My Myers Briggs is an ISFP, IXFJ, ESFJ and an INTJ
In my quest to write my first novel, not as a plot-first venture, but with a balanced character-first/plot-first approach, I came to read Jeff Gerke’s book Plot Versus Character. In the opening sections of his book, he says he stumbled upon David Keirsey’s book, Please Understand Me ii, and it has made all the difference to him in the creation of his novel characters. Gerke says he works from the four common temperaments of human beings, and then adds layers to each to make for real-life characters in his works. So for the past few days, in my spare time between work projects, I’ve been reading Keirsey and taking Myers Briggs personality tests.
So far, I’ve taken four tests–one done with about 10 questions on my iPhone–I was an ISFP–The Artisan-Composer on that one. The second was done using the 70-question assessment in Keirsey’s book–that one came out with my being an IXFJ-A Guardian-Protector or an Idealist-Counselor, and I say X because I had a 10/10 score for S/N. The third test was via 16personalitytypes.com–I turned being an ESFJ-The Guardian/Provider there. And then I took an extensive 248-question assessment at MyPersonality.info–where I came out as an INTJ-The Strategist/Mastermind.
So basically, after four tests, I honestly don’t know what I am, but I’m going to use some of my logical talents suggested in the INTJ to deduce first and foremost, that I am not so much an E (Expressive) as in the ESFJ. What is equally disturbing was that not until the MyPersonality.info test did I have an N (Introspective) anywhere, as in INJT. Up until that time, F (Friendly) and S (Observant) had been common, and J (Scheduling), too.
What I’ve been able to accomplish in all four tests is wind up in each of the temperament camps, which I would say makes sense to a degree, but we’re trying to firmly categorize people here, not leave wiggle room. (See, the INTJ is coming thru?)
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO ME?
You may think, who cares?
In many ways, I do. And not just because I’m writing a book. At 48 years of age, I’ve been doing a lot of introspection over the past few months. My counselor says that by writing this book I appear to be “unstuck” finally from the mess I’ve endured the past four years. This is cathartic.
But it is also important to me as I begin the process of constructing an intelligent story/novel, that I’m not writing just a plot-first peace where the plot drives the whole story with just explosions and very little substance to get through. My story demands some strong and intelligent characters to make it more compelling reading.
I’ve made my counselor laugh when I have told him recently that I understand now why God had to rest on the seventh day of creation.
Creating your own universe, characters and the like is DRAINING. It’s exhaustive. And it’s a very involved process. I can sit and seek to develop the characters, plot points, scenes, themes and more for where this story is going to go, but I can only do it for hours at a time before I’m virtually brain dead. But it has been exciting as I can now move my hands and almost shape these entities that are becoming characters in my mind almost as though there was imaginary clay in my hands and I was shaping them into figurines. (More INTJ there with a dose of ISFP….)
Myers Briggs
I’m fascinated by this subject and the study of the topic and will post more in the days and weeks to come as I continue through the process of penning my first book. It’s been almost four months now that I’ve been working on this (almost daily) and I have yet to seriously begin writing the first of anything in the book. I’d begun to play around with the opening sentence and opening paragraph. Then as I read another of Gerke’s books and discovered his book on Plot Versus Character, I came to fully realize, I’m just not to that point yet. There’s still so very much more I need to learn about myself before I can begin to develop the people who are going to bring my story to life.
Myers Briggs is going to provide my characters with their core personalities. But there’s a ton more that has to come with each of them beyond that. I recommend the Gerke books on writing and Please Understand Me ii, whether you’re writing a novel or not. You’re going to be amazed with how much you can learn about yourself.
Today’s exercise in the process of writing a novel is another notecard project. This time, the question requires you to probe deep inside to fond times in life. It should be a good exercise. If you’re not in the process of writing, maybe this will help, too, in the process of self-discovery and reflection.
Go buy several stacks of 3 x 5 notecards and keep them with you where ever you go.
The question is simple:
Who have you been in love with and how did they affect your life?
I’ve been asking readers to take out a stack of 4′ x 6′ notecards in doing these exercises and write down thoughts that come to mind. I’m in the process of writing a novel and these lists, like the ones we’ve been working on the past month, are going to hopefully come in helpful when I get to a point where I’m doing character sketches and needing to add meat to the bones of my characters so they’re realistic, life like and sincere.
