The INFJ Writer: Cracking the Creative Genius of the World's Rarest Type

An excellent book with tons of useful information for the INFJ personality type and writing. Whether you are starting to write but just can't get started, or you are already writing and just need some more tips and advice, this book has it all. Sapala even went out of her way and interviewed other INFJs. The responses are, of course, tied to whatever chapter you're reading, but they all focus on writing and how it affects them. It's nice to know how other fellow INFJs feel when it comes to writing. I love writing! I can go on and on...The book is divided into 4 parts. The first part has six chapters, and to be honest, it wasn't very exciting. I was starting to lose my focus reading this book. That is, until I got to Part 2. Every chapter under this part was just full of things that made me nod my head in agreement. For example, in Chapter 8, called "INFJ Paralysis and Perfectionism," we get this excellent statement:" We (INFJs) tend to laser in on a passion early in life and then drink in every single bit of information on that topic we can find. All of this information is pored over, memorized, categorized according to the way we feel about it, and then shuttled off to the thinking part of our brain, where it's then pored over again and analyzed, this time using our logical side. This means that when we're in love with something, we're 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 in love with it. Like, head over heels in love. For the INFJ writer, that's writing."That statement alone could give this whole book 5 stars, and the rest of the book could be terrible. Sapala really, really understands INFJs, and it shows in this book. Part 3 deals with advice and strategies for writing, such as attending Writers' Conferences and forming Writing Groups. Finally, Part 4 deals with advice for the other NF writers, which are INFP, ENFP, and ENFJ.There are a few typos in this book, but that might not be an issue if you have the digital version. They usually fix those eventually. However, I have the actual physical book, so I have to deal with them. It wasn't that big of a deal for me though. Also, Sapala uses a couple swear words in the book. I think the S-word came up two or three times, and the F-word came up once. The minor swear words (damn and hell) are also in here a couple times. Just a small warning in case that bothers you, as I personally don't like reading books with too many swear words. Or better yet, none at all. She mostly uses them when talking about the INFJ writing getting serious.If you are an INFJ writer and need some help getting started, this book is made for you! It's time to conquer that writer's block and have fun writing again (or for the first time). Haha.

The INFJ Writer helped me to understand why other writing techniques weren't connecting with me and put me on a path to a better writing future.

I'll mostly likely revisit this book.A few factors contributed to my reading this at the beginning of 2018. I had started the new year with a few goals in mind: read more, write more, and figure out what career I wanted to push head first into. After reading a book that reminded me why I loved books and imaginary worlds, as well as starting the year with a partial social media hiatus, I decided to bite the bullet and put baby steps into getting back on track.Starting this book, I probably came at it like most early 30's INFJ people would who'd already put in a few years of researching their personality type: "Pssh, c'mon Lauren, you're not telling me anything I don't already know." Knowing the basics of why we do things is one big duh moment when it comes to being INFJ.Then, as she started to break apart the possible reasons INFJ writers have a hard time starting and/or finishing, I began to realize how far I had distanced myself from the emotional intelligence that had been so natural to me in my younger years. And beginning to identify the many factors why blew a hole in the armor I had developed even against myself for so long. I spent most of this book going "OMG yes!" The many correlations I have with her INFJ journey would produce my own book, it's uncanny.Now I understood why I needed the hiatus.I highly recommend this for any NF creative types or those trying to understand an NF creative type on a much deeper level.

Lauren Sapala dives into the unique world and challenges of writing as an INFJ, the rarest MBTI type, using experiences from herself and others she has counseled over the years. INFJs are known as very sensitive and intuitive, in a world that’s almost exactly the opposite, extraverted and sensing, which results in crippling self doubt in themselves and their work. Developing a thick skin is extra hard for these types. Sapala speaks to writers in a very consoling, kind and informative way about the common roadblocks of INFJs and how to make their type work for them instead of against them. Sapala’s stories are insightful and add an extra layer of knowledge and experience to her words.This book seems geared more towards beginners and those that haven’t written for a long time, so I think some of the advice is a bit lacking for those that have been writing for a while, but it’s still very informative. I’m also an INFP, so I didn’t relate to some of the sections as an INFJ would, but if you are a XNFX, you’re going to benefit from this book, especially in the last section. I recommend taking a look at it.

I learned so much from this book! About writing as an INFJ and about living as one too. I am in grad school and my professor made us make an outline for our screenplays. I made one and just couldn't go on to start writing my screenplay.Then this book jumped into my life and I was able to get unblocked. This book got me through the rest of my semester because I was really dead in the water for a minute with my writing.And like she writes in the book, make sure you go through and write through all of the exercises. If you don't do the exercises you are wasting your time.Lauren Sapala is a real INFJ genius! I love her books! And while you're at it, get her other book on being an INFJ. You will not ever regret it and you will learn so much about yourself and what you need and want in life! Thanks again, Lauren!

