Lauren Sapala

Category: Introverts, INFJs, and INFPs

  • The 3 Biggest Psychological Roadblocks for INFJ and INFP Writers

    The 3 Biggest Psychological Roadblocks for INFJ and INFP Writers

    INFJ and INFP writers aren’t like other writers. For us, writing is an emotional process first, and an intellectual exercise second. But because most of what we find in writing craft books and online writing sources only approaches writing from the mental side of things, we find ourselves continuously at a loss on how to move forward.

    Once INFJ and INFP writers begin using the Intuitive Writing method, their entire world changes. After that, they might still hit roadblocks, but now they have tools and strategies to use. Now they know how to handle it when the anxiety kicks in and it seems they’ve come to standstill with their novel or memoir. (more…)

  • The Best Way for INFJ and INFP Writers to Work with Fictional Characters

    The Best Way for INFJ and INFP Writers to Work with Fictional Characters

    When writers are first learning the Intuitive Writing method one of the immediate shifts that happens is the way they work with characters. Instead of characters existing to serve you, you exist to serve them. This can be hard for intuitive writers to do, initially. Most of us are so used to assuming that we “decide” what our characters do, and their motivations and choices should come from a place that makes logical sense for the story.

    Well, in the Intuitive Writing method we don’t assume that we know what is best for the story, or that deciding what our characters should do is necessarily helpful. In Intuitive Writing, we let the characters take the lead and set the pace. We concentrate on building our emotional connection with them. Our creative process shifts from achievement-oriented (trying to finish our book as fast as we can) to relationship-oriented (focusing on the characters and letting go of expectations). (more…)

  • Why Traditional Writing Methods Don’t Work for INFJ and INFP Writers

    Why Traditional Writing Methods Don’t Work for INFJ and INFP Writers

    Over the past seven years I’ve coached and taught hundreds of INFJ and INFP writers and I can say one thing with certainty: most traditional writing methods just don’t work for us.

    The sad thing is, most INFJ and INFP writers think that the problem is with them, not with the approach they’re using. So, they end up feeling horrible about themselves and their writing. I can’t tell you how many intuitive writers I’ve talked to who have told me, “I guess I’m just not cut out to be a writer,” when nothing could be further from the truth. (more…)

  • Who Are You to Write This?

    Who Are You to Write This?

    Today’s guest post comes from Ritu Kaushal, a San Francisco Bay Area-based author and the blogger behind the popular HSP and empath-centric website Walking Through Transitions. Her writing has appeared on Tiny Buddha, Sensitive Evolution, Elephant Journal and Having Time amongst others. She recently released The Empath’s Journey, a book I highly recommend that every INFJ, INFP, and empath add to their arsenal of tools on how to survive as a Highly Sensitive Person in today’s world.

    Sometime last year, as I was trying to give the final push to birth my book The Empath’s Journey, someone asked me: Who are you to write this? These were their exact words. They didn’t say them with curiosity or a desire to know, but with a slashing, hurling, aggressive energy. (more…)

  • The Two Biggest Problems INFP Writers Face with the Creative Process

    The Two Biggest Problems INFP Writers Face with the Creative Process

    Last week I did an interview for the Art Stuff podcast with Jessica Johannesen. Jessica originally contacted me because she’d read The INFJ Writer and was curious to learn more about how intuitive personality types have their own unique struggles when it comes to creativity. However, as we started talking, the conversation focused on one topic in particular: the specific challenges INFP artists face with creative projects.

    This is a topic I’m very familiar with, as fully half of my clients are INFP writers. I see the same problems over and over again when working with INFPs. It’s gotten to the point that when I do an initial consultation call with a new INFP, I pretty much already know what they’re going to tell me. (more…)