At heart, I’ve always been a romantic and hopeful for true love. Unfortunately, throughout much of life, I’ve had a hard time finding it for one reason or another. Moving because my dad was in the air force didn’t help. We moved from one place to another and back again constantly, meaning I got good at getting to know people and starting relationships, but not getting to fulfill them or engage in them long term. Yeah, that has made for a lot of later pain in my life. But it seems the more the days pass I find that those who didn’t move as much as I did have had their own share of similar issues, so maybe that really isn’t it.
But back to the exercise of the day. Who have you been in love with? How did they affect your life? You can add another set of cards for defining what love means to you. That should take you through several days of reflection. And remember, this isn’t something you need to do for five minutes and be done with. Each of these cards and questions for them are something one can do over time and will be much more helpful and powerful if it’s done that way. Remember, life is a marathon, and so is writing a novel. They don’t just pop up out of no where and write themselves. It takes lots of time, effort and thought. Story is a metaphor for life, says Robert McKee. And so goes this exercise.
The past few weeks I’ve been covered up with notecards. I’ve not been doing this series of exercises as regular, having moved on to plotting, but these still are important.
I also realized I’ve been saying 3″ x 5″ card when I’m really using blank 4″ x 6″ cards. They have more space obviously and one can get them at Walmart for $0.84 per 100.
TODAY’S EXERCISE
So with your notecards, I suggest you do this study. It can be good for you if you’re developing characters for a novel, or just trying to get a handle of what’s going/gone on in your life.
So here are four important questions to ponder:
If I could go back in time and fix this, what would it be?
Who has had the greatest impact on you? Why?
What was your darkest hour and how did you survive it?
Suggestions about plotting out a story are coming soon. There still are more important questions to be pondering in self-reflection before we get there. Remember, if you are indeed writing a novel or major work, this isn’t meant to be something you just dive into and it’s done over the weekend. If you want to write a serious, logical piece of work, it’s going to take time, research, and of course, a lot of self-reflection, because most likely, you’re going to find a lot of you meshed into the lives of your characters.
Writing A Novel: The 10 Best & Worst Things That Have Happened To Me
Today is Friday, May 9, 2014 and things are wrapping up for the big Mother’s Day weekend here in America.
So as we’re reflecting about life and the sacrifices Mom has made in your life, here’s today’s writing exercise.
The recommendation is to write these out on 3″ x 5″ notecards, but really, any place you want to write them out and think about them is fine.
The idea behind this exercise, those previously mention, and those to come is to help give you a wealth of material to consider if you’re writing a novel, or, if you’re just in a reflective mood about your life in general.
TODAY’S EXERCISE
So take out a sheet of paper, notecards, even your Notes feature on iPad, iPhone or Mac, etc. and think about these next two questions. It calls for 10. Maybe that’s enough. Maybe you can/need to do more than that. Either way. I encourage you to do these exercise in quiet reflection. There are no right or wrong answers. And no one has to see them. This is for you. Did you know that according to mental health experts, most people among us never sit down and do anything like this at any point in their lives? Here’s your chance to do something few others will ever do.
What are the 10 worst things that ever have happened to me? What are the 10 best things that ever happened to me?
My apologies. I’ve been neck-deep in work-related projects associated with books for iPad the past couple of days. And I’ve been doing work on what will become my first novel. I hope.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing daily posts on suggested self-study exercises that can be helpful in writing a novel, but also as a self-study in getting to know oneself a little better.
So since I missed out on posts on Monday and Tuesday, I’ve lumped those questions in with Wednesday’s post.
What you’re supposed to do, is take out a stack of 3″ x 5″ notecards, title them, date them and number them, and then make a list of the answers you come up with for each of the day’s questions.
If you would go back to Monday’s exercise, it is:
I’m glad I did _____
Tuesday’s exercise is:
I wish I had NOT done ______
And the exercise designed for today, Wednesday, May 7, 2014, is simply this.
If I died right now, what would people say about my life?
Maybe that’s not something that just goes on a notecard, but instead of writing long sentences, maybe you should start by jotting down a few words. And be honest with yourself. If you were to keel over right now and someone were to have to deliver a eulogy about you using only a series of one word thoughts, what would they be? I know. That can be pretty sobering, but let’s go. Might give you some things to work on even if you don’t end up writing a book….
New Products in The Timberlander Treasures Gift Shop! Wooden custom crosses, Great Pyrenees t-shirts, The Timberlander merch, woodcarvings and more. You'll like what you find here! Dismiss
