Thursday, May 2, 2013

Finish the Sentence: Confessions of a Social Introvert

What's up with this photo?
     Some people think of writers as introverts, spending our days completely absorbed in our literary words and hardly ever letting anyone in. A writer's dream life? Living on a deserted island, with unlimited wi-fi, a laptop, and a cush publishing contract. Right?

     I definitely am an introvert, so that kind of lifestyle boasts a tiny bit of appeal to me. But I'm also the most social introvert I know.

     I need people. I love people. I would be lost on an island writing all day long. I would rather work at Walmart and never publish another book than have to have all the time in the world but to live isolated from others. So, when you ask me to fill out this week's Finish the Sentence writing prompt about what I would take if I were stranded on a deserted island, I start to sweat a little.

     I'm classified as an INFJ (which explains my passion for writing AND my compassion for the oppressed, believe it or not). And my introvert score tops the chart. I don't have an extroverted cell in my little body. But the idea of being totally isolated on a deserted island is terrifying. So, I'm taking the cop-out. If I could go to a deserted island - even with unlimited wi-fi and a power source so I could write as many books a year as my heart desired - I'd still say "No, thanks."

     You're sending me to a deserted island and I get to choose anything I want to take with me? All right. I'm bringing a boat ... one that will take me home to my family and friends (and all the distractions to my writing with them) STAT!

Random Fact #18: I went to Hawaii when I was 11 or so and got swarmed by a school of fish while snorkeling. I didn't get hurt (but I did get my toes bit, and I'm terrified of fish even today!)

About Those Books: My first full-length novel, The Beloved Daughter, topped the amazon charts this week in the Christian suspense category. Have you checked it out yet?

Link-Up Love: Thanks to Finish the Sentence Friday Hosts: Kate of Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine…, Janine of Janine’s Confessions of a Mommyaholic, Stephanie of Mommy, for Real and Dawn of Dawn's Disaster!

25 comments:

  1. I think I am the same! I have an awesome frienship circle that I absolutely love hanging out with, but I'm usually the quiet one in the group, and I often need to go have a large chunk of alone time afterwards to recharge my batteries.

    And congrats again on the Number 1! That's so awesome!

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    1. Thanks Emily! I think I prefer close, intimate groups (3-7) and then I don't feel so drained. What do you like to do in your alone time? My bath tub is my best friend sometimes!

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  2. Alana, I am so with you! Being stranded on an island would be the most horrifying thing for me!

    Congrats on your no. 1! Woo hoo! I would really love to read your book and I hope I can do so as soon as I find the time for reading!

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    1. Thanks Joy! I'd love to know what you think if you get a chance to read it. No pressure though. I know you have a TON going on!! Hope you're doing well!

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    2. We are fine, thank you, we really are! The weather is finally improving here and the temperatures are climbing slowly, that is wonderful. Thanks for asking! xo

      At the moment I am reading "Let's pretend this never happened" and as soon as I finished it I will look for your book (but that might still take a lot of time, unfortunately).

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  3. Alana,

    My gosh! I just finished your book, The Beloved Daughter. I cannot for the life of me imagine how you only got second place! It's totally the most awesome, fiction Christian book I have ever read.

    It read much more like a detailed account of a personal martyrdom. As a Catholic I have read lots of "saints" stories and though they were based on truth - I believe your book has as strong an element of reality or more than many Christian biographies.

    I wrote a 5 star review on Amazon and shared it with my own blog for tomorrow. I am so excited for your journey as an author is totally taking off! I'm jealous but God deals with me on that. :-) Way to go!

    P.S. Maybe this sounds over the top. But it's the truth.

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    1. Patricia, I don't *think* I'm a very emotional person (my husband would probably disagree) but this is the closest that a blog comment has ever come to bringing me to tears. It was so kind of you to come and share your thoughts with me like this. I am so glad you enjoyed the book, so glad you found it realistic (that's true high praise for me because that was one of my biggest goals) and I am truly blessed by your comments!

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  4. I am an extrovert, so being stranded by myself would be the worst, because I need to be able to talk to others. But I guess I could always talk to myself, lol!! But seriously, so with you on this one and thank you for linking up with us!! :)

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    1. Haha, I think talking to yourself would get old real fast! I'm not that great of a conversationist!

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  5. I'm an introvert and the idea of complete isolation from time to time sounds like my own slice of paradise. :)

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    1. Yeah, I have a moment every once in a while where it sounds somewhat appealing, and then I get terrified back into reality! :)

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  6. Haha to bringing a boat. And scary fish story - I'd still be terrified of them, too, had they swarmed me while snorkeling! Yikes.

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    1. Aw, thanks Krisit! Most people laugh about the fish thing, by the way. So nice of you to empathize!

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  7. A boat? Why didn't I think of that!

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    1. Because you were too busy daydreaming about perfect abs???? ;)

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  8. So glad you joined us! I am happy to have discovered your blog thanks to FTSF! I am an ENFJ, actually, and it sounds like you have some definite "E" tendencies, so apparently you and I share many common traits! (I kind of love reading more about our personality traits and how they impact us and our relationships, so I could go off on a tangent if I'm not careful!) Loved your ideas with this post!

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    1. Hey Stephanie, I don't think I've ever met someone who is an ENFJ. Is it a common personality profile? (Not like I ask everyone of course!) Yeah, it is really fun to study personalities. The INFJ description was so much like me that my husband and I were practically on the floor laughing. It was weird too! Nice to meet a kindred spirit!

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  9. I used to know what personality type I was, I wonder if it is different now that I have kids.
    Congratulations on your book! Island or not that's pretty impressive.

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    1. Jean, what a good question! I think I have gotten a little more outgoing since becoming a mom. I'll have to check that out!

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  10. I'm an INFP but a lot of people think I'm a ENFP. It's the job I think. LOL! Sorry to hear about the fishies :(. I'm from Hawaii so I can see how toe biting fish can be scary!

    Jessica
    The Wondering Brain

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    1. Thanks for the fish compassion! :) How lovely you get to live in Hawaii. But I'll stay away from snorkeling!!

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  11. LOL! And here's that timing thing again. I was just thinking this morning how nice it would be to be a hermit. Not even for the sake of writing. Just for the quiet.

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    1. Yeah, my husband could definitely agree with you on that one! (noise level, I mean)

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  12. I'm with ReGi - I think the idea of a deserted island sounds amazing, especially when life is full on and alone time is in short supply (even when you're in the bath...). But the reality would be something else entirely. I like to be by myself, but surrounded by the people I love!

    By the way I got swarmed by fish one at a marine reserve. My friend was feeding them frozen peas, because apparently they really like them (how did anyone find this out - it is true) and she got bitten on the finger by a big hapuka, so bleeding everywhere she chucked me the bag of peas and got out of the water...
    guess who they came after next?

    Oh I just started reading Beloved Daughter too - it has already grabbed me by the heartstrings!

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    1. Raewynn, thanks for reading The Beloved Daughter! Yes, my experience was also from bringing frozen peas, a trick a local taught us. Yikes!

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