Which Writer Personality Type Are You?

[@douglalli8038]

I'm a perfectionistic writer. In fact, it took me months to write these sentences.

[@ChristinaFonthes]

😂😂

[@TheSlickmicks]

It took me 10 months to reply to this comment. None of what I wanted to write seemed any good.

[@thibautisserant]

I felt so called-out when I heard about the Sensitive writer. Thankfully I learned to overcome my anxiety about sharing my work and grow more confident about the work I do. I think the advice that had been instrumental for me to get the ball rolling was "the first draft will never be perfect, don't write when you got divine inspiration, just write every day." That advice, along with the luck of having amazing beta readers, really cemented the shift in my writing habits and an additional work on self-acceptance really helped quieting the intrusive thoughts (the very judgy ones)

[@happydayssunny7830]

1.38 begins 👍💯great info and vid thanks

[@susanbrougher2265]

Lots of fun. I am the perfectionist and took about 2 years to finish my first novel. But I spent much time learning how to write, researching, finding my voice, and more. My writing improved by leaps and bounds as I went along so my next novel underway is going faster. Less redoing, sentences flow better since I spotted many errors easy to a avoid now. My prior career was hard to, and I loved it. They key is loving what you do! Thanks again. You help me improve my writing and are an inspiration.

[@susanbrougher2265]

Sorry about the extra a and the to should be too. See it's that perfection coming out plus typing on the phone is challenging.

[@Duduca17]

I’m a perfectionist writer, and that’s why I’d love to have you as my editor.🤓 But, I’m also a sensitive and anxious writer, so seeing that you have a months long waiting list crushes my heart 🥲😅

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Haha, thanks for the kind comment! I hope we can eventually work together on your projects!

[@chartolliver999]

I feel I'm a blend of prolific and the wildcard. I love to bend the rules and at times I can go at breakneck speed! But I do have lulls that I use to edit. But the most fun for me is pantser writing at a super fast pace! And about things that are hot topics. I feel like writing about them is a safe place to explore them.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thanks for sharing!

[@neilmclean4000]

I am currently an upset writer as I was given some bad advice when I decided to write a novel (currently slashing around 240,000 words from my manuscript due to said advice) But thanks to you and your videos I will get back on track. Love your vids and advice and I am so glad there is someone out there who is making this whole process a lot better for those of us who are totally new to this.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you for the kind comment! I wish the best for you and your edits... hopefully you'll be much happier with the dead weight gone!

[@legodavid9260]

The prolific writer type definitely describes me the best! Thanks for helping me better identify my writing style!

[@julibeewrites]

i didn't expect to get called out so early in the morning 💀💀 haha jk, but I'm definitely a perfectionist writer! i spend a lot of time editing even while drafting, and everything you listed was on point. great video!!

[@joevaldez6457]

This video was a lot of fun, Alyssa. I'm a sensitive writer. My fear isn't being judged; I get very uncomfortable in social situations where I have to follow up with people I've sent my work to and ask them if they've read it, or have this weirdness around them ghosting me. I should just send two follow-up emails and move on, but, we sensitive writers are sensitive. I like to think that what you said about sensitive writers being empathetic storytellers is true.

[@A-Nonnie-Mouse]

Omg--wild card here!! Maybe not the genius part 😄 but the rest of it is spot on! Especially the 'don't box me in.' I hear a deadline, and my creativity shuts down (or maybe rebels). I have found self-publishing suits this very well. I will spend months devoted to writing, taking breaks during the day to work on my covers or ads, and then months writing nothing (well, nothing rough draft stage) and focusing on marketing and outlining the hundred different ideas I have for all the different stories in different genres I can't quite decide between to write next. Lol.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Definitely! I love how publishing options have opened up for every kind of writer--thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@ellennewth6305]

I think I’m a combination of several writer types. Definitely prolific with a touch of perfectionist thrown in. Always seeking the right word for each sentence. Wish I were more business oriented.

