The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Fine, Emily S.
Language:	English
Published:	Antioch University / OhioLINK 2016
Subjects:	Clinical Psychology writing fiction authors interpretative phenomenological analysis
Online Access:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1453985267

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spelling	ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-antioch14539852672021-08-03T06:34:51Z The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors Fine, Emily S. Clinical Psychology writing fiction authors interpretative phenomenological analysis Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged process. While ample research has provided evidence for the mental and physical health benefits of writing (e.g., Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999), few studies have methodically examined the inner life of the fiction writer. This study explored two primary questions: (a) Why do authors write? and (b) How does the act of writing affect them in turn? This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a guiding methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five authors of fiction, then transcribed and analyzed to generate a rich interpretative account. The motivations for writing fiction were found to be complex and multifaceted and the impact often subtle, but profound. Authors both forget and find themselves in the task of writing. They temporarily leave behind their everyday lives as they become absorbed in the task of writing and transported into the worlds of their characters. Simultaneously, the author can access, utilize, and play with psychological and affective material. The authors described the act of entering into and conveying their characters’ experiences as allowing them to name and make sense of their own experiences, gain greater understanding and empathy for others, and explore their own questions, identities, and beliefs. At times it also helps them gain greater acceptance and decreased sensitivity to more challenging emotions, memories, and relationships. However, authors do not usually write to consciously gain these benefits. They write because they are writers, because they love their characters, and because they love story. 2016-08-01 English text Antioch University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1453985267 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1453985267 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection	NDLTD
language	English
sources	NDLTD
topic	Clinical Psychology writing fiction authors interpretative phenomenological analysis
spellingShingle	Clinical Psychology writing fiction authors interpretative phenomenological analysis Fine, Emily S. The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
author	Fine, Emily S.
author_facet	Fine, Emily S.
author_sort	Fine, Emily S.
title	The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
title_short	The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
title_full	The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
title_fullStr	The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
title_full_unstemmed	The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors
title_sort	drive to write: inside the writing lives of five fiction authors
publisher	Antioch University / OhioLINK
publishDate	2016
url	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1453985267
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The Drive to Write: Inside the Writing Lives of Five Fiction Authors

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