Month: January 2019

It’s not hard to find women with integrity. Most prefer to own self-descriptions that include terms like dutiful, responsible, calm, effective and efficient. But find one that is not stubborn, who can’t consider others’ emotional reactions before they act, and who refuses to blame themselves when they become overwhelmed and can’t deliver on promises? Good luck.

All characters in our stories must bear weaknesses if they are to be believable and endearing. When writing a scene that contains an ISTJ female, instead of focusing on their qualities, such as the strength of their will in creating or maintaining order, highlight their inability to be sensitive to the needs of others. Or maybe create drama by having this character not bend the rules, or become highly judgmental of others with opposing views.

Do you want to get deeper into their personality? Go to your quiet place and conjure a memory, the darker, the better, of a time when a mistake tore at your self-image. Dig deep. Open yourself to the pain of the moment and how you thought, at the time, that you would never, ever live it down.

Write from that dark place, and give your characters flaws.

Have you ever known a woman who has a lot of great ideas, but seldom completed projects? They are likely energetic and enthusiastic about their ideas! Because they are intuitive, they usually communicate well, regardless of the depth of the conversation. In other words, they equally enjoy deep conversations and fun, relaxing or playful times.

Through disdain of cookie-cutter homes, lifestyles, and people they often stand out in a crowd, giving off their own vibe, wearing less fashionable clothes, and conforming less often than most.

These personality types make great characters in our stories. Think distractions, funny tidbits of behavior that adds color and liveliness to an otherwise humdrum, though necessary scene. Women with these traits are often found surrounded by people, so they come in and out of scenes with ease, interact with other characters from an intuitive, perceptive perspective, quickly lose focus and attention-span, and disappear rapidly.

What other ways can you think of using this personality type in your stories?