Personality Test
| 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 |
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| 2. I love words and would like to spend more time reading dictionaries. | 5 |
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| 3. I have to get to know something in depth before I am comfortable writing about it. | 5 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 9. I’m strongest in a support role. I tend to be more quiet and watchful than others. | 5 |
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| 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 |
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| 11. I enjoy writing, but can lose interest quickly when a report goes into multiple revisions. | 5 |
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| 12. I am not comfortable using metaphors, analogies and similes in my writing as they tend to obscure the facts. | 5 |
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| 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 |
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| 14. When I do research, I can often spot important relationships between facts and figures that others cannot. | 5 |
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| 15. I believe that people are persuaded by original thought… not just facts and figures. | 5 |
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| 16. I find the Executive Summary and Results in Brief difficult because they are so short, and can therefore become superficial. | 5 |
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| 17. Others often say that they find me creative. | 5 |
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| 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 |
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| 19. I enjoy staying unbiased, using my powers of observation to collect important information I can present to my clients. | 5 |
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| 20. I’m proud when I get all the facts right. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to make recommendations at all. | 5 |
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| 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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