Some traits writers (and most creative individuals) seem to share are; introversion, shyness, a tendency toward solitude, a studious nature, a strong goal orientation, ability to empathize, an intuitive thought process, perseverance, and what Dr. Elaine Aron calls Highly Sensitive People (HSPs).
According to Dr. Aron, HSPs are thought to process sensory experience and emotional reactions, very meticulously, noticing and absorbing the most subtle shades of expression and meaning.
Introversion, shyness and HSPs involve three separate, distinctly different sets of attributes.
The term “introvert” generally implies that someone is more involved in their inner world than other people who’d be considered extroverts.
Introverts are therefore thought to be able to remain focused for long periods in solitary activities on a receptive level, like reading, studying and mastering – math, say, or language, taking in data and storing it.
On the expressive level, they are similarly thought to be able to focus longer and more efficiently when playing around with ideas, writing, painting, sculpting, inventing expressing themselves through the creative process.
Shyness has more to do with anxiety around social situations. Many writers do appear shy, and seem to feel more anxious when networking, pitching script ideas to studio executives, or speaking in public.
I believe all three of these qualities, shyness, introversion, and high sensitivity exist in most writers, in varying degrees. While many aspects of these traits, like increased empathy and intuition, a heightened ability to stay focused and play around with ideas, alone in front of a keypad, can be seen as net positives for the writer, consider the downsides.
For example, one can see that the writer, with high sensitivity could be more easily agitated, or even overwhelmed by sensory input, (noises, loud music) or by heightened emotionality, for example a heated argument or extreme rejection.
How do people who are more sensitive by nature, more inward-thinking, more intuitive and empathic survive in a world of extroverts, and especially in Hollywood, not exactly known for its subtlety or sensitivity.
Well, it’s not easy. For one thing, dealing with long periods of isolation, and prolonged stress, writers have to take good care of themselves, on many levels.
The stress in the screenwriting world is extremely intense. Just the act of writing takes your entire focus, all of your psychic energy, perseverance, and discipline.
Even the best screenwriters face constant judgment, and rejection, almost all throughout our careers. When studios read their scripts, writers get many, almost all “passes” (rejections) on their material
As if that wasn’t enough, writers encounter all kinds of creative blocks. Self-doubt, waning motivation, lack of confidence, procrastination, contribute to these blocks. Some writers have to deal with a dangerous type of perfectionism that paralyzes one’s ability to write. These types of perfectionists are plagued with doubt – “is this the best scene?” –“is this the best line of dialogue?” They’re always looking for something better.
Even when we screenwriters find success, and scripts get produced, people are quick to judge and ridicule the films, or shows. Never mind that the director botched it. And there are critics everywhere. And if they are successful, ok, so they did it once, they wrote a film to got released and made money; what’s next? In Hollywood its always, “what have you done lately?’
So being inward-looking, extremely sensitive, overly emotional, writers are constantly being judged, rejected, feeling stuck, anxious, and may even have to go a year or two without work. They might have to completely reinvent ourselves to stay relevant. Over and over.
So how do writers survive as basically introverted, highly sensitive people working in Hollywood? What’s an aspiring or working writer to do to survive?
For one thing, they’ll have to learn to take good care of themselves. They’ll have to learn to be kind, and compassionate to themselves, physically, emotionally, and socially.
For example, on a purely physical level, writers have got to get plenty of sleep. They’ll need at least 7 hours of sleep a day. Remember, as they write, their inner world is mobilized to be productive all the time.
They’re creating every detail of action and dialogue in huge battle scenes, in exhausting arguments, they’re creating character arcs, and essentially struggling to put a huge puzzle together.
If you they don’t get the sleep, writer’s sensitivities will fall prey to the onslaught of stress, they’ll become irritable, anxious, moody, or even depressed. They can’t afford for this to happen. They’ve got be at the top of their game when they write.
Creativity (and original thinking) is all about taking risks. How are writers going to be original if they don’t push the envelope? They have to take risks.
And writers can’t take risks when they’re always doubtful about doing their best work. They need confidence; they need to feel alert, strong, energized if they’re going to break new ground.
According to Dr. Aron, highly sensitive people are super sensitive to physical stimuli, noises, sirens, jackhammers, odd looks from strangers. You have to be in good physical shape to handle it.
So your sleep and healthy habits such as diet, exercise and regular check-ups are essential to staying at your best, and preventing effects of stress/and/sensory overload.
Consider how many writers try to self-medicate, with cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and sex. Consider the competition, the rigors of day-today writing, and the constant need for productivity. It’s not enough to eat healthy, nutritious foods, and get plenty of sleep and exercise, but you have to avoid unhealthy habits.
You’ve probably noticed that many famous writers have used drugs, as a crutch, and especially alcohol to get them through their stressed-out lives.
Some writers (Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Hunter Thompson, Aaron Sorkin) drank or took drugs to get them through their scripts. They found substances like coke, or speed to keep them writing. They’ve self-medicated to endure the deluge of self-criticism they are constantly dealing with.
Writers, especially HSPs and introverts, have got to be strong, and avoid the short-cuts; they have to take care of themselves, physically. Those drugs, those uppers, those downers, that booze; it can get you through short-term, but they cause damage long term, especially to sensitive people. Be careful.
If you’re struggling with the emotional demands of a career in writing, call for a free phone consult from a veteran screenwriter and licensed psychotherapist.
Image credit: Creative Commons Sensitive Species 2008 by Rennett Stowe is licensed under CC By 2.0