tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post260235147458686955..comments2024-03-11T16:14:49.158-07:00Comments on Don't pet me, I'm writing: On day jobs and author fantasiesTAWNA FENSKEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-84913162045443936892010-12-20T13:42:19.957-08:002010-12-20T13:42:19.957-08:00I'm an introvert too. I'd much rather stay...I'm an introvert too. I'd much rather stay home with a book than go out, watch the game on TV rather than attend in person. I get enough of the writer-needed fodder just by going to the grocery store. Maybe more on the drive there.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321865399706410702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-75432494058581747962010-12-15T07:24:23.382-08:002010-12-15T07:24:23.382-08:00Wow, love the comments here (and I especially love...Wow, love the comments here (and I especially love hearing where everyone falls on the introvert/extrovert spectrum). I'll admit I'm a big geek for personality tests like Myers-Briggs and Strengthsfinder. I'm an INTP, in case you're wondering.<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading and commenting, guys! It really means a lot to me.<br /><br />TawnaTAWNA FENSKEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-21060807217482959542010-12-14T21:30:49.292-08:002010-12-14T21:30:49.292-08:00I am an introvert! I say this with pride...but lik...I am an introvert! I say this with pride...but like you Tawna, I work in a field where interacting with people is a must: Hospitality. <br />I use it though, people who are living from one hotel to the next crave interaction with others (they don't care who); so I meet a lot of different types of people and use that to create characters.<br />Plus, every once in a while a story will come to life from one...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01240407490078842885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-20848470267423166732010-12-14T20:20:32.624-08:002010-12-14T20:20:32.624-08:00About eight years ago I got a job that was seasona...About eight years ago I got a job that was seasonal. I worked from August until right before Christmas, and January or February until the end of May. I was thrilled. I could write until my fingers turned blue. I would wear out my keyboard, it was heaven on earth. I wrote three short stories and one full length manuscript. I found that without everything else going on, and no pressure to get my writing done, I was able to waste an amazing amount of time on the internet and get a lot of nothing done.<br /><br />I'm with you Tawna. I need to work and get out amongst the world to keep my creativity flowing. Even though my preference is for a cold beverage, a hot book and a comfy chair.Kadi Easleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08567815525192651318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-74155114123731010752010-12-14T19:42:50.263-08:002010-12-14T19:42:50.263-08:00I'm an introvert. I don't mind going out,...I'm an introvert. I don't mind going out, especially with people I know, but I do admit constant interaction exhausts me. <br /><br />I work in a school so I interact all day with students, teachers, parents, administrators...sometimes it's all I can do to keep from crawling under my desk and yelling leave me alone!<br /><br />I'd love to do the full time writer thing. I don't think I'd be boring. I'd be more relaxed, but not boring.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849370947985905108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-63157206387304590752010-12-14T17:45:06.147-08:002010-12-14T17:45:06.147-08:00I am a self-diagnosed introvert; I prefer to stay ...I am a self-diagnosed introvert; I prefer to stay home and write. And would I could I would. One day soon, I will.<br /><br />DADeborah Smallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582655689614863667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-3966389915634377262010-12-14T14:38:07.938-08:002010-12-14T14:38:07.938-08:00Every time I take that M&B people's test, ...Every time I take that M&B people's test, I come out extrovert. Nobody is surprised as I'm vivacious and can socialized if forced to. <br /><br />What they don't realize, is I am split, usualy like 4/3 when it's the seven part testing system they use. I have to have my alone time. I'm a homebody who likes to have outside contact. Wait, is that the definition of computer geek????<br /><br />I prefer long hot baths and reading books to partying. I prefer a snuggle home to being out on the town. Yet, my tests usually fall to the extrovert side.<br /><br />Sigh. I'm so conflicted... LOL Nah, not really. I understand that I'm a nice person who needs recharging in order to be stimulating... pauses for the snickering... waits, yeah, I know, I did it said recharging and stimulating together. Couldn't help it, but I did erase the "whose batteries need recharging before being stimulating" and changed it. *G*<br /><br />Great post as always.Leonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786326364037397675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-63652381238595317912010-12-14T13:11:43.623-08:002010-12-14T13:11:43.623-08:00i'm a well adjusted introvert. i'm quite s...i'm a well adjusted introvert. i'm quite social and love it, but i have to have my alone time to recharge. if i have too much of one or the other, i become drained or i bounce of the walls of my own mind.<br /><br />neither is pretty.abby mumfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945527585028871186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-30551947349422986592010-12-14T12:44:32.239-08:002010-12-14T12:44:32.239-08:00I've often thought that if I got to be a full-...I've often thought that if I got to be a full-time writer, I'd get some kind of part-time job, just to get me out of the house. My boss calls me an introvert with extrovert skills - I suspect those skills could become *quite* rusty if unused for long...Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-30552693267841379772010-12-14T12:26:48.210-08:002010-12-14T12:26:48.210-08:00Proud INTP! (I love the Myers-Briggs; I've ana...Proud INTP! (I love the Myers-Briggs; I've analyzed everyone in my office, although they don't know it.)<br /><br />I have the dubious pleasure of being married to an extrovert. At home, he's generally mellow and sleepy. Get him around people and he becomes this annoying energy vampire. We've finally come to terms with each other--we drive separate cars to events :)Angela Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12283365861048428440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-67760903983578216412010-12-14T09:22:01.397-08:002010-12-14T09:22:01.397-08:00I'm exactly the same! I'm extremely introv...I'm exactly the same! I'm extremely introverted but my job forces me to do "the dancing bear routine" as I like to call it. <br /><br />But as you say, I'm much more productive when I have to squeeze writing into a busy schedule than when I've got all day to write, and much more creative, for sure.<br /><br />Great post!Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-36517771152978081782010-12-14T09:18:57.420-08:002010-12-14T09:18:57.420-08:00I'm right on the extravert/intravert line. It ...I'm right on the extravert/intravert line. It doesn't take long for me to get overwhelmed and if I'm going somewhere that recquires a lot of social energy, I have to REST UP.<br /><br />Great post, Tawna. Funny and insightful as always.Harley Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04241863993211420573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-29903445162579642242010-12-14T08:16:27.007-08:002010-12-14T08:16:27.007-08:00Heh heh. You said "stimulation."
I'...Heh heh. You said "stimulation."<br /><br />I'm much more extroverty than I used to be. And I like to think that I'd manage my time more wisely if I were writing full time. It wouldn't happen, but I like to think that. (And usually when I should be writing instead of thinking.)Nate Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690171790664252309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-25151281084042062612010-12-14T07:34:15.345-08:002010-12-14T07:34:15.345-08:00I think I'm all over that place when it comes ...I think I'm all over that place when it comes to how I'm stimulated (it's hard not snicker over the use of the word) Most days I just want to be by myself and not have anyone bother me, but then I crave being with people. However, a large group of people completely freaks me out and I wither away like a dying flower. I'm really awkward in large groups. <br />I just figured out that I have vacation days leftover at my job that I'll lose before the end of the year, which means I've planned three days of full time writing. Since it takes me a long time to get into the groove when I write, I think this will work well for me, but I don't know if I could stay home alone all the time. We'll see... maybe someday I'll be able to test it out... Have fun this week at your day job! :-)Melissa Sarnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215683401795724259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-66902550278532027882010-12-14T07:14:46.893-08:002010-12-14T07:14:46.893-08:00Introvert ALL the way. I can suck it up and paste...Introvert ALL the way. I can suck it up and paste on a smile and plop myself into a social situation, and put on the funny and people think I'm all out there. But I'm cringing the whole time. I went to my first writing conference last year, and I was petrified, but I mingled and stepped outside my "I'm not good enough" box. <br /><br />LOL...give me a chair and a blankie and my laptop and a notepad and pen...and a book...and I'm a happy girl.<br /><br />I also got to experience writing full time for a month and a half in the summer after major surgery...and I must be the minority because I LOVED it. I was able to finish my book, and start editing, and it killed me to have to go back to work. I work full time, and come home to a crazy house of people needing me equally full time, and a teenager that isn't driving yet so I'm the taxi. So writing time is hard to come by. Nothing new, I know that describes many of us. <br /><br />But I could go back to that full-time writing thing in a heartbeat! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-30891631491572457052010-12-14T07:14:29.014-08:002010-12-14T07:14:29.014-08:00Good post, as I think a lot of writers struggle to...Good post, as I think a lot of writers struggle to find balance between the isolating necessary to produce fiction, and the interaction with people that a writer needs simply for fun, and also to inspire more storytelling!<br />I joined a writers' space, where I hear everyone typing around me, and that motivates and fuels me-knowing that we are all in it together. I also teach freshmen lit. I love my students and love talking about good books with them! We just finished Orwell's 1984, for instance.Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-66976267613637776172010-12-14T06:53:30.198-08:002010-12-14T06:53:30.198-08:00You totally read my mind with this post. I haven&#...You totally read my mind with this post. I haven't had a job for almost 5 months now. (Nobody's hiring and because I have a B.A. I'm "overqualified" for a minimum wage job. Go fig.) I thought I'd love it--spend all my time in sweats at my computer writing--but I'm discovering my creativity has taken a big hit. I did manage to finish a rewrite I've been working on forever and a day, but now I'm struggling for new plots. I wrote more last winter when I was a full time student & worked 35 hours a week! Don't ask me how. <br /><br />As much as I hated my last job at a call center, I almost want it back. The whole time I was answering those phones, I was also working on my story in my head. When I got home, I felt recharged & ready to tackle any problem my WIP could throw at me.