Why your editor’s psychology degree will improve your story

Zaynab Hanan

4-6 minutes

how my bsc (hons) psychology degree will benefit your writing

Psychology is defined by the British Psychological Society as:

psychology is extensive, covering the entire human experience.

In total, I have studied psychology for seven years and, though I am by no means an expert, I have a broad range of knowledge on different areas within it which I use to guide my editing.

Understanding human behaviour, emotion and motivation is invaluable when writing characters. You’re creating people out of nothing with the aim to make them believable, endearing, to evoke feelings in your readers and enable them to form an emotional connection with your characters.

Here are some reasons why it’s beneficial for me to be your editor

1. Psychology being so broad gives me a range of knowledge, to your benefit

I have studied cognitive psychology — perfect for amnesia storylines.

I have studied forensic psychology — perfect for a crime thriller.

I have studied developmental psychology — perfect for a coming-of-age novel.

I have also studied social psychology, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and more.

I am not an expert but I have the basic knowledge of each of these subjects and the means to learn more, which brings me to my next point.

2. Part of my work as an editor is research and fact-checking

I make sure that what you’ve written is logical (unless, of course, it’s fantasy) and I fact-check everything. Every semester for my degree, I was required to do a research and data analysis module, eventually concluding my degree with a research-based dissertation. All of that means I can do research and fact-check efficiently using reputable sources. The ability to research efficiently is not specific to psychology but is a useful skill regardless.

3. i understand the importance of motivation and other factors that impact how people act or react

I can help you develop your characters and guide them through their arcs because the aim, particularly with character-driven stories, is to have a character be in some way changed by the end. Your characters need something driving them, something that motivates them to act — and that is ultimately what drives the plot forward.

It’s not a notion created for storytelling — humans act based on motivating factors. How they choose to act and react are affected by many variables, such as trauma responses, societal norms, past experiences, etc. We can infer how someone might react to certain situations based on their experiences and knowledge of the world, and that is the nuance I can bring to your work while we edit.

4. i can handle sensitive subject matter

I can deal with difficult topics, such as mental health, addiction, trauma, etc., with the sensitivity that is appropriate for the subject matter. This is important to me and I know it’s of equal importance to the writers I work with, particularly so if they’re writing from experience, as is sometimes the case.

I have volunteered with charity organisations, specifically a women’s organisation and a mental health organisation, which taught me how to handle difficult topics with care and sensitivity. This is something I couldn’t have learnt in a classroom alone, but I use those experiences to inform how I speak to my writers about certain issues they’ve written about.

5. readers need someone believable

Characters that are one-dimensional aren’t believable as real people. Your reader is fully aware that your characters aren’t real, however they should be able to picture them as fully-formed individuals. Relating to characters and forming connections with them is a huge part of the reading experience. Your readers cannot enjoy your story to the fullest extent if they’re not connected with and rooting for the success of your characters.

Creating a three-dimensional character means they have a clear character arc, they have a personality, traits and habits that differentiate them from other characters, and experience varying emotions and motives for their actions. I can offer feedback on your characters to ensure they feel as authentic and believable as possible.

6. i can identify where you need to work on emotional pacing

There are points where you may feel inclined to move the plot forward but actually, you should be slowing down and allowing your characters, and readers, to linger in their feelings a little longer. Rushed pacing happens for various reasons but sometimes it’s necessary to let your characters have time to process highly emotional scenes. It’s often the moments that are moving and charged that your readers will remember most, so you’d be doing a disservice to your story by brushing past those moments too quickly.

Knowing when to slow down can be difficult, and I understand that there is a worry of slowing the pace too much — and that is a valid concern. I can guide and advise you on emotional pacing, to help you find that perfect place between too slow and too fast.

Psychology and creative writing go hand-in-hand. There are countless ways in which psychology can improve your writing but these are a few that enable me to help you.

Learn more about my developmental editing services.

I have more resources on writing and editing but if there is anything specific you’d like to learn more about, please get in touch via email (hanan@hananeditor.com) or through my contact form below.