How writers write: Exploring the unconscious fantasies of writers.

Abstract

This study is an examination of unconscious fantasies related to writers as inferred through the analysis of in-depth interviews with a sample of productive fiction writers. The intention was to increase understanding of the psychodynamics associated with productivity among writers. Eleven published fiction writers were recruited primarily through a snowball sample, and consisted of men and women between their mid-30s and 60s. Data were collected through a 1-1.5-hr semistructured, tape-recorded interview with each participant. Participants were very forthcoming, resulting in rich data that lent itself to examination of symbolic meanings. Data were analyzed along 4 dimensions based on the literature and an initial examination of several interviews. There were 4 related findings. First, relationship to the work, which concerns investment of the work with fantasized powers of healing and self-sustenance, and experiencing the work as a created object. Second, relationship to readers involves the selection of readers, often a narcissistic twin, to help with completion of the work and separation from it. Third, the unique process, or method, developed by writers to help them write represents an external solution to internal challenges, such as stimulation management. Fourth, episodes of writing inhibition emerged primarily as a result of self-attack. Writers experienced both the desire to save and destroy their manuscripts, but usually acted to preserve them.

Undergraduate Students’ Writer’s Block in English as an Academic Language: Causes, Coping Strategies Needs

“…Considering these findings, it can be deduced that ELL students frequently experience writer's block due to the different combinations of external and internal causes. These findings partly concur with those revealed in other studies on writer's block (e.g., Ahmed & Güss, 2022;Baştuğ et al, 2017;Michael, 2016), but more importantly, they also broaden the range of causes for writer's block and provide empirical results about the impact of these causes. Accordingly, writer's block cannot be limited to cognitive, psychological, or affective factors.…”

“…Recent studies suggest there are other causes for blocking the writing process. In Michael's (2016) study, feelings of being stuck, discouragement, self-disapproval, and self-and external criticism appeared as blockers. In a more recent study, Ahmed and Güss (2022) showed that writer's block occurs due to affective/physiological, motivational, cognitive, and behavioral factors, and in some cases, a combination of these factors was also observed.…”

The Role of Individual Values and Motivation in Creative Behavior in Micro-Domains of Literary Creativity: Prose and Poetry Writing

“…Its goal is not only the creation of an image but also the creation of an impression (Druzhinina, 2009). Poetry is also more socially oriented in its aim (Michael, 2016;Wolkenstein, 1970). These differences in the personal-social focus may affect the choice of microdomain by people with different value priorities.…”

Роль Индивидуальных Ценностей И Мотивации В Литературной Продуктивности Поэтов И Прозаиков

“…Согласуются с этим и высказывания известных поэтов: например, В. Маяковский говорил, что поэт должен чувствовать настроение людей, быть ориентированным на то, чем общество живет в данный момент и что ему требуется (Маяковский, 1959). Напротив, люди, вовлеченные в написание прозы, склонны рассматривать своего идеального читателя как человека, очень похожего на них во взглядах, который не будет генерировать новые смыслы на основании их посыла, но увидит то же самое, что хотел выразить автор (Michael, 2016). На наш взгляд, подобные различия могут влиять на ценностные приоритеты поэтов и прозаиков.…”