I’ve always had an interest in psychology and especially in the personality profiles outlined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). As a child and teenager I had always felt quite different and isolated, but since discovering I was an INFJ back in high school, something ‘clicked’ for me and a lot of my thoughts, habits and preferences started to make sense. I began to connect with my fellow INFJs and other introverts online and finally discovered my ‘tribe’, which allowed me to gain so much insight into my personality and that of others.When I saw an advert for Lauren Sapala’s book, The INFJ Writer, on her blog, I was instantly intrigued. I’ve always loved creative writing, but I struggle with a lot of self-doubt, procrastination and episodes of feeling emotionally blocked. I had never really considered at looking at these issues from an MBTI perspective, but I wondered whether some of my problems were linked to my personality type.The first thing you should know about this book is that it is not a writing guide. It offers very little in the way of practical advice about style or technique, which was a little disappointing. It is much more of a self-help book, specifically aimed at INFJs and other introverted intuitives who are lacking confidence or struggling with a writing slump. The INFJ Writer is like an extended pep talk that seeks to explain why you may be stuck in a rut and suggest ways that you can move forward with positivity.Most of the topics discussed really resonated me. For example, Sapala explains how introverted intuitives can suffer mentally and even become physically ill from the effects of not having a creative outlet to express themselves. This is certainly true for me. If I don’t make time for writing, reading, blogging, art or other creative hobbies, I begin to feel less like myself and more and more stressed and unfulfilled. It can be difficult for INFJs to get back on track after a break or even to start a project at all, as they often have low self-esteem, high expectations of themselves and a fear of failure. Sapala suggests several exercises to help boost confidence and tackle any negative self-talk going on. These techniques would be useful for general mental wellbeing too, not just for issues regarding writing.The INFJ Writer also explores Sapala’s own history with alcoholism and how this relates to her writing. It may seem irrelevant, but actually many introverted intuitives have an addictive personality and even if they do not indulge in drink or drugs they might have a reliance or attachment to caffeine, food, sex, gambling, and so on. My own weaknesses are sweet foods and shopping, which I definitely use to self-medicate when I am feeling low. Sapala explains why this happens, how we can free ourselves from this to focus on our art and how reconnecting with our creative interests can help break these unhealthy habits. I found this discussion interesting, but I thought that Sapala spent a little too long on this topic and it might not be helpful for all readers.This book isn’t a quick fix that will suddenly cure all your mental health issues and get you writing straight away. It’s more of an explanation of the psychology behind the avoidance behaviours and low confidence issues that an INFJ might have. It’s a starting point for addressing these issues and contains some exercises to get you thinking about what is standing in your way. The onus is still on you to go out and make the necessary changes to your attitude and lifestyle.Overall, I enjoyed this book and got a lot of positive information from it. It’s reassuring to know that I’m not alone with my insecurities and that it doesn’t mean I’m weak or failing. Certain aspects of my personality, like my perfectionism, make me more susceptible to worrying and self-doubt, and that’s okay. The same traits can also be applied in a positive way to improve my writing. I would recommend this book to any INFJ (or INFP, ENFP or ENFJ) who wants some inspiration and motivation to get started with a writing, creative or business project. This book may just be the boost that you need.

Last Monday I spent the day with a fellow writer – we walked on the beach, ate ice-creams, and talked writing for hours. It was a much needed break from worrying about how little writing I’m actually doing these days. That evening a parcel arrived – a paperback copy of Lauren Sapala’s book, which is full of useful exercises and helpful advice. I learned that my messy, bitsy, disorganised method of writing (which is neither pantsing nor planning, but more like patchwork) has a name. It’s called the mosaic technique. How nice is that? (Despite my best attempts at cheating, I always code out to INFJ. It’s a nuisance, but there we are.)I’ve only read a third of the book so far, because I’ve stopped to do some of the exercises properly before moving on. But I already know I’m going to love the rest. She speaks direct to the fragile, compulsive, obsessive part of my soul that insists I’m going to write, write, write, even while the more logical and rational parts of my brain are telling me that I’m never going to make a living from it, and I don’t need the hassle. Lauren understands that fundamental need to write like no-one else, and she’s already helping me to come to terms with the way in which I do it (and she’s been there – we’ve both labelled our own funny ways as ‘weird’ ‘odd’ ‘difficult’, which is so often the way others see us – now I understand that as an INFJ what makes perfect sense to me comes across as completely bonkers to other people.)Who cares?! This book is full of support, sense, and sound advice to help the INFJ or INFP writer get on with their vocation. It’s worth every penny.

This book is extremely good at explaining how the INFJ (Myers Briggs) personality sees, and interacts with, the world. It's helped me understand parts of my own life which have puzzled me. What it Is not good at is suggesting how that knowledge might make me a better writer. The exercises at the end of each chapter are aimed at self-knowledge, not improving creative skills. For this reason I found it very disappointing.

I came to find out I am an INFJ type later in life, then took up writing. I couldn't wait to read this book and Lauren didn't disappoint. I found the book highly intelligent, very thorough, and I identified with so much I couldn't believe it. Immensely reassuring, inspiring, and I will be taking on board a good deal of the advice Lauren gives for continuing my writing with more determination and freedom, and with far less self criticism. Thank you for writing this book, Lauren, and I can highly recommend it to any other INFJs out there and to INFJs more generally. I compared it with another guide, and found this by far the best .

This book was everything I expected and more. I am a sensitive intuitive and have had many of the same struggles with creativity covered. Laurens insight and experience shared in th book were equal parts comforting, reinforcing and inspiring. Many things I had tried, those things I feel validated in and have confidence in continuing. Other insights were aha moments that made total sense once pointed out. I'm definitely going to take these nuggets forward in my creative pursuits.