Stephen P. Kelner Jr.

I'm ashamed to say I've owned this for years (I own the first edition) and it has wallowed in my to-read pile, which is a darn shame, as it is a fascinating read. It's very different from other writing book because it's not about ideas or the technical aspects--it's about why people write, or struggle to do so. The book there focuses on three major motivations: the need for achievement, affiliation, and power. In the Kelner's own surveys, he found most published writers tend toward the power aspect. This fascinates me, because my first instinct is to think power = negative, but not necessarily. It also means wanting attention, wanting to make readers FEEL. This is a great analytical read for writers who enjoy psychological studies that illuminate the self.… (mehr)