Wednesday 21 March 2012

An Unscientific Scientific Experiment… and a Giveaway!

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who read, commented on and tweeted about my blog last week. I was so nervous about posting it that I nearly chickened out, but the response has been amazing, so I’m really glad I didn’t. After I posted it, a friend sent me a fascinating article from the Guardian about introverts and extroverts, which you can find here (along with some interesting comments below from both camps), and fellow YA author and Lucky 13 CJ Flood wrote a brilliant post examining the pressure we’re put under to conform when we’re at school, both by teachers and our peers. You can read it here.

So it seems that it’s incredibly common for creative people to be introverts - necessary, even. But I also had some comments from people wondering if there were any extroverted writers, artists etc out there, and if so, how common this was. I've been wondering about it too, and thought I’d conduct a highly unscientific scientific experiment, in the form of the survey below, to find out.

Please note: This survey is just for fun – there are no ‘right’ answers. I will only be posting the results on my own blog, and if you take part, you will remain completely anonymous. I will not post individual results or quote you in any form unless I have contacted you first to ask for your express permission to do so.  

So, over to you, lovely blog readers! The survey will close at midnight GMT on Monday 26th March.

Edited to add: I'm getting some wonderful results, but have discovered that even if you comment in the last box, the survey results sheet (which only I can see) doesn't tell me who you are. If you don't mind me contacting you to ask if it's okay to quote you, please could you put an email address or your Twitter handle in at the end of your comment - only I can view the results at the moment so you won't be identified. If you don't put your name, I'll assume you wish to stay anonymous and not be quoted. Thank you!

The survey has now closed. Thank you  to everyone who took part!

But that's not all! Today is also my 6-month blogoversary, so to say thank you for all the support everyone has given my blog so far, I'm having a giveaway! To enter, leave your name and some way of contacting you (your Twitter handle, an email address or a link to your blog's contact page) in the comments (the survey results sheet doesn't tell me who you are). The giveaway also closes at midnight GMT on Monday 26th March, after which I’ll use random.org to pick two people to win a prize. Sadly, I don’t have any book swag for ACID yet, but you can choose from either 2 bars of organic chocolate (please state whether you prefer white, milk or dark) or, if chocolate's not your thing, a notebook (please say whether you prefer plain or patterned). The competition’s open internationally, and I’ll announce the winners when I post the survey results on Wednesday 28th March.

Good luck!

53 comments:

  1. Woot, I love giveaways. Consider me entered!

    One of the best things about interacting with the online writing community for me was discovering so many other natural introverts. It made me feel like less of a social failure.

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    1. Yay, thank you, Christine! And I know exactly what you mean - me too! :)

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  2. What a fabulous idea for a survey. I am so interested to read the results, Emma. Thank you for doing this x

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  3. Thank you, Jo. I'm interested too - some great answers so far. x

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  4. Giveaway? That's the surest way to attract a load of poor writers. Count me in!

    Love the survey idea, by the way.

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    1. Thanks, Dan - consider yourself counted! And I'm glad you like the survey. :)

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  5. What a great idea - the results will be fascinating.

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    1. Thank you, Jo! They definitely are so far.

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  6. I love the survey; can't wait for the results. And of course, LOVE the giveaway :) And notebooks or chocolates -- OMG hard to choose between those two things -- we are very much alike, those are two of my absolute favorites! I'll hope to NOT win so I don't have to choose :) @wordsxo on twitter

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    1. Thank you, Julia! Glad you enjoyed both of them. As for the competition, it's down to random.org - I have no control over these things, I'm afraid! :D

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  7. Hia Emma. I'm sure my work is infulenced by my childhood but I couldn't think of a specific way. As to the whole introvert / etrovert thing I think they sometimes go hand in hand. I am basically introverted and spend weeks and weeks at a time on my own - always have. However, stick me in a dress and throw me on stage and I'm as happy as Larry :o)

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    1. That sounds great, Dean. I wonder if being 'in character' is what's makes it possible for you to be more extroverted on stage? This is such an interesting topic!

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    2. Dean I am so glad you said that (specifically the part about wearing a dress?!?!!)
      I keep being told I am a walking contradiction because I am very quiet and not particularly sociable, but will quite happily stand up and sing a solo at our choir concerts, and have danced on many a stage throughout my life. I don't see this as a contradiction at all! Does that make sense to anyone else?

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  8. I think that might be it, Emma. On some level, even though we know it makes no sense, an actor actually believes they 'are' being someone else.

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  9. I did the survey earlier - I was the git waffling on about being in the performing arts if that helps you identify me.