[@UrbanSwagger]

Sensitive perfectionist here. Been working on my novel for 20 years. I finally reached out for feedback, and am now preparing to submit to agents. God help me if they ask about a sequel.

[@SleepParty30]

I've worked on my first full-length novel for almost 8 years now. But I'm certain I'm finishing it in no more than three months. I'm on the final touches after dozens of drafts. Good luck with the agents.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Best of luck with the querying process! I hope it all ends up worth it :)

[@goosewithagibus]

I'm anxious and also have ADHD, so I tend to switch between several projects lol. Not just writing, but all creative outlets.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

That's a great way to keep your overall creative brain sharp even when your interest in writing is waning!

[@TheCurlsandguitars]

I'm somewhere between prolific and wildcard. Less experimental than a wildcard, not consistent enough to be truly prolific, but I've always got some new off the wall idea and writing 10k words in a sitting (given the time) is not unheard of. My biggest struggle actually tends to be slowing the momentum enough to recognize plot problems, so I sometimes get stuck in long unproductive phases where all I do is figure out how to fix the plot.

[@zeddicussnow9289]

I’m a prolific writer. I love lots of story lines running together all at once multiple main heroes and villains. I also drop small fragments from future and past events in the story lines. I can only write series. Often building complete worlds for my stories.

[@derekb.4292]

I feel like I sometimes notice aspects of all of these types, especially as I move through different phases of a book project.

[@davidneuhausel1323]

Sensitive Writer. I just finished my novel and that describes me the best.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I'm a bit of #1 and #4. I write and self edit one manuscript and brainstorm ideas for the next story. Amazingly, I can keep everything straight and self edit. Crazy huh?

[@berniemackinnon5905]

Alyssa, have you ever read Michael Korda's wonderful memoir of his years in the publishing industry, "Another Life?" It has one gob-smacking story after another about famous and less famous authors. The Jaqueline Suzanne segment (which was made into a movie) is priceless. But this video called to mind Korda's anecdotes about Harold Robbins-in the 60's and 70's, the world's biggest-selling author. He was prolific but hated to write. In fact, his agent had to literally lock him in a room until he had produced something that resembled another novel. He often refused to do any editing. But he had to keep producing since he was wildly improvident, spending his fortune on mansions, yachts, gold chains and exotic company. I don't often read books twice, but I re-read "Another Life" and loved even more.

[@Author-ESHart]

I'm the Wild Card writer. I never talk about my writing, not even in my writing community group on Twitter. I always write stories that are different and I never go with the flow. I write what I as a writer would want to read. I guess I'm the first reader of my book and I'm the one I feel has to love my book more than anyone else. So, I never write to the market, but then I'm a self-published author so I don't have to please a literary agent or publisher so I can do this.

[@emm6724]

I’m a perfectionist writer. I wrote the same book over from scratch four times until I was happy enough to start revising. I will finish my first revision today (only three pages left) then I plan to rewrite the first and last chapters and make all the corrections on the computer. Once it’s done then I have around 20 friends who are big readers who will beta read in small groups. I plan to start querying with the first book while I start the second (and only write it once before revising lol).

[@johnhansen1501]

I started as a perfectionist. But it is my first book and needed to see that I could produce prose of a quality that I myself would enjoy reading. I wouldn’t want to spend time and energy on writing a draft and finding I was unable to edit it into something worth reading. Now I’m more focused on getting on with the first draft.

[@spookyanalyst9432]

This was a very interesting video clip. Im currently studying and researching personality type dichtonomies and this is one of several to come across on KZbin thats valuable.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

I'm most likely a prolific writer - which makes the whole process of querying particularly painful for me because I want as many of my stories to be shared to the world before I meet my maker.

[@zanemarion7211]

Prolific perfectionist. I write lot series books and have extremely high standards. I write in three genres and all three is psychological, thriller, horror and spy thrillers.

[@fadingstarlight8]

I'm half perfectionist and half wildcard. I want to write what I want to write, but I also set a ridiculous standard for myself.

