The Introverted Writer’s Dilemma

There are many advantages to being an introverted writer. You enjoy being alone, which is a big benefit when trying to get your writing done. You’d mostly rather spend your time with books than with people, which can help you dive deeply into literature and learning. You’d rather observe than participate, which can help you approach life like a journalist or researcher.

Those same tendencies can backfire sometimes, though. The very strengths that help you become a great writer can make it hard for you to build an audience—which is something every writer must do.

Here are five quick tips for introverted writers on building an audience.
  1. Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your writing out there. Life is not all about observing others or writing about other people’s experiences. We want to hear what YOU have experienced and what YOU have to say about your topic.
  2. Remember, writing is all about serving people. Don’t get hung up on what you think others think about you. Keep in the forefront of your mind the idea that your writing is helping people.
  3. Get out and have real conversations with people. As introverts, we often live in our heads and avoid life in the real world. But this is where the action happens. Don’t think of people as “exhausting”—think of them as your best teachers and the reason you do what you do.
  4. Test out material by blogging, podcasting, guest posting, and writing for other websites. The only way to get better is to write consistently. Don’t worry about trying to build a perfect system. Just start writing, test out material in as many places as you can, and then get better by learning from these experiences.
  5. Don’t over-analyze this process. Just start writing and course-correct as you go. You have to let go of the need to be perfect and to have it all figured out. Just relax, get to work, and know that you are intelligent and will figure it out as you go along.

Your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness. Don’t get sucked into the lie that people are the enemy. You’re there to serve them, enjoy them, and learn from them.

Daily Question: Which of these 5 tips do you need to put into practice the most?