<br /><br />I still think I could enjoy the stay-at-home writer life since I'm the definition of introvert.*If*--big if, here--I had the money available to get out of the house once in a while. Yanno, go out with friends, hit up the mall, take some sort of exercise class, etc. But being jobless, I barely have money to pay the bills.Tonya Burrowsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-85442713560439279052010-12-14T06:52:12.817-08:002010-12-14T06:52:12.817-08:00I could have written this post. As much as I don&#...I could have written this post. As much as I don't have any ambition in my current field, it's not a bad job and I know I'll always need that structure to my days. Always have. <br /><br />But I'm also an introvert. Thankfully, my day job doesn't put me out there schmoozing much though, like you, I can totally turn it on when I need it. I'd still rather be alone with my book and my laptop. <br /><br />The only substitute I've found that seems to work well for me is to take my laptop to the local pub and write there. This helps structure the writing time and also provide some limited interaction with others.<br /><br />It's just that it involves a lot of beer too...Leah Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17668989627100455974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-24932403036113870322010-12-14T06:43:25.914-08:002010-12-14T06:43:25.914-08:00I too fantasize about not having a day job and wri...I too fantasize about not having a day job and writing full time, but I also know that this would probably backfire on me. I manage my time better when I have to actually *manage* it.<br /><br />I imagine my schedule as a full-time writer would include 4-hour blocks of time for 1) cookie eating 2) cat petting 3) staring into space and 4) more cookie eating. Not good.<br /><br />I'm a total introvert. But I also know that I sometimes need that outside interaction, too. I just spent 4 days away from the office, working from home and barely stepping outside, and I started to go crazy.Laura Maylenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18058744860709615256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-25367769624134156992010-12-14T06:36:55.975-08:002010-12-14T06:36:55.975-08:00I'm an ENFP.
I'm also still snickering. ...I'm an ENFP.<br /><br />I'm also still snickering. That's because I don't really like Milky Ways.Patrick Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121337008453549441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-20163040019757787992010-12-14T06:02:47.825-08:002010-12-14T06:02:47.825-08:00I'm generally pretty shy and introverted, but ...I'm generally pretty shy and introverted, but get me in a group of people I know and love, and get me a little tipsy, and I'm a blast! Or so I'm told, I usually can't remember.<br /><br />Seriously though it sounds like you have an amazing job. Personally I have a soul sucking corporate day job that takes 50 hours of my life every week, that I will never get back, but you do have a point about more focused writing in the little time that is left over.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-72069906422800775362010-12-14T05:55:55.754-08:002010-12-14T05:55:55.754-08:00Pretty much what Linda said. When I got hurt at wo...Pretty much what Linda said. When I got hurt at work a year and a half ago, it grounded me for the first time ever, and I have to say--I've hated it. I feel bad for all those people who want to be stay-at-home writers, because I'd trade with them in an instant. <br /><br />I'm finally working on getting back in the career field, but it's still some time off, as I'm going back to school for a new degree. But the promise is there, and it's a siren song.Summer Freyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234534550255682010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-60631256599896197602010-12-14T05:39:35.834-08:002010-12-14T05:39:35.834-08:00I did have my doubts, but Typalyzer does peg your ...I did have my doubts, but <a href="http://www.typealyzer.com/" rel="nofollow">Typalyzer</a> does peg your blog as being that of an introvert.adam.purplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13715310339491141836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-46493271490149910972010-12-14T04:59:24.781-08:002010-12-14T04:59:24.781-08:00Like you, I'm an introvert, though you wouldn&...Like you, I'm an introvert, though you wouldn't guess it after a night out with me. I'm not shy at all -- I can interact socially with just about anyone. But if I don't get a certain amount of "alone time" (okay, a LOT of alone time), I tend go a little crazy. Which is why it works out so well that TG has a job where he has to work a lot of nights -- he doesn't have to feel guilty about leaving me alone.Linda G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-89632540916998261952010-12-14T04:30:15.433-08:002010-12-14T04:30:15.433-08:00I'm an introvert person, and an extrovert writ...I'm an introvert person, and an extrovert writer. No idea why, but chatting actively to about 3 people on IMs is the best way for me to write.<br /><br />I completely agree with the part time job. I just need to find one that will pay for my dream farm...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14869145555938203736noreply@blogger.com