Principles Shape Modern Content Creation
- ► 📘 Emotional Beats
- ► 📘 The Emotion Thesaurus
- ► 📘 The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus
- ► 📘 The Emotional Wound Thesaurus
- ► 📘 The Positive Trait Thesaurus
- ► 📘 The Negative Trait Thesaurus
- ► 📘 The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles Volume 1
- ► 📘 The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles Volume 2
- ► 📘 The Occupation Thesaurus
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Political psychology and persuasion
How language, emotion, and cognitive biases shape political opinion and public discourse. These articles cover manipulation tactics, persuasive writing, campaign speeches, and the psychology behind political communication.
- ► You Are Being Manipulated: 10 Tricks You Can’t Ignore
- ► Persuasive Writing: 10 Powerful Tips to Win Hearts
- ► Betrayed Again? The Ugly Truth About Campaign Promises
- ► Break Through the Noise: Inspire Votes That Shape the Future
- ► Letters That Win Votes: Crafting Persuasion That Inspires, Not Alienates
- ► Stop Fighting, Start Connecting: How to Write Opinions That Matter
- ► Stop Regretting Your Vote: Create a Manifesto That Protects Your Values
- ► Stop Falling for It: The Emotional Traps Hidden in Political Tweets
- ► Tell Your Story, Inspire a Vote: How Your Words Can Shape the Future
- ► The Ballot Trap: When Clever Wording Steals Your Voice
- ► Inspire or Divide: The Emotional Power Behind Iconic Campaign Speeches
- ► When Words Destroy: The Most Embarrassing Political Gaffes Ever
- ► Voting Made Simple: A Guide to U.S. Election Day
- ► Drowning in Election Stress? Journaling Can Save Your Sanity
- ► 7 Powerful Insights into the Role of Political Correctness in Books Today
- ► The 8 Branding Errors that Cost Kamala Harris 2024
Communication psychology
The psychology of how people communicate online, from trolling and brand manipulation to what makes ideas stick.
Ready to write the book that’s been in your head?
The psychological obstacles are real. So is the path through them. If you want to talk about your book and what’s been getting in the way, book a discovery call.
No pitch. No pressure.