Writers who prefer intuition focus on theories, patterns, and connections. They start with the big picture, then zoom in on the details. But too much attention to possibilities can prevent them from providing enough facts to support their ideas. How can intuitive writers make sure they ground their writing in reality?
In an earlier post, I wrote about the importance of following your natural tendencies when writing a first draft. Then, during the editing process, you can go back and fill in the elements you missed.
Natural tendencies of intuitive writers
Intuitive writers come to understand the world by letting their unconscious mind discover patterns and connections between ideas. They value insights into the implications of the facts more than they do the facts themselves. With their abstract perspective, they enjoy theories, complexity, and creating an overall vision.
Intuitive writers are imaginative. They see the world not as it is but as it could be. They rely on inspiration and focus on context. When planning a writing project, they think about the subject, jotting down ideas as they arise and considering a multitude of possibilities.
In a business or educational environment, intuitive writers want general directions. They expect a lot of freedom in developing a writing project. Seeking to innovate, they want to explore different options for implementing the requirements of the project. They don’t derive much satisfaction from repeating what’s been done before.
As they mature, intuitive writers become less focused on creativity and more focused on communication. They simplify their concepts to better connect with the reader. They become more careful about including facts. This makes their writing more accessible.
Filling the gaps
If you’re an intuitive writer, you may tend to think in generalities. This makes it difficult to connect with readers. Be specific. Include relevant facts and details. Say what you mean rather than simply implying it. Don’t make intuitive leaps without connecting the dots for your readers. Check with a peer to make sure you’ve shown connections clearly.
In technical or business writing, don’t forge your own path. Follow templates and reuse information where possible. Don’t wordsmith text that’s already been edited, approved, and translated unless it’s ambiguous or unclear. Follow the plan developed by the team, or else consult them before deviating from it. Remember, other team members may know things you don’t. Indulge your desire for innovation in a way that respects the boundaries set by the organization
If you’re feeling blocked, don’t let rote tasks drain your energy and creativity. Use templates for mundane or repetitive tasks. For creative writers, this might mean following a three-act structure. Not only does the three-act structure tell you what you need to include, it keeps you from going off on irrelevant tangents. Rather than wasting time on a whim, you’ll put your abundant imagination to good use.
Sources:
Write from the Start by Ann B. Loomis
Writing and Personality by John K. DiTiberio and George H. Jensen
What Type Am I? by Renee Baron
Related posts:
ENFJ – ENFP – ENTJ – ENTP – INFJ – INFP – INTJ – INTP
Extraverted Writers: Talking It Out
Introverted Writers: Thinking It Over
Sensing Writers: Down to the Details
Thinking Writers: Logical Conclusions
Feeling Writers: People Who Need People
Judging Writers: Getting It Done
Perceiving Writers: Pushing the Limits
Write with Personality 
Thanks for this! I am an INFJ and am a BIG intuitive writer. I love your advice. I do have the tendency to make big leaps in my writing because I wrongly assume everyone else thinks like me too! I ❤ your blog!
Yes! ‘They start with the big picture, then zoom in on the details.’ I am told I do this in my essay writing as well as my fiction composition. Good post, handy to think about. I find the bit ‘say what you mean’ most useful; often, I tend to create a metaphor that has little relevance to the sense of the piece, but I don’t tend to notice. I shall definitely keep this in mind.
Glad you enjoyed the post! I’m also an INFJ, and learning to avoid those intuitive leaps was one of the hardest things for me. To the writer, the connection seems obvious, but to the reader, not so much. “Saying what you mean” can seem like cheating to intuitive writers, but your reader will thank you for it.