CREATIVITY SPARKS^TM
July 2008

Who is Your Writer Self?
Your Writer Archetype
by Beth Barany

Why does it matter that you embody your heroic writing self? And what do I mean by it? You're are on your life's heroic journey when you are engaged with life, accessing and utilizing your gifts, facing your dragons and bringing your gifts back to the community. When applied to writing, your heroic writing adventure means: 1) embracing that you are a writer, and 2) that you regularly cultivate your art and craft; 3) that you are here to bring your stories (whether fiction of nonfiction) to the world; and 4) that you actively and regularly face your dragons in the form of resistance.

Resistance

Steven Pressfield in The War of Art reminds us that, resistance comes in many forms. For writers, resistance often appears as procrastination, lack of self worth, lack of self-confidence, fear of the work, fear of your message, fear of what others might say, fear of shining, fear of failing, fear of the unknown, fear of the change, and fear of your characters taking over your life. (That last one was the one stopping me from novel writing).

Who is your Writer Archetype?

So back to helping your determine your heroic writer self. Start by describing how you feel when you're writing. If you're not yet writing, but wishing to write, think about how you want to feel when you're writing. Are you flying with joy, tingly with excitement, fingers tapping across the keyboard and running to keep up with your racing thoughts? Do you feel planted and content, cozy and warm-hearted, with a cat curled up on your lap and warm cup of coffee at your elbow? Or focused, deep in thought, surroundings faded into the background? Ignore for now what it feels like to bring writing with effort, or reluctance.

Once you've characterized your feelings when writing or wishing to write, write about your writer self in the third person. Describe his or her attitude, dress, mannerisms, purpose, pocket contents, past, etc., as if you're describing a character for a story.

Lastly, compare your writer self to one of the 9 Writer Archetypes in the list below. To see the list as a separate page, click on the icon to open the image.

[ click for larger image ]

Example: My Writer Self

My creative self identifies most with the dreamer who catches a star and brings it to earth. No one on earth knows what to make of it so I must describe this beautiful star, and work to name, describe and shape this beautiful gem. I see this part of me at The Writer Archetype.

I also thrive on collaboration. When I find myself avoiding my writing, after a few hours of making calls, answering emails, and petting the cat, often all I need to do is notice that, then tell a friend, "Oh! I'm avoiding my writing!" Then I laugh at my game and know it's time to get to work. This is when I am acting from The Partner archetype.

The Nine Writer Archetypes

1. The Writer

Keywords: Crucible; Creative, Valiant, Intuitive, Lusty

Indication: When you are seated in the Writer archetype, you show up for the work, willing to face its challenges with courage and focus.

Shadow: Here, the Writer only thinks about writing and doesn't write.

2. The Teacher

Keywords: Mentor; Motivational, Spiritual, Balanced

Indication: When acting from the Teacher archetype, you model discipline; guide and encourage others to write into their truth and mastery; write to teach; or desire such a writing mentor to enter your life.

Shadow: Here, the Teacher instructs based on second-hand or fake knowledge and understanding.

3. The Editor

Keywords: Destroyer; Clear-eyed, Perfectionist, Thick-skinned

Indication: The Editor holds the story above the words, so cuts, rearranges and rewrites to serve the story's greater purpose.

Shadow: In its shadow form, the Editor archetype criticizes and attempts to change everything and everyone but his or her writing.

4. The Comic

Keywords: Trickster; Risk-taker, Rejuvenating, Independent

Indication: The Comic is not afraid to tell it like it is.

Shadow: Here, the Comic is a heckler, plagiarizer, and may act like a victim or orphan.

5. The Master Communicator

Keywords: Magician; Flexible, Brilliant, Dual, Listening

Indication: Also known as the sorcerer, wizard, shaman, or alchemist, the Master Communicator can operate in any communication realm he or she chooses.

Shadow: Here, the Master Communicator uses his or her talents in a purely self-serving manner, with no regard to the power he or she wields.

6. The Apprentice

Keywords: Initiate; Studious, Disciplined, Striving

Indication: When acting from the Apprentice archetype, you write to practice and learn your art and craft, even though the end result may be only for you or your teacher.

Shadow: Here, the Apprentice shirks his or her assignments and doesn't honor his or her purpose.

7. The Partner

Keywords: Collaborator; Mirroring, Sharing, Listening

Indication: When you notice the need to get feedback in your writing, especially in the embryonic stages, you are acting on the Partner archetype.

Shadow: In its shadow form, the Partner asks for advice but is never changed by the conversation.

8. The Thinker

Keywords: Hermit; Centered, Truth-seeking, Solitary

Indication: Also considered the scholar, philosopher, sage, or wise man or woman, when you act from the Thinker archetype, you are willing to write to complete unfinished business from the past, or to deeply examine meaning.

Shadow: In its shadow form, the Thinker avoids being with the self, can't distinguish between self and other, or is stuck in analysis-paralysis.

9. The Bouncer

Keywords: Threshold Guardian; Initiator, Mysterious, Experienced

Indication: When you embody the Bouncer archetype, you are crossing into a deeper awareness, where you confront fears, the shadow self, and have the opportunity to distinguish reality from illusion in your writing and creative process.

Shadow: In its shadow guise, the Bouncer stays forever on the threshold without advancing, or does advance only to stay in the dark and never learns to trust the heart.

Now What?

Which archetype most closely fits your writer self? How can you manifest that part of you in your daily life, during your writing? Use your Writer Archetype to be in the present moment, to focus on your strengths, to notice when your shadow writer wants to show up to sabotage and resist the writing. Also, notice when your actions sprout from your dominant Writer Archetype, and congratulate yourself. You are a Writer!

Live Your Writer Archetype!

c. 2008 Beth Barany

This article, and all the contents, logos, and photos on bethbarany.com are copyright. Permission to reprint granted with entire copyright notice cited.

"Literature is a luxury, but story is a necessity." -- Philip Pullman, author of The Dark Materials Trilogy

"It is no disgrace to try a single path as many times as you need, for there is only one test of a true path � that it brings you joy. The way out is through, and the only person who knows what is right for you � is you." -- Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D, from The Hero Within: Six Archetypes we Live By

"All that counts is that, for this day, for this session, I have overcome resistance." -- Steven Pressfield, from his book, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Creative Battles