[@bodine219]

Fun video! I think I'm a blend of sensitive and business-oriented.

[@andyclark3530]

I suppose I classify as a perfectionist, but I'm not sure the shoe totally fits since this is something no one has ever accused me of in the other parts of my life. I'm on heading toward my sixth draft, but these haven't been minor tweaks, these have been major rewrites. I attributed part of this to the genre I work in - fantasy - where you have a nearly infinite number of cool things you can add to your story, creating new drafts to add them, followed by the need to put the monster on a diet. I think the real test will be in how I approach my next novel.

[@whatzause]

I think with 6 drafts you could easily be called a perfectionist. I just wrote a comment here about my own efforts. You could check it out just for fun. But I don’t like major drafts. I edit (painstakingly) as I go along. That’s the only way I’m comfortable with. Interesting reading about you. I’m mostly a fantasy type guy, too.

[@rowan7929]

Certainly towards the first part. Even when writing on a current book, I already think of several other stories and characters. Now if I can get an agent to get these stories out.

[@kitsune-c8j]

Prolific through and through although I don't have that much time to write.

[@kirtiomart]

Oh God.... when you mentioned the perfectionist I knew exactly what I was without you even explaining it. 😊

[@ChristinaFonthes]

Omg!!! All this time I thought I was a sensitive writer, turns out I’m a perfectionist. Explains why my drafts take soooooo long 😱😱😱

[@AllenAdrianTompkins]

I was a hybrid writer who experimented with my young adult fiction but now I'm turning into a perfectionist that is almost letting go of the series and two novel standalones just to put them out there for publishers self-publishing or even agents which I prefer in the traditional realm

[@jillroberts1669]

Great video. I’m a Sensitive type mixed with the Wild Card as I can write in quite a few genres. Still looking for a Literary Agent though.

[@Infochique]

Definitely a wildcard 😁

[@chrispence4931]

just finished expanded outline for book three; i'm either a perfectionist or a lunatic, to have an ever-expanding cast for a movie only i see and hear.

[@CyberScout6]

Wildcard!

[@zedxx]

Mix equal parts of the Perfectionist with the Wild Card and you get me.

[@author.gabrielavrivera]

I'd say I'm a good blend of Perfectionist and Prolific lol they really balance each other out in the worst ways sometimes

[@splifftachyon4420]

I don't know which kind of writer I am, but I get to easily excited by new ideas. I've got dozens of partial novels written, but even if I'm really excited and into writing one of them, sooner or later another new idea will strike me and I'll want to write about that instead. How do you stop the ideas from coming?

[@chrispence4931]

don't. pay attention, spend time to understand what got your attention in the first place, then go back to first thing to see if it's still exciting. win-win.

[@ROBERTGOTSCHALL-j8u]

Sensitive/perfectionist/wildcard? Mostly hard science fiction but I've been working on a first person memoir for decades..

[@factoryofdivisiveopinions]

I'm the Wildcard. Nice.

[@StevenWilliams2560]

I'm prolific, but sensitive to critiques, although I enjoy and use the feedback given. I don't necessarily enjoy marketing but I'm a control freak, so I like running the show. I'm also a perfectionist and have to fight the urge to give every page one more editing pass before I had off the manuscript. I'm a classic Enneagram 1, if you know anything about the Enneagram . So, I'm an amalgamation of the types.

[@manonfire0925]

Well I need a part two since I don't seem to fit any of these

[@fillemonshigwedha5160]

I'm a profolic writer with a mix of perfectionist i have alot of ideas but I know rushing isn't the way to do it.

[@blacksmartie8801]

I think I am a mix of a lot of these types to be honest. And in my experience, most prolific writers are not actually good at writing. If you can be prolific AND a good writer that is amazing though.

[@vCoralSandsv]

So fun! 😂

[@JeanneTDeaux]

I'm definitely the Wild Card writer type.

