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Kendra wrote: "Sharla wrote: "I always get INFP or ENFP. Without fail. But it's funny cause the I and the E always switch for me.... Guess I'm an ambivert."

I would lean towards ENFP in that case, as ENFP's tend..."

I can heartily concur with this. In all of my doubting with MBTI, the E or I function was never the one I questioned. I KNEW I was introverted.

And, as an ENFP, my E/I is always VERY close to the line when I take a test, and I could probably get it closer, but I (um) will manipulate the test because I know what they're asking. The other letters that get even closer are F/T, as ENFP's also tend to be fairly in tune with their third function of Extroverted Thinking. I use Extroverted Thinking, though, and Introverted Feeling, so I know I'm an ENFP and not an ENTP.

Anew episode of mine and Victoria's podcast released today! We talked about a few indie books, music, and even go on an impromptu Adventures in Odyssey rant, for all you AIO fans out there. :)

Except that if you're manipulating the test... that defeats the purpose. Even if you think you know what the test is asking. If the test spits out an incorrect result, that doesn't make it okay to manipulate the test, it means there are other factors in play.

It's true that, as Mary said, unless you're a textbook fit (which let's be honest, 96% of people aren't- which is cool and the way we were Created) you're not going to neatly fit. That's why the test isn't about the specific details or about people fitting all the critera, it's about the 'core' type of a person. That was the motivation of the people who developed it. A person's core type doesn't change, even when individualities mean that the details about a person can seem to contradict their type's supposed characteristics.

But it's also true that you can't just look at the individual functions and how they act, you have to (try to) step back and look at the whole, big picture of not just how the individual functions fit into the whole, but also how each specific type's 'identity' as a whole is greater than either just the parts or just the sum. Think of it as a pentagon: you have four portions being each of your specific letters, then you have the sum identity.

*grins* It's really tricky, which is why the test often spits out a wrong result and also why a lot of people need someone else to type them. Even some of those who think they get it right are actually wrong at first (ask my sister Dessa about INFP vs ENFP). And it usually takes someone well versed in actually understanding 'practical' psychology (the way people think and act in everyday life based on experience) as well as understanding the test itself and its functions, to accurately type someone.

People are fascinating, no? :D

People are quite fascinating.

And the only one that I "manipulate" is I/E, and that's only because they're usually asking "action" questions, and I ... behave as an introvert a lot of the time. So I go with the answer that I wish that I had the confidence to do instead.

VERY fascinating!

Kendra wrote: "People are quite fascinating.

And the only one that I "manipulate" is I/E, and that's only because they're usually asking "action" questions, and I ... behave as an introvert a lot of the time. S..."

Then you must only behave as an introvert in person, 'cause I've never seen you act like an introvert since I've known you.

Muchly. But it's VERY difficult for me to initiate conversations, even online. It's getting easier, but ... I still prefer it if people come to me. (Which is why I hold a lot of events. Giving them reasons to come.)

That's interesting, Kendra. For myself, initiating online interactions is super easy assuming it's something casual. More formal/professional interactions are harder, but still far easier for me online than in person. I think it may be because writing is my preferred means of comunication. I can get my thoughts out so much easier and in a far more coherent manner in writing than verbally.

In person, I have to know someone well to feel comfortable initiating interaction even in a casual way. The better I know someone the easier it gets. Mostly...

For me, a lot of the issue is that I am a published author who has to do ALL of her marketing, and so ... there is the fact that I have a product that I'd like you to buy over my head. No, I don't want to make our relationship about my books, but at the same time...

I'm an ESFJ, which I feel describes me pretty well. I love people. I love social gatherings and things. I do like shutting myself up in my room and reading for hours on end or binge-watching TV sometimes too, though. ;)

Kendra wrote: "For me, a lot of the issue is that I am a published author who has to do ALL of her marketing, and so ... there is the fact that I have a product that I'd like you to buy over my head. No, I don't ..."

