What’s Your Writer Working Style? A Guide to Self-Discovery
Reveal the characteristics that shape your writing approach.
Discover Your Writer Working Style
In our previous post, we introduced the concept of working styles for fiction writers. Extended from the Office Working Styles, it was adapted to reflect writers - people who's work is primarily solo work..
Today, we'll examine ways to find your Writer Worker Style. Clues are abound from your daily life, your work environment, daily routines, quirky habits - all pointing to the kind of working style where you operate at your creative best.
By the end, you'll suspect what working style may be yours. Curious to confirm it? Head over to AiMagicForAuthors.com and take the quiz to see if your suspicions are right!
Clues in Your Work Environment
Your workspace says a lot about how you operate as a writer. Take a look at these key characteristics and see which one resonates with you:
The Organized Oasis
Neatly arranged desk: Everything has its place, from pens to notebooks.
Color-coded files: Your research and notes are meticulously organized.
Planners and calendars: You thrive on detailed schedules and timelines for your writing projects.
If this sounds like your space, you're likely a Methodical Writer who excels in organization and planning.
The Creative Chaos
Piles of notes and sketches: Your desk is a vibrant mix of story ideas, character sketches, and random inspirations.
Inspirational objects: Your workspace is full of quirky items, like vintage postcards or jars of colorful marbles, to spark creativity.
Flexible layout: Your setup changes frequently depending on your project or mood.
This environment suggests you might be a Creative Visionary, someone who flourishes in a dynamic and imaginative space.
The Minimalist Haven
Clean and simple desk: Clutter is your enemy—only the essentials are on your desk.
Focused setup: A single notebook, your laptop, and perhaps a cup of coffee keep you on task.
Distraction-free zone: You keep distractions to a minimum to maintain focus.
If this resonates with you, you might be a Solo Scribe, valuing simplicity and focus in your creative process.
The Precision Palace
Meticulous desk setup: Everything has a specific place, often neatly arranged, with favorite writing tools within easy reach.
Reference materials at the ready: A bookshelf or digital library filled with grammar guides, style manuals, and other resources for honing your craft.
Sticky notes and highlighters: Your space might include a variety of sticky notes or color-coded highlighters to mark revisions and important notes.
If this sounds familiar, you're likely a Detail-Oriented Craftsperson, someone who pays close attention to language, grammar, and the fine details of your work.
The Collaboration Cove
Group-centered workspace: Your desk may include shared resources, or your home office could double as a space for virtual meetings or writing groups.
Notebooks for feedback: You likely have notes from beta readers or critique partners in the margins of your drafts, either printed or in digital form.
Inspiration board: A bulletin board or virtual space where you collect feedback, ideas, or insights from your writing community.
If this environment resonates with you, you're likely a Collaborative Storyteller, someone who thrives on feedback, collaboration, and collective creativity.
How You Start Your Day
Your morning routine can offer more clues about your working style. Do you recognize yourself in any of these?
The Sunrise Strategist
Morning rituals: You start your day with a set routine, perhaps including meditation, a healthy breakfast, and a review of your writing goals.
Time blocking: You allocate specific times for writing, research, and breaks throughout your day.
Checklists: You create and follow daily to-do lists religiously.
This routine suggests you're a Methodical Writer who benefits from structured planning and an early start.
The Dawn Dreamer
Inspiration-driven start: You begin writing as soon as inspiration strikes, whether it’s first thing in the morning or later in the day.
Flexible schedule: Your writing sessions vary in length and time, based on your creative energy.
Creative rituals: You might have unique habits like freewriting in a journal or brainstorming while taking long walks.
This approach indicates you might be a Creative Visionary who thrives on spontaneity and inspiration.
The Morning Maverick
Consistent routine: You start writing at the same time every day, no matter what.
Goal-oriented: You set specific writing targets and work diligently to meet them.
Efficient setup: Your streamlined morning routine gets you to your desk quickly and without fuss.
If this sounds familiar, you’re likely a Solo Scribe who excels with discipline and consistency.
The Dawn Perfectionist
Meticulous morning: You start your day by reviewing and refining previous work, ensuring every detail is polished.
Draft revisions: Your first task is often revisiting drafts to perfect grammar and style before moving forward.