    Giveaways! Oh yes please - don't miss mine either on Wordpress today ;-) If I'm chosen, given that I'm overseas, I'll take the prize that costs the least to send - patterned note-book or white chocolate - pesky postage! cameronlawton on twitter

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  10. Thanks, Cameron - your replies are fantastic, and I'll definitely quote you if you're sure that's okay! And you have a giveaway too? I'll check it out! :)

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  11. I won't enter for a prize (I can't even pretend I'm virtuous when it comes to chocolate, I'm just so full of apple crumble I feel ill), but I'm looking forward to seeing the results!

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    1. Ooh, apple crumble - that sounds fab! Thanks for reading, Amie.

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  12. Do you follow the Shrinking Violets blog? I think it might be on hiatus at the moment, but I check out their back posts from time to time. I'm introverted AND shy (don't get me started on how nuts it drives me when people think they're the same thing) but I LOVE being online and having a blog. I'd rather die than talk to a room full of people, but a blog? No problem! Hurray for the internet : D

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    1. Hi Ruth! It bugs me too (they are NOT the same thing!)but for the opposite reason - People assume I am shy because I am introverted! After repetedly being told how shy I was by a colleague I eventually snapped and shouted to the room at large'I AM NOT SHY, I JUST DON'T LIKE YOUR COMPANY!!!'
      Ahem...

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    2. I don't, Ruth, but I'll check it out - it sounds fascinating. And I know exactly what you and Laura Mary mean! I *can* be shy – with people I don't know, anyway – but they are NOT the same thing. People are always suprised, after getting to know me, to find out I'm not really that quiet! And yes, hurray for the internet indeed. :)

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  13. Lovely post Emma, have done the survey. I'm both - introvert and extrovert - depends on my mood, who I'm with, etc etc... but was definitely more introverted as a child and have kind of grown into my skin!

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    1. Thank you, Abi! I am the same in a way - more, or less, introverted depending on who I'm with. And I was the same as a kid. Definitely feel more comfortable with myself now, though!

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  14. Very interesting post. I am often quiet and happy to be alone -but I can also be found holding forth in a purple gown and a tiara! ( ask anyone from SCBWI-BI)

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    1. Thank you! Holding forth in a purple gown and tiara sounds ace - go you! :o)

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  15. Hi Emma - I filled in the survey before your edit. I wrote about having been bullied and SA and don't mind being quoted.

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    1. Thank you, Miriam. Your comment was lovely, and it would be great to quote some of it. This is the first time I've done a blog survey so I didn't realise that even the bit only I can see would remain anonymous! :oP

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  16. Oh - and any notebook is very welcome!

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    1. Fab! I will make a note, just in case… :-)

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  17. Nifty little survey - will be interesting to see the results! :) Happy six month blogoversary. :)

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    1. Thank you, Talli! I can't believe it's been 6 months already. Couldn't have done it without the support of lovely people like you, of course! :)

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  18. Fantastic fun and will be very interested in results.

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  19. I love chocolate and hearing about new books so I am Rachel and I am here to follow your blog and get a comment. I also filled out the survey :-) I think my childhood definitely reflects my work now. I am a writer (okay. . . first and foremost I am a college student LOL), but I definitely see how my life has seeped into my writing. For example: my main characters usually don't have middle names or siblings or pets, because I don't have any of those things. I used to beg my mom for a cat but apparently being allergic is kind of a problem? Haaa. (I'm not allergic - she is.)
    I can't wait for ACID. My main character is also named Jenna. :-D

    -Rachel
    http://rachelwritesthings.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you so much, Rachel! And thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey, too. That's fascinating to read how your childhood feeds into your writing, and I LOVE that your MC is called Jenna too! :D

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  20. What a fun survey! I can't wait to see the results!

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  21. Enter me. Prefer patterned notebook :). Angie. @ansuyo

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  22. No problem, Angie! Thanks for taking part. :)

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  23. I've been thinking about your blog post a lot and have filled in the survey but forgot to add my Twitter / email - I don't mind being contacted / quoted and I very much like your unscientific scientific experiment! Cheers, Emily Gale

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  24. Interesting survey. I didn't fill in the comments section I'm afraid. I think I'm a natural introvert who has learnt to be an extrovert through social necessity - if that makes any sense.

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    1. That makes perfect sense, Louisa! And no worries about not filling in the comments section, that was optional. :)

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  25. http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html This is well worth a listen - and just to complicate the matter, she talks about another category of personality type, between introvert and extrovert - ambivert!

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    1. Thank you, Áine. Someone else mentioned Susan Cain to me today. I am definitely going to have to check her out! And that's really interesting about the ambivert.

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  26. An interesting post Emma and I've filled out the survey.

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  27. Survey + dark chocolate = win!

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  28. Thank you, Miriam! I hoped it would be! ;-)

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  29. You Tweeted at just the right time, Emma! I'm in!

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  30. Woo-hoo, Claire! Awesome. :)

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