That's totally understandable! I'm not published yet, but I often feel that way about my Etsy shop since I have to market it myself, and I can see myself feeling that way when I do get eventually get published and change all my social media to mention my books because that's just what one has to do as an author to connect with your audience anymore. Right now, for me, it's Instagram especially, that makes me feel like that.^ I started my account mainly for my Etsy shop, but of course I've gotten so I post, comment on, and like non-self-promotional things along with everything else. It always feels like my interactions should have a disclaimer attached: "Hey, I know I have my shop logo as my avatar, but I'm commenting/liking this because I really do like it, not just to get clicks for myself. Though if you *do* happen to look at my stuff, I'm okay with that too!"

So, yeah, I understand the feeling. :)

Yeah. Struggle is real.

@Kendra: Apropos of nothing, I love the image of the mechanical pencil on your website header. It just shouts, "I'm a writer and I take this seriously!" At least that's what it says to me. LOL :)

:)

That particular pencil also happens to be the same pencil that I have on the cover of The Ankulen.



The picture was initially taken with plans of going into that cover, but then I ended up not using it, and then later using it for my website.

Funnily enough, it's not my favorite pencil, as it's a 0.5 mm lead, and I prefer them to be 0.7 mm. I just love the way that it looks.

Kendra wrote: ":)

That particular pencil also happens to be the same pencil that I have on the cover of The Ankulen.



The picture was initially taken with plans of going into th..."

I love the pencil trivia!!

Kendra wrote: ":)

That particular pencil also happens to be the same pencil that I have on the cover of The Ankulen.



The picture was initially taken with plans of going into th..."

Haha! Cool!

Sarah Grace wrote: "Mary wrote: "Kendra wrote: "ENTP and INFJ are actually a compatible pairing - ie, most they're supposedly the best pairing for each other. I do know for certain that INFJ's are supposed to be the m..."

Sarah Grace, i would've told you when we first met, but you were waffling between the two other possibilities instead! Even though you had saved ISFJ pins....

Actually, we are really similar. I am definitely an introvert, but pretty extroverted for an introvert. I'm an introverted people person, and i like people even though they exhaust me. Both you and me can be REALLY crazy, and both of us can be really quiet, especially before we know people well. My professors all think i'm super quiet, but my friends know that is not true. ;)

I grew up as the only introvert in a large household of all extroverts, so i think i'm louder than i'd be otherwise. And you have extroverted siblings, too. I can't help but think we were influenced!

@Kendra, I can totally relate to the marketing issue. I love being self published, but at the same time, I wish I was published traditionally because then I wouldn't have to worry about marketing and editing. . . things that aren't my forte. Bit I guess I keep looking at it this way, it is making me a stronger and more well rounded person. It is still a struggle though. *hugs Kendra*

Mary wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Mary wrote: "Kendra wrote: "ENTP and INFJ are actually a compatible pairing - ie, most they're supposedly the best pairing for each other. I do know for certain that INFJ's are ..."

Great points!!! I didn't realize how similar we are! *hugs fellow ISJF*. :)

Victoria wrote: "@Kendra, I can totally relate to the marketing issue. I love being self published, but at the same time, I wish I was published traditionally because then I wouldn't have to worry about marketing a..."

This is one of the big reasons I'm leaning towards traditional publishing. It's intimidating thinking about finding an agent and submitting to publishing houses, etc, but at least then, I won't have to worry about doing all the things you mentioned all by myself. I have to do marketing and such all by myself for my Etsy and it's my least favorite part of the job. Add on to that (switching back to the context of writing) editing, cover design, figuring out all the technological thingamabobs and maybe or maybe not having my book in physical form because I may or may no be able to afford it...uh...no. I want someone who knows what they're doing to handle that stuff, and that someone is not me.

I know. I'm leaning toward traditional, though I may choose a small press if they'll have me, rather than a big company.

There are a lot of plus sides to self publishing though. I don't like the idea of pressure to write a certain thing because that is what the publisher wants, and I like having the control of what goes in my book and what doesn't. There are a lot of pros and cons to each, and for me the pros of self publishing out weighed the cons.

Also @E.F.B. Self publishing is actually very affordable depending on the company you go with. Which is why I chose it.

Just my opinion as a non-writer, SELF-PUBLISH! :)

Victoria wrote: "There are a lot of plus sides to self publishing though. I don't like the idea of pressure to write a certain thing because that is what the publisher wants, and I like having the control of what g..."

