"The book I wrote isn't even about introversion. But the process dispelled any doubt about where I fall on the introvert/extrovert scale. My project was to collect childless and childfree wisdom from academics, experts, and lay people. I talked with hundreds of people about the topic and had a ball. Extrovert, right? Not so fast. Sure, I talked with a lot of people when I was interviewing, but most meetings were one-on-one or in groups of no more than eight participants."
"My local library provided sanctuary in the form of a private room available only to writers. Strict rules precluded chatter, and the discipline involved in going to my "office" every day kept me focused. Walking to and from said library, reviewing my day and planning the next one bookended my otherwise sedentary existence. Much needed exercise got my brain going in the morning and helped shake off lethargy on my way home. Yup, introvert."
The project collected childless and childfree wisdom from academics, experts, and lay people, including hundreds of interviews mostly conducted one-on-one or in small groups of up to eight. Early stages involved autonomous decisions about research, sourcing interviewees, and producing many rough drafts. A private library room with silence rules created a disciplined daily routine that supported focus. Walking to and from the library provided mental clarity and physical movement. Reaching drafting milestones and editing revisions generated deep satisfaction. Subsequent tasks of finding an agent and promoting the book introduced fear and highlighted the contrast between solitary work and public-facing responsibilities.
Read at Psychology Today
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