Tag: MBTI

The INFP Writing Personality: Elegant Persuasion

~ Andrea ~ 56 Comments

Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential
to give something back.—Diana, Princess of Wales

Have you ever wondered whether your personality affects your writing style?

If you’re an INFP writer, chances are, the answer is yes.  INFPs have a natural aptitude for writing. In exploring this solitary pursuit, you can communicate your deeply held values and experiment with elegant, inventive uses of language. But you may find that formal approaches taught in writing classes don’t seem to work for you. Composing an opening paragraph may prove impossible until you’ve fleshed out the major ideas. Developing an outline may turn a pleasurable activity into an intolerable one—and your zest for the topic may wither away. INFPs write best when their imagination is unfettered.

The INFP personality type is one of 16 identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular psychometric instrument used to determine how people prefer to gather information and make decisions. The initials INFP stand for the following: Continue reading “The INFP Writing Personality: Elegant Persuasion” →

The INFJ Writing Personality: Eloquent Vision

~ Andrea ~ 36 Comments

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual,
you have an obligation to be one.—Eleanor Roosevelt

Young woman outdoors writing in a bookCan knowledge of personality type help you as a writer?

If you’re an INFJ, the writing strategies you learned in school likely worked well for you. INFJs take to writing naturally. They enjoy working alone, reflecting on ideas, and expressing their vision. But the thought of using an outline may leave you feeling straitjacketed. INFJ writers organize their ideas internally, according to their own creative process. To feel comfortable, they need freedom to explore their insights and work through complex problems.

The INFJ personality type is one of 16 identified by Isabel Myers and her mother, Katharine Briggs. Myers and Briggs are the original authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular psychometric instrument used to determine how people prefer to gather information and make decisions. The initials INFJ stand for the following: Continue reading “The INFJ Writing Personality: Eloquent Vision” →

The Truth about the Myers-Briggs Personality Types

~ Andrea ~ 3 Comments

woman reading a book holding a cup of coffeeLately I’ve come across discussions about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) on the social networking sites I visit. I don’t know whether writers are more attracted to personality type theory than the general population is—but writers may have more to gain. Creative writers can use personality typologies in creating characters; technical writers in audience analysis; and freelance writers in conducting interviews.

I see the concept of personality type through a writer’s lens. I’ve read extensively on the topic to learn how it can help me in my work. My interest is humanistic, not scientific. While it’s important to understand the science behind the MBTI (both the strengths and the substantial gaps), I don’t allow science to limit my understanding. My skepticism is tempered by my knowledge of social science and the humanities. And by taking this broader view, I’ve learned a secret that the MBTI gurus probably won’t tell you. Continue reading “The Truth about the Myers-Briggs Personality Types” →