Organized creativity: You set aside time for focused editing sessions, knowing that precision is key.
If this sounds like you, you're likely a Detail-Oriented Craftsperson, beginning each day with refinement and attention to detail.
The Social Sunrise
Feedback first: Your morning might begin with checking notes or feedback from beta readers or critique partners.
Collaborative brainstorming: You often start the day by bouncing ideas off others, either in writing groups or through online communities.
Group energy: You thrive on interaction, and your best ideas often come from engaging with others right from the start of your day.
If this resonates with you, you're likely a Collaborative Storyteller, starting the day fueled by feedback and collaboration.
Routines and Quirks
Your daily habits, as well as some funny quirks, offer more insight into your writing style:
The Precision Prodigy
Bullet journals and spreadsheets: You meticulously track progress, ideas, and deadlines in organized formats.
Consistent habits: You follow the same steps each day—whether it's a specific writing warm-up or reviewing your checklist before you start.
Structured breaks: Even your downtime is planned, with set intervals to refresh and refocus.
These habits suggest you're a Methodical Writer who thrives on structure, routines, and well-laid plans.
The Serendipity Seeker
Sporadic bursts of creativity: You might suddenly stop mid-sentence to chase down a new idea or inspiration that strikes unexpectedly.
Unusual muses: Whether it’s music, doodling, or a completely unrelated hobby, you find creative sparks in unexpected places.
Idea explosion: You often generate multiple ideas at once, leaving notes and sketches scattered in your wake.
If this sounds like you, you're likely a Creative Visionary whose quirky habits and spontaneity fuel your imaginative process.
The Routine Ranger
Predictable patterns: You’ve established a writing routine that works, and you stick to it like clockwork.
Minimal interruptions: Once you begin, you remain focused, avoiding distractions until you’ve reached your goals for the day.
Disciplined pacing: Whether you write fast or slow, you maintain a steady, consistent pace every time you sit down to work.
If this resonates with you, you're probably a Solo Scribe who values routine and productivity through discipline.
The Detail-Obsessed Perfectionist
Multiple drafts: You meticulously edit each draft until it’s perfect.
Grammar geek: You take pride in catching the tiniest grammatical errors.
Precision tools: You have specific pens, highlighters, and notebooks for different purposes.
This behavior points to a Detail-Oriented Craftsperson who loves refining their work to perfection.
The Collaborative Connector
Writing groups: You participate in writing communities, sharing ideas and feedback.
Feedback enthusiast: You regularly seek input from beta readers or critique partners.
Team player: You enjoy co-writing projects or collaborative storytelling.
If this describes you, you're a Collaborative Storyteller, thriving on interaction and collaboration.
Funny and Quirky Traits
Here are some light-hearted clues that might reveal your style:
The Snack Strategist: You have a specific snack schedule that fuels your writing sessions, with different snacks for different times of the day. (Methodical Writer)
The Pajama Planner: You do your best writing in your comfiest pajamas and have a collection for different writing moods. (Creative Visionary)
The Desk Dancer: You take dance breaks every hour to keep the creativity flowing. (Solo Scribe)
The Pen Precisionist: You own a collection of favorite pens, each used for specific types of edits or notes. (Detail-Oriented Craftsperson)
The Coffee Chatter: You love virtual coffee chats or brainstorming sessions with writing friends, often kicking off your work by sharing ideas with others. (Collaborative Storyteller)
Take the Quiz!
We have covered the barest clues. Head on over to https://AiMagicForAuthors.com and take our quiz. Answer the thirteen questions to pinpoint your unique working style and provide advice that enhances your writing process.
In our next blog post, we’ll have a look at the tools which naturally align to your working style. This is particularly important in this age of AI where the number of tools available is astronomical. Knowing your working style can help you select the best tools and apps suited to you and the way you work.
Stay tuned to discover which style resonates with you and how it can transform your approach to writing.
If you want to reread the previous post - More Than Pantsing or Planning: Exploring Your Writer Working Style
Here's the link to the last post in this series - The Write Fit: Finding the Perfect A.I. Tools for You
So happy you dropped by.
Lorraine
Bestselling Author and A.I. Writing Consultant / Creator of The Writer Working Style Assessment
P.S. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below to share your thoughts. I read every one!
