Ask the Author: Stephen P. Hinshaw
Answered Questions (6)
Stephen P. Hinshaw
I've just begun Yuval Harari's "Sapiens," which is fascinating. Also on the list is T.C. Boyle's "The Terranauts."
Stephen P. Hinshaw
I endured many years of mystery as a boy, when my warm philosopher father would disappear for months or even a year at a time. Yet no one was allowed to discuss what was happening, either before, during, or after the absences. I blamed myself. At the time, I didn't know that the doctors had ordered the silence: His disappearances were into brutal mental hospitals for severe episodes of bipolar disorder, misdiagnosed as schizophrenia since the time he was 16. Only when I returned to Ohio during my first spring break from college did my father pull me into his study and reveal the truth about his lifelong mental illness. Intrigued, yet at the same time terrified, I studied psychology and began my lifelong quest to work with, and understand, children and families grappling with mental disorder and, eventually, to overcome the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.
Stephen P. Hinshaw
Many projects in psychology: Understanding how genetic and biological vulnerability interact and transact with experience and context to shape healthy vs. less healthy outcomes, particularly for high-risk children. Working to shape my students' motivations and research abilities and writing skills. Trying to move the dial with regards to reducing the huge stigma that still surrounds mental illness, here in the U.S. and around the world. Developing my own narrative writing skills to convey, more clearly and lucidly, the experiences my family endured when silence and shame regarding mental illness were the only options.
Stephen P. Hinshaw
Practice, practice, practice--that is, write, write, write!
And get feedback from those you trust. What's clear, what's opaque? What 'sounds' good when it's read? What's too much, in terms of description or information; and what's too little (you don't want readers to guess)?
Finally, never give up!
And get feedback from those you trust. What's clear, what's opaque? What 'sounds' good when it's read? What's too much, in terms of description or information; and what's too little (you don't want readers to guess)?
Finally, never give up!
Stephen P. Hinshaw
That you can communicate ideas and experiences -- which people may relate to in unexpected ways.
That you can challenge yourself every day to get clearer, more precise, and more expressive in communicating what you want to convey.
That--to be grand for a moment--you might make a small mark on the world and inspire others
That you can challenge yourself every day to get clearer, more precise, and more expressive in communicating what you want to convey.
That--to be grand for a moment--you might make a small mark on the world and inspire others
Stephen P. Hinshaw
Put your writing aside. Experience the world. Relax (to the extent you can!). Then set a small goal of writing SOMETHING--anything to get started. Revisions are easier to accomplish than filling a blank page. Now, you're on the way to overcoming that block!
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