Introverted Writers

I know you're out there. I'm one myself. I figured I'd drag the conversation out of a thread and put it into a new one.

Personally, I always thought I was shy, and it's something my family told me I had to stop doing. It took me a while to realize I'm really introverted. It's very draining to deal with people in person for too long, so I prefer to keep to myself. It's gotten in the way of a social life, but that's just who I am.

Anyone else?

Meee!

I used to be really shy as a kid actually. But I got over that and now I just prefer solitude to socializing. Nothing wrong with us. You know, I think introverted people can actually appreciate others' company even more than non-introverts because we're don't constantly surround ourselves with people.

Plus, it's good for the writing.

I found it's not the talking I like to do, but the watching. And I'm sure that links to the writing. I'll watch people and their body movements, and apply it to my stories.

I've had many outgoing friends describe themselves as "shy people who force themselves through it" but I'm more like you. I prefer to keep my head down and live in my own world in social situations that I'm unfamiliar with because trying to keep up a conversation is a workout for a shy person like me. I've got my small group of friends that I'm a huge loudmouth around, but I love my me time.

And Aelius is totally right about it being good for writing. As someone who draws, sews, reads, and generally does one-player activities, it works out very well that I enjoy my private time.

I'm one too. I enjoy spending time with my friends, but not too often. If I go too long without a nice stretch of solitude, I get irritated and start thinking about all the things (usually story ideas) I could be thinking about, if only I wasn't stuck in the middle of all these people.

I'm one. I tend to keep to myself a lot. I hate going to crowded places, and if I do go to somewhere crowded, I get extremely agitated. That's not to say, I don't like people and human contact.

Same here. I'm really shy when it comes to being around new people. I keep to myself and not bother others. I also don't like going to crowded places. I don't socialize much but it doesn't really bother me that I don't. I like being alone and being in my own mind. I'm happy being who I am. If I get that feeling of wanting human contact, I usually go out with my sisters.They definitely help me have fun and get out of my apartment. I just don't like to talk much.

I am a classic, classic introvert and a pretty shy lady, too (I don't think all introverts are shy). I prefer to be quiet and to observe the things going on around me, like a lot of you. It's only difficult because I feel like the world is built around the assumption that everyone is an extrovert and that spending time around people all the time is "normal". I'm glad to know there are a lot of us out there.

I'm an introvert who would rather be around people than by myself, but if I'm constantly around people then eventually I'll need alone time.

I'm a very shy introvert. I'll talk about plenty, and I'll even tell you about my past, but I do NOT discuss feelings. I generally give people the impression of a conversationalist until I walk away and they realize that they don't even know my name.

Working retail as an introvert was seriously the worst idea. Its much accepted that as long as I'm given a project that doesn't involve a lot of people or uh, customers I'll get it done faster and more accurately than anybody else. But stick me up on the front register for an extended amount of time I get agitated, drained, snappy... it's not pretty.

They keep telling me its in my head and I just gotta try harder and be nicer and smile more.

I don't know how to explain that's just literally not my nature.

same here

Yes, I am an introvert, in that I absolutely require solitude to recharge my mental batteries. With my current living situation, this often involves sitting at the patio table with my netbook and giving the Superbitch! look to anyone who tries to touch me or engage me in too much conversation. If someone just wants to talk in order to air out their thoughts, though, I'm decent at pretending to listen just enough to make 'em feel better.

I'm not so much "shy" as "social skills deficient", though. I'm not terribly good at figuring out people I don't know, so I end up being either super-withdrawn as I attempt to puzzle out the situation, or Superbitch! because things have gone awkward and I'm not terribly tactful in face-to-face communications.

Online interactions are just fine, though. I can pretend to be more 'normal' than I really am. :)

Class me as an introvert - I deal well in smallish groups for a while, but am best off when I have some time to get away from everyone. This plays in well with writing, where I don't need distractions.

I find people draining when they're not my compatible type of person. Of course you're going to feel drained when you're struggling to talk to people who just don't get you. Writers, artists, musicians... most of the time, we have personalities that don't quite mesh with society's ideals and norms. But when I do meet people in person who click, then it's fun and energizing.

That said, I'm definitely an introvert. I'm practically a hermit, even... I don't really go out. Maybe that's pathetic to most people, but I don't know. I get to do what I like to do, and most things I enjoy are things I do alone. I don't think writing and drawing are wastes of time.

Yeah. Well, introvert and/or fear of being an extrovert. Either way, it's similar. There's also the added complication that I think I have social anxiety which obviously makes me even more introverted. I like listening to and watching other people, perhaps it's the writer in me, and I don't like talking because I just can't express myself that well. I'm practically a hermit when I'm at home (away for university right now so I have to go out) and I like being on my own and not having the pressures of being around people, it can be quite tiring.

I can relate so much to a lot of what you guys have said. I've only recently accepted that I'm introverted, because I come from a very extroverted family and I was outgoing growing up, though much of it was forced. I like my friends, family, and meeting new people - in small groups, and in small doses that allow me to leave when I need to. However I feel most refreshed when I've had time to myself - whether it's to write, read, draw, sew, or play video games/watch TV, or even just think. My family and friends are finally beginning to accept it and I live with a somewhat introverted roommate, so it's been easier in adulthood then it was in high school. I find as long as I keep a balance (and work helps!), being an introvert isn't so bad at all! ^-^

For me I think the next hurdle is dating - the last relationship I had, the guy took it personally if I didn't have concrete plans but didn't want to hang out with him (or anyone) that day either. He didn't understand that some people like time alone sometimes.

I'm an introvert as well. I hate being around other people for too long - it has a tendency to completely exhaust me both physically and mentally. I've figured out that for every hour of social interaction, I need at least two hours on my own to recharge my batteries. Even on my bad days I sometimes don't like being around people I do know. I don't do small talk - I basically don't know how to do it and I definitely don't understand the point - and I despise talking on the phone unless it's an absolute necessity. And being the centre of attention is absolutely terrifying (in a nutshell, it triggers an anxiety attack). About the only time I truly come out of my shell is at concerts. And seeing as it's rare that I actually get to go to concerts, I don't come out of my shell all that often. :/

I . . . THINK I'm introverted? I don't know. I grew up believing I was shy (not as shy as my sister, I admit), but then I have people saying, "Oh, Ashlee, you're not shy." None of my friends believe I'm shy, yet the thought of approaching someone makes me freeze in terror. They also say I'm a flirt. But, again, I could never actually go up to these guys for the life of me, so I don't know. Maybe I'm a mixture of both intro- and extrovert. Either way, it's pretty irksome. I wish I could be as confident and outgoing as some of my friends, but alas. This is not me.

Let's see . . .

prefers solitude
social skills deficient
much more comfortable online than in person
suspected (though never diagnosed) social anxiety
physically and emotionally draining to be forced into social interaction

Yup, that all describes me. I have a few very close friends. And I'm married. And I'm good around my immediate family and SOME extended family. But beyond those few people, I'm always awkward and uncomfortable and would pretty much rather be by myself. And even WITH those people, I'm occasionally awkward and uncomfortable and would rather be by myself.

And I definitely don't mind that I'm an introvert, even if that's not the norm. I just wish it were easier for me to do the social interaction thing when it's necessary.