The Personality to Write

I am an INFP,  some of you may not know what that means, and some of you not only know what those letters mean, but you know your own letters and what they mean.  I am talking about the Myers-Briggs 16 personality types.  This test categorizes people into certain types based on answers given on their personality test.  Most people I know who have taken this test are amazed at how accurate it is.  My letters INFP stand for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling and Perceiving.  As a graduate in Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, I find the study of personalities very interesting.  But...why am I talking about that here?  Well, if you search on the different personalities, you can find a list of famous people in your category.  Some of the ones listed in mine are: William Shakespear, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien!  Now, I am not saying that I am in any way on their level as a Writer, but the point is that being an INFP is in part, having the need to create.  Many of us are painters, sculptors, and writers.  It is in our DNA.  

God has created us with an instruction book for life within us...DNA.  It determines how we look, think, react, understand the world around us and even our personalities.  Yes, our environment comes into play and can either stifle our natural born tendencies or it can encourage them.  God is a God of order and He has made DNA as a pattern for life and He has made us exactly the way He wanted to make us.  Some of us He made like me, but how did He make you and who else is like you?  I want to use this desire built inside me to create, as a means to glorify the Lord.  I have been made in His image and He is the Creator of all, including my DNA which dictates my personality.

Genesis 1:27 ESV
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Psalm 37:23 KJV

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way."

Maybe you would like to find out who God created you to be?  These tests aren't 100% on the mark, after all, the environment we grew up in does make a difference, but it can be almost eerily close.  Here's one of the links for taking this test.  If you take the test, I would like to hear about it.  See if the job, life you are living lines up with what you were created to do.  After you get your results, do a search of the careers people with your personality usually do.  It's really very interesting.  I would love to hear all about it, so comment below and let me know what you found out.  Have fun!

Discussion and Comments:

Even Fictional Characters Have to Eat!

I have a challenge for you or anyone you know who enjoys cooking.  I have three recipes, one savory and two sweets.  Recipes that have been around since or even earlier than the 18th century in England.  I want my readers to help me out.  The challenge is, cook one or all three of the recipes and serve it to your family or friends.  Then, get their feedback.  I want to know their favorite, least favorite and why.  

 Let me know by next Monday, March 26, 2018, if you want to take on the challenge.  Then, I want the feedback and votes in by Monday, April 2, 2018.  I will then tally up the Yea's and Nay's for each recipe and the one with the most Yea's and positive feedback will earn a spot in my book, because, even fictional characters have to eat!  If there is a tie, both recipes will go in the book.  I'm sure I can find a way to make it happen. 🙂

Now, do I have any takers?  Or, do I have to do all this cooking myself?  Although, I would love for someone else to cook for me.  😉  Seriously, I'm busy trying to finish my book, but I'll do what I have to do.  Hopefully, CampNaNoWrimo will help me do that in April.  (See my sandykayslawsonWriter Page on Facebook for more details on that.)

So, without further ado, here are the links to the recipes.  Thanks to the different websites for giving me the ability to share!

Sweetmeat Cake

Traditional Cornish Pastie

Treacle Tart

Happy Cooking, Voting and Eating!

Discussion?  Up for the Challenge?

In Christ,

Sandy Kay Slawson

Story Line or Descriptors?

As you may be able to tell, Writers/Authors come in all different shapes, sizes....genres and styles.  What may interest me as a Writer may seem frivolous or tedious to another.  Not only can you tell the difference in Writers by their genres, but also by the things they focus on in their books.  Some Writers spend more time it seems on the descriptors than the story line.  Some spend more time on the story line, but give very few descriptions.  I personally like to focus on the story line, but have enough descriptors so that the Reader is not forced to use their imagination for everything.  For instance, when reading, I like a description of the characters, places, clothing, but I don't need to know the parts of every flower.  That is my taste, and everyone has their own opinions about this.

One thing I spent a good bit of time researching for my book is my Hero's horse.  The horse is not a main part of the story, but since I like horses I found myself putting more time into my choice of horse for him.  I pictured his horse as a retired racehorse, a Darley Arabian descended from the line of Flying Childers a famous racehorse from the early 18th century.  So, I gave my horse the name Flying Brave.  That is just an example of how my interest in horses led me down a researching path another Writer may not take.  Our likes, dislikes and experiences, good and bad all find their way into our writing.  Next time you read a book, if you pay attention, you may be able to learn a little about the Author just by noticing the areas where they place their focus.

Discussion Question-

Do you prefer more story line or more descriptions?

Writing for One

I seriously began to pursue my dream of writing somewhere around December of '16.  I had read a book called The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke.  Many of the things that he wrote have been extremely helpful to me as I write and work on my book Hope for Charity.  One thing though, that he talked about was that we should write for an audience of One.  That struck home with me.  I admit it.  I am a people pleaser.  But God's Word tells us in Ephesians 6:5-8 "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free."  So as a person that struggles with this particular issue, being reminded that my writing should be with the knowledge that it only matters what God thinks of it, is crucial for me to understand and accept.  When I did make that decision to write as if God, were my only reader, then I found the freedom to write, just what He put on my heart to write.  If I am obedient to the Call to write for the Lord and His glory, then He will take care of the rest.  Editors, Agents, Publishers, Readers...all in the Lord's hands.  If He wants people to read my book, then it will happen.  So now all I need to do is write what He puts in my heart and do it to please Him.  

Maybe there is something God has placed on your heart to do, but you have been too worried about what people will think.  Maybe God has given you a gift or skill and you have been afraid to step out in faith and use it.  Do it for the Lord.  Just for Him.  If He gave you the skill and desire, He means for you to use it.  If you are faithful, in a little, He will trust you with more.  He will bless your efforts, if you are in His Will.  Don't let fear keep you from doing what God has called you to do.  If it is His Will, it will all work out for your good.

In Christ,
Sandy Kay Slawson