Blog Collaboration Post: Introverts & Extroverts

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Jun 15

Written By Melissa M Frey

Happy Friday Everyone!Today I thought I'd do something a little different. As you may know, I've really gotten into the Instagram writing community, and they're an amazing group of people! So when one of my writing friends posted about a blog collaboration, it sounded so new and exciting that I jumped on board!The subject is on introverts and extroverts and how our personalities shape our writing. I thought an interview style would work well, so here we go!*******1. Are you an extrovert or an introvert?Introvert, all the way. I was more to the extreme when I was younger, and it was completely obvious, but as I've gotten older I've been able to come out of my shell. Like a lot. Like I actually enjoy public speaking.2. What stigmas have you come across with your personality type in life?Everyone assumes I'm super shy! Again, more so when I was younger. Being more friendly and seemingly outgoing has helped shake that stereotype, but there are times when I just feel like being shy. And I've learned to be okay with that.3. Do you view your introversion/extroversion as a help or a hindrance?HELP. ALWAYS. How else would I be able to spend thousands of hours in front of my computer with no one to keep me company but the characters in my head?Though at certain times I've wished I was more extroverted. Then I think about how exhausting it would be for me, and I'm back to being okay with my introvert ways.4. What stigmas have you come across, specifically in the writing community, in terms of your extroversion/introversion?Hmmmm...that all writers are introverts? There certainly are a lot of us out there, but I've met some extroverted writers, too. Every writer has a story to tell, and their own unique way of telling it, so who are we to judge?5. How would you say your introversion/extroversion affects your writing? Does this have a positive or negative effect on you as a writer?I tend to be very cerebral, so being in my head a lot really lets me flesh out the characters and story ideas before I have to get them down on paper. I think it's definitely a positive!6. Do you write characters with a similar personality type? If not, how do you write characters with a differing personality?I most definitely write introverted characters, but I throw in some extroverted ones, too! I think the story might fall flat without a diverse cast. I've explained it this way: the characters whose personalities aren't quite like mine I write by channeling that side of me. I have one character, Justin, who's a jokester, so I just channel myself when I'm up way too late and being ridiculous. Sometimes I pull from other people I know well, like family members, to inform my characters too!7. Does your personality affect which genre you write in?Maybe, in a roundabout way. I write in the action & adventure genre, which gives my adventurous side an outlet. And since it's archaeological fiction, I get to be an archaeologist through my characters without getting dirty! :)8. How are your storylines affected by your extroversion/introversion?I think my storylines tend to be very cerebral, like I am. Thought out, carefully executed (though surprisingly not carefully planned. I fly by the seat of my pants for my first draft with only a rough outline, so I'm known as a #pantser). I also delve a lot into what the characters are thinking and how their actions affect the emotions of others.9. How does your introversion/extroversion help or hinder your marketing of yourself as a writer? What challenges or benefits does this create?Marketing can be a challenge. Melissa ten years ago, when I started this book, would never be able to do the things I do with ease today. So many of my life experiences have led me to this place, and I feel like I've been able to embrace the marketing side of things and really enjoy it!It helps too that my day job is in marketing, so I get to learn that field and apply what I learn to my writing—and get paid to do it!*******If any of this resonated with you and/or you're curious to read more from other writers like me, I encourage you to read the other blogs in this challenge! Links are below!