It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.

—Albert Einstein

What can knowledge of personality type teach you about your writing style?

INTP writers are curious and analytical. They enjoy technical subjects and seek to categorize information into an orderly system. With their insatiable appetite for knowledge, they may prefer research to writing. Objective and logical, they like to solve problems but tend to have little interest in ideas that can’t be proven rationally.

The INTP personality type is one of 16 identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a popular psychometric instrument used to determine how people prefer to gather information and make decisions. The initials INTP stand for the following:

I: Introversion preferred to extraversion

INTPs get their energy from the internal world of thoughts and ideas. They enjoy interacting with small groups of people but find large groups draining. They generally reflect before acting.

N: iNtuition preferred to sensation

INTPs are abstract thinkers, placing more trust in flashes of insight than in experience. They’re less interested in sensory data than in the patterns perceived by the unconscious mind. INTPs tend to be intellectually restless—they want to change the world.

T: Thinking preferred to feeling

INTPs prefer to use their thinking function when making decisions. They place more emphasis on the rule of logic than on the effect that actions have on people. They tend to be skeptical in evaluating ideas, whether their own or someone else’s.

P: Perception preferred to judgment

INTPs like to keep their options open. They enjoy beginning new projects and exploring opportunities as they arise. INTPs think in terms of possibilities rather than likelihoods.

Are you an INTP writer? If so, the following information may give you some insight into how temperament influences your writing style. Use these insights to help you play to your strengths and compensate for your natural blind spots.

Writing Process of the INTP

If you’re an INTP, you may approach a writing project in the following ways:

You may regard a writing project as an opportunity to learn something new. You start by gathering a wide variety of facts, then classifying them according to an underlying principle. You enjoy writing about abstract ideas and theories. One idea may quickly suggest another. You may need to limit your topic during the pre-writing stage to keep it from becoming unwieldy.

You prefer to work independently in a quiet environment. You like the flexibility of setting your own goals. You may spend long hours on a project if the subject engages you, becoming deeply invested in the outcome. Remember to keep the audience in mind to help ensure that your writing is as interesting to them as it is to you.

You tend to be good at organizing ideas and weeding out logical inconsistency. You have a natural propensity for clarifying the complex. But you will likely need to make a conscious effort to include the personal dimensions of a topic. During revision, look for places where you can add examples or anecdotes, if appropriate, to illustrate the facts. This engages the reader and brings theoretical principles to life.

You’re motivated by your search for knowledge. An unconventional thinker, you have little regard for the common way of doing things. Chances are, formulas like “Top 5 Reasons Your Blog Should Have a Top 5 List” won’t appeal to you. Instead, you strive to surpass the ordinary.

Potential Blind Spots of the INTP

As an INTP, you may experience the following pitfalls:

You like complex, theoretical subjects, and you use your wide vocabulary in your writing. To enhance readability, choose the simplest word that communicates an idea accurately. You may sometimes make intuitive leaps that are unclear to your audience. Illustrate connections even if they seem obvious to you. To ensure that your message is clear, ask for feedback from someone you trust.

You enjoy seeking knowledge for its own sake. Once you’ve solved the puzzle, though, you might lose interest in writing about what you’ve learned. It may be best to begin drafting even while you’re conducting your research. Treat the writing itself as a problem to solve. This may keep you energized until the project is complete.

You can become blocked if you can’t find opportunities to make your unique ideas heard. If a writing assignment seems restrictive to you, challenge yourself to find a way to work within the system while still expressing your ingenuity. Instead of turning cynical, use your dry sense of humor.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong approach to writing. Each individual is unique, so don’t let generalities limit you. Do what works best for you.

Do you have any tips for INTP writers? Leave a comment and share your experience.

Also, for more information on this subject, check out the sources below.

Sources:

Write from the Start by Ann B. Loomis

What Type Am I? by Renee Baron

Your Personality Type and Writing: INTP from the Villanova University website

Albert Einstein Quotes at Quotationsbook.com

ENFJ – ENFP – ENTJ – ENTP – ESFJ –ESFP – ESTJ –ESTP

INFJ – INFP – INTJ – INTP – ISFJ – ISFP – ISTJ – ISTP