Those are all things I've thought about as well, and will continue to think about and research heavily until such time as I'm ready to make a decision. It definitely seems like there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to publishing, which makes decisions that much harder, but also makes it a very interesting subject to research, at least for me. :)

I'm glad self-publishing is working for you, and I hope you continue to be happy with it and see success.* :)


*This is partially a selfish hope, because I want more of your books in my hands. #takemymoney ;)

Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?

JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordableeditor, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"

I just edit my books (well book, since I've only published one) myself, and my mom edits it also. I haven't used alpha or beta readers yet, although I may change that in the future.

JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"

There probably is a demand among writers who don't have a lot of writer community around them, so someone who can afford to advertise with publishers, etc, could probably pick up some business.

Sarah Grace wrote: "Just my opinion as a non-writer, SELF-PUBLISH! :)"

But my opinion as a bookseller is "Try traditional." It's easier to self-publish after building name recognition through regular publishing. It's hard to express how often potential sales are lost because the book is not on the shelf at the bookstore. While people are fine ordering a title from an author they know and love (in most cases), they rarely ever go to the trouble to do so for an author they've never tried. Getting a book on the shelf in a physical store is a great way to get marketing done.

@JD, there is probably always a demand for that. I have recently turned to hiring people for that because I had to realize that I can't do it all myself and end up with a near perfect product. I am always on the lookout. Thankfully I have two proofread lined up now, but would be interested in someone else for future publications.

@Hannah, I hear you, but unfortunately that is not an option for many of us. To be honest, I don't know if I could handle all of the steps it takes to go through a traditional publishing route. Plus, I have always been a "do-it-yourself-er" So handing my books off into some other company's hands freaks me out a little bit.

Hannah wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Just my opinion as a non-writer, SELF-PUBLISH! :)"

But my opinion as a bookseller is "Try traditional." It's easier to self-publish after building name recognition through regu..."

That's a fair point Hannah. And I will agree with what somebody else said, that there isn't a "one-size-fits-all" option.

If I can, I'm going to at least publish with a company that allows return to the publisher, even if I do end up with POD. That way I can have my books in stores. But most people self-publish with CreateSpace, which doesn't provide books on shelves...they won't print any book that hasn't been paid for up-front.

@hannah, I can purchase books up front and bring them to local stores. So there is an option for that, but the digital age is a powerful thing too, especially if you present your book well and market it well. It works both ways, but I would be interested in hearing about your journey when you start going through the traditional publishing!

Hannah wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Just my opinion as a non-writer, SELF-PUBLISH! :)"

But my opinion as a bookseller is "Try traditional." It's easier to self-publish after building name recognition through regu..."

Those are some other reasons I'm leaning towards traditional fro myself. I REALLY want to walk into a book store and see my book sitting there on the shelf. :)


Hannah wrote: "If I can, I'm going to at least punish with a company that allows return to the publisher.."

I know that's not the word you intended to type, but I'm still getting a giggle from it. XD Funny typos are the best typos. ;)

Well I just received my non-fiction read. The Life and Letters of Jane Austen (or something like that).

Erudessa wrote: "Well I just received my non-fiction read. The Life and Letters of Jane Austen (or something like that)."

Cool Dessa! :)

JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"

I may not be the best person to answer this, since I recently began a business for EXACTLY this... so this can sound either arrogant or self-promotional and I'm not trying to be either.

Personally, I think the self publishing world really does need affordable editors. Like Victoria said, it's VERY HARD for an author to do it all themselves (or themselves + friends/family) and turn out a high quality product, which in turn decreases the reputation of even the really good authors who self publish because audiences start to lump all 'indie' together as 'subpar'.

For example, I'm a natural at the technicalities of English and I've put in long hours of studying to improve that even further, but I'll be hiring at least a proofreader for my novels (IF I decide to go with self publishing) because another pair of eyes will always, ALWAYS catch errors that the author won't, no matter how good they are.

Of course, this is my personal opinion, I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes here. :)

[And, all of this said, it's also not the easiest thing to find the target audience who will hire you, just a note to think about when considering how much work it will all take.]

E.F.B. wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Sarah Grace wrote: "Just my opinion as a non-writer, SELF-PUBLISH! :)"

But my opinion as a bookseller is "Try traditional." It's easier to self-publish after building name recogniti..."

