The Psychology of Creative Writing

Scott Barry Kaufman · James C. Kaufman

Jun 2009 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

The Psychology of Creative Writing takes a scholarly, psychological look at multiple aspects of creative writing, including the creative writer as a person, the text itself, the creative process, the writer's development, the link between creative writing and mental illness, the personality traits of comedy and screen writers, and how to teach creative writing. This book will appeal to psychologists interested in creativity, writers who want to understand more about the magic behind their talents, and educated laypeople who enjoy reading, writing, or both. From scholars to bloggers to artists, The Psychology of Creative Writing has something for everyone.

About the author

Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., completed his doctorate in cognitive psychology at Yale University in 2009. He also holds an M.Phil. in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied psychology, human–computer interaction, and voice performance. In his research, he combines various perspectives, including cognitive science, philosophy, and evolutionary psychology, to further an understanding of intelligence and creativity. In addition to publishing more than 20 book chapters and articles in professional journals such as Intelligence and Journal of Creative Behavior, he is co-editor of The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence (with Robert J. Sternberg, forthcoming). Kaufman's work has been covered in media outlets such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and Men's Health. Additionally, he writes a blog for Psychology Today called 'Beautiful Minds.' He is the recipient of the 2008 Frank X. Barron student award from Division 10 of the American Psychological Association for his research on the psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts.

James C. Kaufman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the California State University at San Bernardino, where he directs the Learning Research Institute. Dr Kaufman's research focuses on the nurturance, structure, and assessment of creativity. Kaufman is the author or editor of fifteen books either published or in press, including Creativity 101, Essentials of Creativity Assessment (with Jonathan Plucker and John Baer), International Handbook of Creativity (with Robert J. Sternberg), and Applied Intelligence (with Robert J. Sternberg and Elena Grigorenko). His research has been featured on CNN, NPR, the New York Times, New Yorker, and the BBC. Kaufman is a founding co-editor of the official journal for the American Psychological Association's Division 10, Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. He is also the Associate Editor of Journal of Creative Behavior, the Editor of International Journal of Creativity and Problem Solving, and an Associate Editor of Psychological Assessment, and he is the Series Editor of the Psych 101 series. He received the 2003 Daniel E. Berlyne Award from APA's Division 10 and the 2008 E. Paul Torrance Award from the National Association of Gifted Children.