| Personality
Test (Click
here for printable version)
| What
kind of writer are you? When a statement
below appeals to you as accurate, find the
box to the right that contains a number,
and circle that number. If the statement
does not apply to you, move on. If you are
unsure, go ahead and circle the number. |
A |
B |
C |
D |
1. I tend to polish as I draft, imagining
how this sentence or paragraph is going
to affect the end client. |
|
|
|
5 |
| 2. I love
words and would like to spend more time reading
dictionaries. |
|
|
5 |
|
| 3. I have
to get to know something in depth before I
am comfortable writing about it. |
5 |
|
|
|
| 4. I get
bored if I have to use the same format over
and over. |
|
|
5 |
|
| 5. I’m
happiest when I know I’ve been really
thorough and complete. |
5 |
|
|
|
| 6. I’m
happiest when I know I’ve been really
accurate and precise. |
|
5 |
|
|
| 7. I love
writing strong recommendations. |
|
|
|
5 |
| 8. When
I begin a draft, I like to get everything
down first so I can refine it without having
to fret about content. |
|
5 |
|
|
| 9. I’m
strongest in a support role. I tend to be
more quiet and watchful than others. |
5 |
|
|
|
| 10. I
believe strongly that shorter is usually better,
for convincing the client to make much needed
improvements is what it’s all about.
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 11. I
enjoy writing, but can lose interest quickly
when a report goes into multiple revisions. |
|
|
5 |
|
| 12. I
am not comfortable using metaphors, analogies
and similes in my writing as they tend to
obscure the facts. |
|
5 |
|
|
| 13. I
often play word games in my writing, such
as never repeating a word twice, using alliteration,
or trying phrases I’ve never used before. |
|
|
5 |
|
| 14. When
I do research, I can often spot important
relationships between facts and figures that
others cannot. |
5 |
|
|
|
| 15. I
believe that people are persuaded by original
thought… not just facts and figures.
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 16. I
find the Executive Summary and Results in
Brief difficult because they are so short,
and can therefore become superficial. |
|
5 |
|
|
| 17. Others
often say that they find me creative. |
|
|
5 |
|
| 18. It’s
only the outcome that matters. Frankly, I’d
be as happy making a strong oral presentation
as I would be writing a long report. |
|
|
|
5 |
| 19. I
enjoy staying unbiased, using my powers of
observation to collect important information
I can present to my clients. |
5 |
|
|
|
| 20. I’m
proud when I get all the facts right. Sometimes
I wish I didn’t have to make recommendations
at all. |
|
5 |
|
|
| Add
all the circled numbers in each row.Your writing
personality is reflected in the sequence.
|
|
|
|
|
Your sequence
may look somewhat like a fertilizer formula, but
it’s you! The higher numbers represent dominant
traits in your writing personality, and knowing
more about that personality will help you accelerate
your writing improvement.
Read these profiles to
better understand your writing type. Be sure to
read even those that do not seem to apply to you;
they still have an important role to play. At
the very least, you should consider seeking out
colleagues who exhibit those other traits; their
complimentary values will make them excellent
reviewers of your work.
A: The
Observer
You have a knack for seeing
connections between elements that not everyone
sees. You believe that being quiet is often critical,
for when others talk they reveal important facts
and insights. You enjoy working with different
personality types, and perform well on a writing
team, finishing tasks on time, writing thoughtful
prose. You admire creativity in others, but don’t
tend to think of yourself as the creative type.
B. The Refiner
You want to see a project through
to the finish. You make absolutely certain that
all the facts are accurate, and are uncomfortable
with exaggeration. You see the quality of the
finished product as a personal and professional
responsibility. You try to keep perfecting a system
that will ensure the quality of your work, and
you are not comfortable with superficiality.
C: The Creator
You’re always up for something
new, and enjoy your uncommon ability to solve
problems. You believe that originality is critical,
for it is original thinking that is most valuable
to your clients. While you appreciate the need
for routine, you can be easily bored when doing
the same old thing. To satisfy yourself, you must
put something uniquely yours in everything you
write, be it a novel idea, or just a brilliant
turn of phrase.
D. The Persuader
You’re the sort of writer
who yearns to make a difference. You look at recommending
improvements to others as a duty, and it mystifies
you why others have a problem using the word ‘should!’.
You believe that change is healthy, and know that
any bad decision can always be reversed. You are
convinced that writing should be powerful, not
just accurate, and can be frustrated when others
won’t just say it like it is.
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