tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post2709113053181101811..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: An Ambivert Walks Into A Writing Conference...Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54165835356081716292016-04-29T07:33:08.193-06:002016-04-29T07:33:08.193-06:00I believe the test of introvert vs. extrovert, whi...I believe the test of introvert vs. extrovert, while complex, relies largely on whether you tend to receive more energy from solitude or from social situations. Polly, I love that you don't want to know. I'm that way about my IQ. If you've avoided the label so far, stay out of the box, I say! 😉Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-38973952202564932292016-04-29T07:27:01.271-06:002016-04-29T07:27:01.271-06:00Sounds like you gave my kind of talk, Linda. That&...Sounds like you gave my kind of talk, Linda. That's the style of seminar I prefer, whether I'm the speaker or a participant.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39142008165219259562016-04-29T07:24:03.678-06:002016-04-29T07:24:03.678-06:00I hear you, Elle. I too love speaking in front of ...I hear you, Elle. I too love speaking in front of a crowd on a subject I know well, but feel drained after. For me, some of that is just the adrenaline, I suppose. But I do recharge best in solitude. <br /><br />It's not public speaking that freaks me out at such events, it's being swept up in the anonymous crowds.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89357826047028060402016-04-29T07:14:29.751-06:002016-04-29T07:14:29.751-06:00Ah, Merrily, you are my tribe. I get what you mean...Ah, Merrily, you are my tribe. I get what you mean. 😊Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50026539864128644242016-04-29T07:12:53.295-06:002016-04-29T07:12:53.295-06:00It's possible you were always an introvert, Mo...It's possible you were always an introvert, Morgan, even during those public speaking moments. All of us can find ourselves capable of and even excited by either solitary or group activities at various times, but apparently it is our overall orientation toward those things that determines whether we tend toward introversion or extroversion. I know several introverts who are much more accomplished public speakers than some of my extroverted friends. I believe public speaking is a strange and confronting thing for all of us.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-18465085899623714032016-04-29T07:03:09.861-06:002016-04-29T07:03:09.861-06:00Hahaha, Maryann, imagine the poor introverted auth...Hahaha, Maryann, imagine the poor introverted author invited to give a keynote speech in front of such a crowd! Bet she would want to make a run for it too.<br /><br />I agree that planning ahead for ways to take care of ourselves at these events is an excellent idea.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91701002517178730612016-04-27T08:51:36.657-06:002016-04-27T08:51:36.657-06:00I don't go to many conferences. (Tomorrow my b...I don't go to many conferences. (Tomorrow my blog post about the latest.) I went to one RWA conference only because one of my books finaled in the Daphne, but I only went for the dinner, then the next morning, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I don't like speaking at meetings until I get into the speech, then I'm fine. It's the "looking forward" to things I hate. But I feel I'm an extrovert though I don't mind staying home day after day alone. So what does that make me. Never took any of the tests. Not sure I want to know who I am.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45256982757556786212016-04-27T03:25:05.137-06:002016-04-27T03:25:05.137-06:00Some years ago, I was invited to speak to a small ...Some years ago, I was invited to speak to a small group of writers. With some degree of trepidation, I agreed, then asked how long my presentation should be. The caller said 1-2 hours. The huge introvert living inside me did a back flip and ran for the hills (mountains in my case). After giving my word that I would speak, I didn't feel right about suddenly remembering that a previous engagement (staying home comfortably in front of my computer). After several spells of everything from overwhelm to outright panic, I decided to create a program that relied heavily on audience participation. It went well; everyone in the room (some were obvious introverts) contributed, and the kind program planners had me seated at a table facing the audience rather than standing in front of them. Unbeknownst to me at the time, one attendee was a reporter for the local paper, and a very positive article reviewing the event made the front page of the next issue. And I survived the experience. Would I do it again, knowing what I know now? I'm not sure, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it would be.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-51629127044919515852016-04-27T01:54:07.061-06:002016-04-27T01:54:07.061-06:00You've really raised the, ahem, bar on this to...You've really raised the, ahem, <b>bar</b> on this topic, Cara. I think I'm a bit egotistical: I would completely avoid going to such a conference and prefer to stay comfortably home, <b>unless</b> I were invited to be a speaker on a topic I know well - then I'd happily speak in front of hundreds. I'm far happier being the centre of attention than being one of the crowd. But, yes, as mentioned, I do find it draining and I would need to recover afterwards at home in blissful solitude. (My major extrovert friends find being "cooped up" at home very tiring, on the other hand, and they gain energy from going out.)Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-7131321911463189512016-04-26T20:10:42.698-06:002016-04-26T20:10:42.698-06:00I'm an E by a 3% lead over being I. For me it... I'm an E by a 3% lead over being I. For me it depends on the situation. I also minored in Drama in college. No wonder I didn't ever want to try out for plays, but enjoyed being a classroom teacher.Merrily Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03898762458069852127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4438594313484322022016-04-26T15:40:57.645-06:002016-04-26T15:40:57.645-06:00I used to be an ambivert, and would speak at confe...I used to be an ambivert, and would speak at conferences and library programs, though it made me nervous. Now that I sell my ebooks on Amazon, I'm back to the more comfortable introvert status.Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-23475015535653771412016-04-26T15:03:24.653-06:002016-04-26T15:03:24.653-06:00Sorry about the duplicate comments. I have no idea...Sorry about the duplicate comments. I have no idea why that happened. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84297070289347127192016-04-26T14:59:32.528-06:002016-04-26T14:59:32.528-06:00Oh my gosh, 1500 people at one event? I would run ...Oh my gosh, 1500 people at one event? I would run out of the venue and never return. My introvert score on the Meyers test was more like 75%. LOL<br /><br />I agree that it is a good idea to make a plan before you attend, and only do as much as you are comfortable doing. I hope to go to Bauchercon in Dallas this year, and I know that is a huge con, so I am already making a plan. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11020550760783792222016-04-26T09:26:46.178-06:002016-04-26T09:26:46.178-06:00Excellent points, Diana. Actually, the more I embr...Excellent points, Diana. Actually, the more I embrace my introverted side, the less socially awkward I feel. It's the extrovert in me who tends to put her foot in her mouth - though I guess that's the risk we all take when we put ourselves out there, which has other rewards. Indeed, when I'm among fellow writers, I feel a sense of mutual understanding and connection no matter where we all fall on the spectrum.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11547010999429284982016-04-26T07:03:29.362-06:002016-04-26T07:03:29.362-06:00Temperament traits are on a spectrum from balanced... Temperament traits are on a spectrum from balanced to extreme and a person can change with time and experience. You could take the test at 20 and again at 50 and have totally different results. Introverted doesn't have to mean socially backward. Besides, I've always found when you get a group of writers or book lovers in a room together it's hard to shut them up. It's a great feeling to be amongst our "tribe" at conferences and writing events.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com