In January there are always goal-oriented people talking about writing, writing styles, types of authors, and how all of them should do things.
This is not one of those posts.
If you want something serious, please go check out the blog of a Serious Author™ who cares about SEO and checks their page views (or scroll back and find some of my older posts from when I had more time to blog). This isn’t a post for plotters vs pansters. There is no alignment chart or Lawful anything. This is strictly a list of kinds of authors I’ve encountered in the wild (or been myself) in my decade or two of adventuring in Ye Olde Land of Publishing.
Enjoy!
The Explore:
Like any good scientist the explorer has a goal in mind, an ending perhaps, but they are open to discovery along the way. If they need to shift their focus mid-book, change their themes, or change their mind they can do it with ease. They are here to discover the uncharted land of their novel.
The Mission Focused:
There is one set goal and this author will accept no distractions, no deviations, and no break from protocol. Maybe they are on a deadline, writing IP, or just really want to write that one scene with that one character, but their laser focus on the goal is clear. They will get this thing written. No excuses.
The Wanderer:
Ever curious and winsome this author wandered into a garden of ideas and will frolic here for as long as they want. Then, they’ll flit away. There is no set goal in mind. They aren’t sure if they’ll finish the book. They aren’t particularly looking for anything, they are simply being present and enjoying the moment.
The List Maker:
On the journey of a thousand pages this author has a vague idea of how they are accomplishing it but they know exactly what they want to see. With their trusted list by their side they will set up in search of a plot and a reason to use their favorite trope. The book isn’t done until everything on the list is crossed off, so sit down, we might be here for awhile.
The Dragon:
Hoarding ideas like precious jewels this author has been planning this story for ages. They have gathered tropes from far and near, carefully selected only the finest of names, and they glory in their collection of scenes. The focus might not be there, but the love is intense.
The Angry One:
Writing, they say, is therapeutic and the angry author agrees. They are writing do they can pour their rage onto the page. Every sentence is white-hot and searing. They move through the story like a wildfire, consuming everything in their path.
The Gentle One:
The world is already too violent, too loud, and too overwhelming. This author is looking for their own little Narnia. A slice-of-fantastical-life. A short, fluffy story that makes everyone smile. There may be a blood bath by the end, but it’s a good kind of blood bath, y’know? Cleansing and satisfying. They kill all the people you really want to see dead and you feel so good about it after.