Beth...
Eeekk! I thought I edited it fast enough....

Victoria wrote: "@hannah, I can purchase books up front and bring them to local stores. So there is an option for that, but the digital age is a powerful thing too, especially if you present your book well and mark..."

Bringing books to stores is great if you have indie stores that can buy direct, but bookstore chains have to source through their distribution agreements.

Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"
..."

Exactly. Editors are very much worth the money (granted that you get a good one!!)

Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha/beta readers?"
..."

That makes total sense to me. I figured it would certainly be needful given the fact that quite often I even find errors in traditionally published books.

In your opinion, do most indie authors recognize the need and it's just a matter of lack of funds to pay someone? Or might there be other factors/considerations at play in the decision to rely on an alpha/beta reader model?

I'm very new to the self-publishing community so I'm very curious about it all.

And I know that for picky readers like me, an abundance of typographical, syntax, and punctuation errors annoy me greatly and they pull me out of the story. (And yes, I'm a fan of the serial comma.) lol (Also, yes, the previous sentence wasn't quite properly formed, but I'm not writing a book right now.) :)

Hannah wrote: "Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha..."

Well I can vouch for Arielle being a good one. And it's not just younger sister partiality!!

@JD I think it goes both ways. . . but predominately, I would think it is lack of funds. That has been my issue, and I am saving up to pay my next editor. Affordability is a real problem because self published authors don't get paid up front.

JD wrote: "Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself or through alpha..."

Oxford comma all the way! :)

Victoria wrote: "@JD I think it goes both ways. . . but predominately, I would think it is lack of funds. That has been my issue, and I am saving up to pay my next editor. Affordability is a real problem because se..."

That's what I figured. Unless, and until, one sells some books there are no funds. No advance from a publisher. It's a catch 22.

Or is it?

Might it just be something that separates those who are willing to invest in their craft a bit more and hire a third party from the ones who just (pardon the oversimplification here) throw something together? Or does it, as Arielle stated, give all self-published authors a bad name?

And I'm not directing these questions at anyone in particular. As I said above, I'm very curious about the logistics and mindset of the community and like to ask questions that get people to think. :)

Also, I've been considering doing some writing myself for years and just haven't pulled the trigger.

Sarah Grace wrote: "Oxford comma all the way! :)"

Woohoo! *high five*

JD wrote: "In your opinion, do most indie authors recognize the need and it's just a matter of lack of funds to pay someone? Or might there be other factors/considerations at play in the decision to rely on an alpha/beta reader model?"

Ohmystars, yes. The errors in traditionally published books always make me want to tear my hair out. 'Don't you people have EDITORS FOR THIS??' :D

In my opinion there's a lot of both. There are many who do recognize the need for editors and it's simply a lack of funds. Few people I know (including me) can afford to pay around/$8.00-10.00 per thousand words/ for a novel to be edited. (It sounds insane but that's going market rate.) And that doesn't count the proofreading afterwards.

Also, many authors choose self publishing because they like the greater control, and that often extends to the elements of their story, which means that for them, they would rather content and line edit their work themselves... and correspondingly often a copy edit or a proofread is all they're willing to hire, if they go that far.

re: alpha/beta model, my personal opinion is that one should always have an editor and/or proofreader that is separate from their alpha/beta readers in the interest of producing the best quality product, BUT, as some of the others here could tell you, there are a lot of reasons that many writers think it's okay to go with and/or choose to go with the alpha/beta model.

[LOL, I've written at least three blog posts- with another coming soon- about all of this.]

Oh stars and planets, YES. I'm hugely picky about literally EVERY aspect of a book and when there are five grammatical or typographical errors in the first two pages, I'm likely to delete the book from my Kindle or put it down to be returned to the library.

I'd be happy to explain any of these points further via direct message, should you so wish. (Simply because if no one else is interested in reading the answers, I don't want to clog up the thread.)

@Dessa, thanks dear, you're fantastic. :)

Erudessa wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Arielle wrote: "JD wrote: "Question for self-published authors here:
Is there a demand for an affordable, professional editor/proofreading service? Or do most of you do it yourself o..."

Aw, wonderful! I love meeting fellow English lovers. :)