Chapter 1 broadly defines some of the underlying principles of the book. First and foremost, unlike in a self-help book, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, no method guaranteed to work for everyone. On the contrary, our philosophy is predicated on the idea of finding one’s strengths and building on them, for example, by starting with the parts of writing that one is most comfortable with. Further principles include the idea of breaking down writing into smaller tasks that are less intimidating, thus making the whole process more approachable by reducing anxiety about it (we call this “demystifying” writing) and helping with writer’s block. Another central idea is establishing a plan and then tracking one’s progress relative to the plan, thus allowing simultaneous feedback on whether the plan needs to be revised and building momentum and self-confidence, as one’s work progresses. Finally, we review ways in which the very practice of writing may result in the actual experience of joy, for example, in the experience of “flow” or an “upward spiral” of positive emotions.