In this episode of How to Share, host Wynne Leon interviews social psychologist and writer Anne Beall about her book, The Compassionate Writer. They discuss the importance of compassion in writing, exploring the four pillars: compassion for ourselves, for others, for the reader, and throughout the writing process.

Anne shares her journey from academia to founding a literary journal, and how her unique perspective shapes her writing. The conversation also delves into the psychological aspects of storytelling, practical exercises for writers, and the reframing of fairy tales to uncover deeper meanings.

Takeaways

• Compassion is essential for effective storytelling.
• Understanding our own narratives requires empathy.
• Writers should be gentle with themselves during the process.
• Compassion for the reader enhances engagement.
• Psychological biases affect how we perceive our writing.
• Different learning styles require varied teaching methods.
• Visualizations can aid in the writing process.
• Fairy tales often reflect societal values and biases.
• Seeing stories from multiple perspectives enriches writing.
• The tone of writing can create a more relatable experience.

Links for this episode:

⁠How to Share home⁠

The Compassionate Writer on ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠, and ⁠Amazon⁠

⁠Anne Beall's website⁠

⁠Anne Beall on Substack⁠

⁠Chicago Story Press Literary Journal⁠

From the host:

Wynne's book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