INFJ: To Write or Not to Write; That is the question..

Well I'm an ENFP, and I have an even shorter attention span.

I will comfortably write for ten minutes on a story.

Luckily I'm doing this thing called Morning Pages where I write three pages every morning. It takes me about 45 minutes, so it MAKES me write more.

However, who says that writing for a long time is any better than doing it in short spurts?? Even novels can be written in 10-minute increments. Just write.
:wink:

My favourite writer these last few years is Tess Gerritsen, I'm sure she's INFJ.

madsmarr said:

Thank you cbelle for your input, it is much appreciated. And amanda32 I will have to look her up.

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I'm really picky about my writers but I have to get all of her books. I've read them all now I think...sadness.

She used to be a doctor and started writing after she had her first child.
One of the best ones is, "Gravity" and then a the "Surgeon" series where she has a great set
of characters solving murders.

Her writing is suspenseful and she often has a mood of loneliness for the characters that really makes me feel it; the romantic subplots are really well done as well.
The moods she evokes -- just perfect.

I'm glad you're going to check her out. I think you'll like her a lot, I hope so anyway.

madsmarr said:

I find it hard to write for a lenghty period of time. For me it is far easier to write poems to express my feelings. I find it absolutely boring to write for more than an hour and a half. Am I the only INFJ that feels this way?

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I've written a few hundred-page stories and dozens of 30-page jump-starts.

But never anything good enough. I don't think I will be a published author... That would be nice though.

Btmangan said:

I've written a few hundred-page stories and dozens of 30-page jump-starts.

But never anything good enough. I don't think I will be a published author... That would be nice though.

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few hundred pages? WOW. you should look for a publisher so we can read your stories, :crazy:
(or give us ebook copy, hehe)

darkstar13 said:

few hundred pages? WOW. you should look for a publisher so we can read your stories, :crazy:
(or give us ebook copy, hehe)

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Thanks for the support.

If I ever write anything... readable... I'll be sure to let you guys know ^^ I'm 10 pages into a story right now actually.

I do, too, but spending years in college as an English major helped me overcome the tendency somewhat. Still, I prefer to write shorter pieces whenever possible, and I was always better at writing poems than I was at writing short stories in my creative writing classes.

Most of the writing I've done in the last year is on the web site Epinions.com, a consumer product review site, and my reviews there nearly always range from 500-1500 words.

I find that I can often write for hours and not realize it until I look at the clock and think, "Man where did the time go?" Although, we three very active little boys, I'm finding less and less time to write. I also find that I'll sit down to write about one thing, and all of a sudden I'll get ideas for 5 or 6 other stories or poems. So, I have to set aside time to devote myself to 1 particular idea or I'd never get anything accomplished.

madsmarr said:

I'm sure that if you have written several pages it has to have something interesting in it! =]

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Unfortunately, my computer began to spew smoke and then shut down... for good.

My 12 page fledgling story is lost.

madsmarr said:

I find it hard to write for a lenghty period of time. For me it is far easier to write poems to express my feelings. I find it absolutely boring to write for more than an hour and a half. Am I the only INFJ that feels this way?

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I don't know if my opinion should count; I was a writing major in college, lol. But before college, I mostly wrote in short spurts of very succinct poems. (None of that 20 page epic poem stuff from me.) During and after college, I trained myself to write for longer periods of time, but I find my best work comes from a couple of hours of mad-scientist writing, which I leave for a while, then come back and edit n add in a more orderly and cohesive fashion. It isn't that I find writing boring. It's just - I can do seventeen times as much in half the time! :tongue:

Btmangan said:

Thanks for the support.

If I ever write anything... readable... I'll be sure to let you guys know ^^ I'm 10 pages into a story right now actually.

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I once read that INFJs don't think their writing is original and feel that of all the books in the world, INFJs would not be able to say anything original - its all been said - that helps me when I get discouraged.

I only recently have been writing poems although I have journalledfor years and try to write down my dreams. When I go back to some journal entries from a few years ago I feel like wow I was so smart, what happened?

madsmarr said:

I find it hard to write for a lenghty period of time. For me it is far easier to write poems to express my feelings. I find it absolutely boring to write for more than an hour and a half. Am I the only INFJ that feels this way?

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No, I feel exactly the same way. This is why we need a writing partner or assistant to help us and keep our minds focused.

Susanna said:

I once read that INFJs don't think their writing is original and feel that of all the books in the world, INFJs would not be able to say anything original - its all been said - that helps me when I get discouraged.

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^ THIS. I feel like whatever I come up with, has already been said in a better fashion.
That being said, I mainly write smaller poems or little stories that have been plaguing me. I usually just sit down and start a writing storm, without editing or anything (I type because I have a wmp of 90something so it's obviously a lot faster than writing by hand). I can go on like this for as long as the idea lasts, if it's especially major then I lose all track of time.
But usually, I write in little passionate bursts, especially my poetry. Whenever something strikes, really.