S.G. Browne - Author discussion

Are you an introvert or extrovert? How does that help you in your writing?

I'm a little of both, though I think I used to be more of an extrovert in college.

The introvert helps me because writing can be a lonely profession as you spend a lot of time by yourself without a lot of human interaction. So you need to be okay with the alone time.

On the other hand, when I'm at signings or convention or conferences, the extrovert in me comes out. I'm very comfortable in a group or in front of an audience and I'm typically not bashful about walking up to someone and introducing myself. This helps with my writing because engaging with humans is essential for maintaining my sanity. Plus in today's publishing world, being able to socialize and network is almost a necessity.

I'm an introvert definitely. And an awkward too, my goodness. Socialness just isn't my friend and there are times when I really try to be it's friend, I try hard. All the humiliating awkard situations that are flashing through my brain at the moment are funny now, mainly because they're over.

The only way I can think of how it helps my writing is that I live in my head a lot of the time. I'm always day dreaming or thinking about "what if this happen" situations or talking to myself (yeah, it goes there) and sometimes those can turn into story ideas for me to work on in the future. Being introvert helps me come up with ideas. And I agree with S.G. you definitely have to be okay with alone time. I am for sure, but sometimes I do make myself become extrovert with usually other introvert people who also like writing becase they're easy to talk with, we're more comfortable with each other because we're alike. I also like being introvert most of the time because I just like quiet. The only noise I like when I'm writing is music and I usually only play one song and then get so caught up in writing that I don't even notice the music is over. So yeah I get plenty of brainstorming done and plenty of quiet for when I get in the zone.

When I get more into the publsing world I do wish to become more extrovert, which I don't think will be hard for me because we'll talking about writing and books. And I like writing and books. :)

I think that in today's world where everybody has the ability to market him/herself, a writer no longer has the option to be completely introverted. I notice that Scott is busy at conferences, speaking gigs, and active on social networking sites. (Contrary to what most people think, people who are active on social networking sites are not necessarily introverts who can only talk to people on-line. People who are naturally extroverted are also more extroverted on-line.) Still, an author must be comfortable in his/her own head -- which is not easy for an extrovert. If I were to guess, I would think that a higher percentage of successful authors were introverts before self-publishing and social networking.

Readers coming up today expect to "get to know" their authors more intimately. Heck, I'm old and I participate in an author's group. :) I'm just fascinated with this new expectation of familiarity that wasn't necessary even 20 years ago. But, as one who is more of an extrovert, I love that we can get to know anybody who is interesting to us . . . and we don't have to wait for their biography.

Thanks for the comments Sharonna and Susan. And yes, the expectation of getting to know authors is definitely different than it was when I was growing up. And while I don't always have time to respond or comment immediately, I do enjoy the interaction, especially at signings and readings. It's a fun and rewarding way to connect.