We’ll get into some basic assumptions really quick but before we do, remember the bell curve. We’re talking about common cases here, and any one individual could fall anywhere on the curve. None of this is designed to limit you. Any emotional reaction to this information is suggestive, whether that’s because it feels right or because it goes against everything you believe in. Either way, that tells you something about yourself as a writer.
Two Spectrums
Personality types, at their most simplified, are about two spectrums: facts vs. relationships and introverted vs. extroverted.
Introverted personalities see interiority as a strength and tend toward the conflicts of man against self or his environment.
Extroverted personalities may be good at drawing clear personality distinctions between characters, and they’re drawn toward the conflict of man against man. They’re less into the milieu and more into the adventure and are the most likely to believe that interior is inferior and have their characters be defined by what they do.
Fact-driven personalities are going to be drawn to hard science fiction, mysteries, and epic fantasy with lots of world building.
Relationship-driven personalities will lean more toward suspense than a whodunit and more toward space opera than hard science fiction, but they’re equally likely to be involved in any of the genres, as well as contemporary and literary fiction. Naturally, they dominate the Romance genres.
Fact-driven extroverts will likely find that stream of consciousness is not their friend, and they’re more likely to write erotica than Romance.
Fact-driven introverts write Gone Girl.
The Successful-Writer Personality Type
Let’s jump right into it. Is there a personality type better suited to being an author? That depends on what you mean. Now, I’m about to say something I personally think it stupid and offensive, but it might still be true. Most bad storytellers are introverts. Now wait. Hold on. That doesn’t mean introverts are worse writers, but they’re more likely to write for reasons other than external success of the finished product. Unlike extroverts, they don’t have to be good storytellers to have to want to write. They’re also, therefore, more likely to stick with it and more likely to grow. Extroverts are more likely to require some external motivation to write, and being lauded for their talent as a storyteller is as good a reason as any. They’re also the most likely to let their writing talent go to waste.
There is no one definition of a good writer. These are, however, the two main components, storytelling and prose. On average, extroverts will be the more practiced storytellers and introverts the ones to have spent more time developing their prose. Just remember that personality doesn’t determine talent, and anyone can want to write. Don’t just focus on the one area that come easier to you. We all need to grow in both.
Fact-driven personalities have a few subgenres where they reign supreme, but the broadest scope of literature is largely the realm of the relationship-driven personality.
What This Means for You
If you’re extroverted and your gift is prose or introverted and your gift is storytelling, it may be less of a struggle to build up your weak points. Otherwise, like most of us, you’ve got some hard work to do.
Is your choice of genre welcoming to your personal strengths and forgiving of your weaknesses? If not, ask yourself what drew you to that genre. Is it a personal interest or were you chasing what’s popular? In the end, write what you want to write, but if choices are open to you, a genre that better suits you will offer a better chance of success.
But what if you don’t know if you’re fact or relationship / introverted or extroverted? I’m not going to link you to a personality test. If you want one, search it up. However, as a writer, I think you know the important things. I think you can probably self-deterine right now, and even if you’re wrong in the eyes of Myers-Briggs, you’ll probably be right enough about who you are as a writer.
By the way, if you are aware of your Myers-Briggs, and if you’re an ENFP, that mostly counts as being introverted here, depsite that big E. Sorry, but, hey, you’re in good company.
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