Writing Excuses 8.11: Abnormal Psychology

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Writing Excuses 8.11: Abnormal Psychology

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2013/03/17/writing-excuses-8-11-abnormal-psychology/

Key points: The simple model of crazy or not crazy is oversimplified. There are many components to a psychological profile, and the question is whether you can live your life the way you want to or not. Think about why you want to put abnormal psychology in your book, and the challenges involved. It can give someone an experience that they couldn't have otherwise. You are writing the other. Don't demonize it or sanctify it. Do your research, don't depend on Hollywood! Get the details right. Remember that different cultures and time periods have handled with mental illness in different ways. Drug treatments are a continuing experimentation, not a simple prescription.
( Let the sun shine in... )

[Brandon] All right. We are out of time. This has been a fascinating topic. We've barely scratched the surface. For a writing prompt, Rob, would we mind... Would you mind if I just say take Rob's list... Explanation of what it feels like to be him, and write a story with a protagonist that has that same panic disorder?
[Rob] No, that's... You can't do that.
[Brandon] Okay. Can't do that. It's copyrighted by Rob.
[Dan] A day in the life of Rob.
[Howard] Don't make him a writer, make him a guy with a degree in marketing or something.
[Brandon] Yeah, there you go. This has been Writing Excuses, you're out of excuses, now go write.