[@markellott5620]

I tend to have perfectionist traits, but have the necessary self discipline to know when to stop. Usually by the third draft. I'll do a final self edit after the editor sends it back, then it's done, no more, back to the publisher to send it out into the world. I'm also a bit wildcard as my writing moves across genres and I'll cross genres in one story if it suits me. History with a touch of the supernatural for example.

[@t.r.everstone7]

I've honestly been all of these at some point when I was younger lol Now I'm more wildcard than anything lol I think I'll change again at some point. I think it's been because I've been growing up as a person this whole time, so it affected how I wrote.

[@eldiaquefuimoslibros]

I'm a perfectionist writer with a bit of sensitive, I have been working more than 10 years on a story and just up to recently I have been thinking of letting it go so I can focus on other stories I have in mind, maybe this is may signal -sighs-

[@clintoreilly]

I weren't aware there were types. I think I'm a blend of a few :) So... I'm guessing we shouldn't take it personal should an agent/editor tell us 'you not my type.' Thanks Alyssa

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Exactly, haha!

[@RoshanNepal-nv4mk]

I thought is only me who wants everything perfect but I am not only one..

[@eddieburton7738]

Perfectionist can be honestly disheartening. I sometimes don't even get 1 page written in an hour. I've been working on my book for over a year and am just under 180 pages in my manuscript. I'm slowly breaking away from the issue but it's extremely difficult

[@lavenderreign9655]

I am definitely the sensitive writer 😂😂😂 I've written things that have made me cry consistently in edits, but I'm soo scared to let anyone else read it

[@mrs.psstories1764]

I think I'm shifting from sensitive to prolific.

[@atlashayes790]

Lol yeaaa….I’m a Wildcard Writer for sure. 😂💀💀

[@cfharret]

Wish I had the prolific personality type. Takes me 8 months to write a first draft.

[@kirks1234]

And you I would read. I always write the first draft as if it was the last, but knowing that there’ll be a second draft.

[@KNOWPEDIA]

I am the prolific one.

[@AllenAdrianTompkins]

Sometimes my poetry becomes prose and creates a story of fiction is that good?

[@retrothingz]

Funner ?

[@montejr6992]

For the prolific writer all you did was describe Brandon Sanderson’s life.

[@absolutelycitron1580]

Idk tbh. Wildcard? Probably something else, definitley not business or sensitive, I desire my work being roasted lol

[@azia3337]

I am the proflict writing

[@justbooks7740]

I'm not any of them. I'm a person who wants to show readers what i see in my head but I couldn't 😩. I don't want to edit my book just want to send it to a literary agent right after completing it😅 and want to sell millions of copies. Strange 🙂🙂🙂

[@mikefinley4367]

It can be difficult even for some long time well known authors to put things into words. Being able to translate what's in your imagination to words with ease depends upon many factors but some of us are simply not natural writers. A novel can over time be written by almost anyone, however. If it takes two or three years to produce a publisher seeks writers that can produce at least yearly. If the tools you lack are the ability to express things , thats what needs to be worked on. Writing for most, is hard work.

[@mhelsher1]

Creative-neurotic sensitive inquisitve: "no matter how deeply I go down into myself, my God is dark, and like a webbing made of a hundred roots that drink in silence." ~ Rilke Yet soon to be prolific!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Beautiful quote!

[@dirkbruere]

INTJ - none of these

[@mikefinley4367]

Interesting subject for multiple reasons. Today's social atmosphere has become so restrictive as a manuscript may contain a joke, opinion, character personality disliked or considered politically unpopular so this climate is restrictive to writers and the ability to get published. This is a real factor according to a publishers views and political bias. For example if you use a controversial plot the govt may deem a conspiracy, you can almost expect to never have a top five house take it. Use language a racist would and you have to edit as it may offend someone. There are such issues truly considered by publishers which in a business as publishing is, becomes restrictive yet they have to weigh each work. A best seller twenty years ago may have such issues including the fact what was considered awesome then may be lame duck now. Writing .. is hard, it's work. If work is fun you keep doing it.