What Is Your Content Creator Personality Type?

Writing looks like many different things (outlining, taking notes, recording our thoughts, stream of consciousness, to name a few), and we writers are all different, too.

The biggest problem I see would-be writers and even those who make the leap and proclaim themselves writers to the world is that they don't think they're doing it properly. That probably comes from the good ol' Roman numeral outline, rough draft, and final version process taught in middle school.

What works better - and I sometimes have to re-educate my coaching clients and students in my programs around this - is to find your very own way of approaching writing. Through over twenty years immersed in writing and teaching writing, I've found that people fall into the following Content Creator Personality Types.

Planner - This is the person who probably resonated with the middle school way of teaching writing, and she was most likely labeled as a "Strong Writer" by her teachers. Outlines, bullet points, extensive notes are what she's about. She takes her topic and starts breaking it down into categories and subcategories.

Strengths: the Planner has a ready-made map, and she can just start at Point A and go from there.

Challenges: if the Planner can't readily figure out the organizational structure, she feels lost.

Recommendation for the Planner: do whatever you can to start jotting down ideas. The sooner you do that, the sooner your logical/linear mind will be able to see connections and the organizational structure embodied within.

Storyteller - The Storyteller can't seem to convey anything without it involving some sort of story. He can communicate any concept, as long as he can tell a story to illustrate it.

Strengths: where some people might struggle to explain an abstract concept, the Storyteller does it beautifully with a story.

Challenges: the Storyteller finds it hard to be concise and just stay with the facts.

Recommendation for the Storyteller: try to distill your main point into as succinct a statement as possible, and then build the story around it. That way you don't lose your audience with a story that meanders a while before getting to the point.

The Divinely Inspired - This creative soul needs to be inspired before she can write. While this may seem to be diva-like behavior, the truth is that when she is deeply inspired, what she creates is downright amazing.

Strengths: When the muse strikes, the content just flows, so the Divinely Inspired needs to take advantage of this time.

Challenges: if the Divinely Inspired isn't moved, ain't nothing going to get written.

Recommendation for the Divinely Inspired: if you're not feeling inspired, then do what you can to get there. Create and use a Divine Inspiration Kit. Go for a walk. Put on some great music. Light candles. Ask for guidance from your divine spirit guides. Get ready for and welcome the inspiration in.

Muller/Dreamer - the Muller/Dreamer likes to mull around an idea in his head before it's ready to come out, and only when it's ready. Hence, timelines and deadlines aren't so much the Muller/Dreamer's friend. But given enough time to mull about, then the content just about writes itself.

Strengths: if not rushed, the Muller/Dreamer can work through a symbolic outline, pretty much in his head.

Challenges: again, if a deadline is involved, the Muller/Dreamer is going to feel that whatever he has created isn't finished and refined.

Recommendation for the Muller/Dreamer: you may need to set aside structured time specifically for mulling and dreaming (weird, I know). Another alternative is to call a friend or colleague and use him or her as a sounding board. Then, you're processing your content in a bit more of a structured and timely manner.

Doodler/Storyboarder - This type of writer needs to sketch out her ideas, possibly even with images, doodles, lines, circles, symbols, and, of course, colored pens.

Strengths: using this method, the Doodler/Storyboarder can not only create content for a specific topic, but she can also create tendrils of ideas to use at later times.

Challenges: the Doodler/Storyboarder can easily forget that this is her preferred way of writing and try the outline-rough draft-final version method... and then get frustrated.

Recommendation for the Doodler/Storyboarder: always have your sketchpad and a bevy of markers and colored pencils at hand. Just because it looks different from what you think writing is, doesn't make it just as legitimate.

Mirror - This writer type can write anything, IF he has a model. This isn't to say that what he creates isn't his own; he just needs a model, a formula, a structure to go on.

Strengths: the Mirror doesn't seem to have a problem writing anything, as long as he has a model to follow.

Challenges: if there is no model, the Mirror feels lost.

Recommendation for the Mirror: there's always a model; very little is truly unique. You may just have to find your model in unusual places. Write out the plot structure of a story. Pay attention to the chapter titles and descriptions of the self-help book you just read. Keep a swipe file of interesting subject lines and article titles.

Where do you find yourself in these Content Creator Types? Does any one of these fit you? A combination? Or something we haven't seen yet?