By Jessica Berg
The Writing Personality Quiz: What Type of Writer Are You?
Do you know your “writing personality”?
You already know you’ve got voice, style, and a favorite genre to write in. But knowing how you approach writing is a complete game changer. The truth is that every author brings a specific vibe to the page that’s shaped by their quirks, habits, and creative instincts. Some of us are quiet, conjuring up entire worlds in whispers (ahem, that’s me!). In contrast, others are bold, experimenting with every twist and genre.
Want to know your writer’s personality? Don’t overthink about the answer. Just choose what resonates the most on an immediate level. Ready? Let’s go!
1. How do you approach writing a new story idea?
- A) You get a vision of a world/ setting that will not leave you alone, so you start building slowly, weaving the details together like a spell.
- B) No holds barred. You dive right in with a frenetic brainstorm of ideas, characters, and scenes. If it’s in your head, it’s going on paper. You’ll sort out the particulars later.
- C) You ask questions about the narrative themes, reflecting on what the work says about life, identity, or human nature.
- D) You’re structure-driven and incredibly methodical. There might even be a spreadsheet or five in your author’s life.
- E) Every project is a brand-new adventure. You constantly experiment to keep things exciting and love the challenge of trying something completely different.
2. When you get feedback on your work, you tend to…
- A) Explore how to add depth without losing the subtle magic that makes your story unique.
- B) Feel your feels. Excited, overwhelmed, prepared to redo the whole thing? You know it’s a lot to untangle, but it’s also an opportunity to take risks and push boundaries.
- C) Wonder if you’re conveying your message clearly and then disassociate into a mess of existential goo.
- D) Go straight to the notes to see if there’s anything structural you can adjust to tighten things up.
- E) Use it as fuel to try something new and jump into a whole new draft.
3. How do you feel about structure and planning?
- A) Outlines are for suckers. You like to let the story emerge naturally.
- B) What even is a structure? You’re just trying to keep up with all your ideas!
- C) You started with vagueness and you prefer to stay that way.
- D) You’re all about planning; in fact, it’s what keeps your creativity grounded.
- E) Every story is different! Planning for one, pantsing the next.
4. What’s your dream feedback from a reader?
- A) “Your writing is so visceral – I was right in your world.”
- B) “I had no idea what was going to happen next, and I loved every second.”
- C) “Your story really made me think about life in a new way.”
- D) “This flowed beautifully and everything made sense. Total journey from start to finish.”
- E) “Wow, I’ve never read anything like this before!”
Ready for Your Results?
Here’s what your answers reveal about your writing personality!
Mostly A’s: The Quiet Conjurer
You’re an author who weaves magic into the everyday. That’s because you excel at creating worlds and characters that reveal themselves slowly, like secrets. Because of this, you’re a Quiet Conjurer. You love to balance mystery with subtlety. Your work lingers with readers, revealing new layers each time they return to your story. For you, it’s all about creating a mood and an atmosphere that readers feel.
Watch out for: Your quiet approach can sometimes obscure the plot. Make sure you keep your pacing tight and know what’s at stake for your characters. Otherwise you’ll end up with an “all vibes and no plot” sort of narrative.
Mostly B’s: The Chaotic Architect
You are forever buzzing with new ideas, so you’re always game to throw yourself into the unknown. As a Chaotic Architect, you excel most when you’re in discovery mode. You’ll often start with a massive concept. Then you’ll let the ideas work themselves out as you’re learning to story. Your writing is always adventurous, bold, and you’re never short on surprises.
Watch out for: Too much chaos! If you’re getting feedback that readers are lost, consider grounding the story with a little structure. Even a loose outline can help keep all that amazing energy on track.
Mostly C’s: The Shy Sage
You’re the one asking the tough questions, and it shows in your prose. Your work is generally thoughtful and reflective. You’re a Shy Sage because you know how to craft stories that speak to the soul. Ultimately, this makes readers pause and reflect on the human condition. For you, writing is about more than just a story. It’s the way for you to best explore life’s biggest questions.
Watch out for: Your introspective nature might make you hesitant to share your work, so push yourself to get your words out there. The world needs your perspective, so don’t hold back!
Mostly D’s: The Methodical Dreamer
You’re the Type A of the creative work because you’re organized and can blend creative depth with structure. The Methodical Dreamer knows just how to balance world-building and character arcs with a strong sense of story. And because you’re all about structure, chances are you love plotting, and your stories feel complete, with no loose ends left hanging.
Watch out for: Sometimes, over-planning can hold you back. If you’re finding it hard to finish drafts, try letting go of your plans a little and see where the story takes you.
Mostly E’s: The Bold Explorer
Experimentation is the name of your game. The Bold Explorer is all about trying new approaches, genres, and even unconventional structures. You’re fearless and always pushing the envelope, making your work stand out as fresh and unique.
Watch out for: Not all experiments work, and that’s okay! Try giving readers something consistent to hold onto, like a clear theme or central character, to keep them grounded in your world.
Why Knowing Your Writing Personality Serves You as an Author
Knowing your writing personality is a powerful tool that can help you understand your process, tackle obstacles, and make the most of your creative strengths. Each personality type has its own approach to storytelling. That means, when you embrace your type, you’re better equipped to overcome challenges and let your writing shine.
If you’re a Quiet Conjurer, leaning into your subtle style can create a lasting, immersive experience for your readers. But recognizing that your approach may lead to pacing challenges means you can actively work on keeping the plot moving without sacrificing atmosphere.
For a Chaotic Architect, your raw creativity and willingness to dive in without a plan are strengths, but they can also lead to stories that feel scattered. Knowing this, you can consciously bring in elements of structure at key moments, allowing your high-energy style to hit home without losing readers in the chaos.
Meanwhile, the Shy Sage can embrace their introspective approach to create stories that resonate deeply. Knowing you tend to hold back can be the nudge you need to share more openly and with confidence.
For the Methodical Dreamer, awareness of your need for structure can help you avoid getting bogged down by perfectionism. Embrace your planning skills but give yourself permission to let loose and write messy drafts.
And if you’re a Bold Explorer, embracing your experimental nature is your superpower. But understanding that you may need to anchor readers with a consistent theme or character allows you to experiment without losing their connection.
In essence, knowing your writing personality gives you permission to lean into your strengths, helps you recognize areas for growth, and equips you with strategies to navigate obstacles. Writing isn’t one-size-fits-all, and by understanding your personality type, you can shape your approach in ways that make your work resonate deeply and authentically with readers.
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Jessica Berg is a literary agent with Rosecliff Literary and a contemporary fantasy novelist. She provides developmental editorial feedback for Writer’s Digest, Uncharted Magazine, and Fractured Lit. A multi-nominated writer, she holds an MFA from Spalding University and is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. Find out more about her here.